The Lake District floods
Today was more than just an ordinary journey to our Love the Lakes shop in Bowness, it was quite difficult just getting there after all the rain over the last day or two which made some of the roads only passable with care and some large tailbacks. The south Lakes certainly didn’t get as much rain as seen in Cockermouth and Keswick but it certainly got a lot more than usual. Last year during the floods in October it was said that it was the highest Windermere has been in living memory and that we would never see it like that again. This year, however, it was even worse. The following photos were simply taken at stops during our journey today.
The ruins of Furness Abbey under water.
Sunshine and floods at Furness Abbey. The roads around Ulverston were blocked this morning so we had to take a circuitous route to get to our Love the Lakes shop in Bowness.
This is the road up the east side of Coniston Water from Lowick Bridge, now it is a river.
The swollen River Crake.
Looking downstream from Lowick Bridge, the trees on the left show the normal line of the river.
Further downstream at Spark Bridge, the houses with river frontage are under water and people are being rescued by the coastguard and police.
Flooded houses at Spark Bridge.
The River Crake downstream of Spark Bridge. Further on our journey at Newby Bridge there were big tailbacks on the main A590.
The River Leven has burst its banks and is overflowing Newby Bridge.
The Swan Hotel - normally this is a nice place to sit out alongside the river. The centre part is a road and the tables and chairs are normally between the line of trees and the line of bollards to the right.
Newby Bridge and the extremely fast flowing River Leven.
The usual line of the river bank is where the bollards are and some tables and chairs have survived.
A house on the banks of the River Leven next to Newby Bridge. It was an interesting journey along from Newby Bridge to Bowness but we made it okay in the end. The level of the lake was, unbelievably, higher than last year.
Boats for hire at Bowness.
The jetties and ticket offices are all submerged.
I think this jetty is broken!
That's one way to beat the floods - on a bicycle.
Tackling the floods by car.
No sailings today.
Holding back the tide.
The swans have a bit more lake to swim in today.
They are happily feeding on newly submerged grass and plants.
This photo was taken last year for comparison - a good 3 foot deeper this year I think.
The newly refurbished Tourist Information Centre, sadly it will require another refit now.
Keep Clear, swans about.
Someone was braving it today...and a Land Rover went through the flood as well!
Seeing how far out wellie level is.
A glimmer of blue sky seems promising and a much better prospect than more rain.
A birds eye view of the flood looking down to The Glebe from Biskey Howe. Later, on the journey home...
This is the road to the car ferry across Windermere but today you need a boat to get to it.
Boats at the marina at a bit of an angle.
The marina is under water.
The Marina Centre.
Flooded cottages.
The main A592 road to Newby Bridge.
This car is going nowhere.
Down at Fell Foot, the cafe was refurbished after last years flood but will also need doing again now.
The National Trust shop, 2009 flood...
...and the same shop, 2008 flood. It is about 2 foot deeper here this year I think.
Fell Foot sunset.
Wading out to the NT shop.
Across Windermere, the Lakeside Hotel is flooded too and the ferry looks like it has smashed into that tree. Backbarrow on the way home...
The River Leven has breached the bridge and road at Backbarrow.
The bridge wall collapse can be seen in this photo.
Flooded gardens in Backbarrow.
The roads are impassable here.
The footbridge across the River Leven...
...last year it was more visible.
Through the trees you can just make out the line of the patio at the Whitewater Hotel, today with water gushing over it.
The River Leven through Backbarrow. To see how full the River Leven is, compare the following photos and note the prominent 'Stop' sign:
The normal level...
...the level during last years flood...
...blimey, the level today. © www.stridingedge.net
The water is right over the bridge and across the road the water is flowing from the Whitewater Hotel. © www.stridingedge.net
There is no way through here now. © www.stridingedge.net Please credit www.stridingedge.net if you use any photos on this site or contact me for hi-res versions.