Coniston, Lake District. The Most Beautiful Place on Earth.

A few hours ago I got back from a 4 day trip to Coniston in the Lake District. The trip was arranged by the School of Biosciences at Birmingham Uni as a "team build" for the masters and Phd students about to start their courses. Everything was paid for by the Uni which was amazing because the accomodation and food was excellent. I only knew one person well on the trip, my close friend Jake, so I was a little out of my comfort zone when it came to getting to know people.

I have never been to the North-West of the England before and honestly had no clue that somewhere so stunning existed here. Early Monday morning we set off on our way, the drive took about four hours with a stop-off. Jake and I played 20 questions on the way up there which killed alot of the time. Jake knew a girl called Becky from his course and we soon got chatting. I ended up sharing a dorm with her, our room in the cabin was called Nipthwate.

During the last half an hour of our journey we came off the motorway and onto small country lanes. The view was stunning and looked what I can only describe as something from Lord of The Rings. There was a small village that looked like The  Shire! It felt like we had just driven to Canada, not another part of England! Finally, after going up and down hills and over small bridges we reached a lay-by where we stopped. We hadnt realised we had to treck to our accomodation!!

It was all worth it though! When we reached the cabin, it was located right next to the lake with the most perfect view of the lake, mountains, trees and sunset! Despite the storm from hurricane Katia, it was still gorgeous!

Me, Becky and the gang walking to our cabin in the rain.

Once we settled, we had lunch, got into groups and did a few group activities to break the ice. My group consisted of Jake, two girls and two more lads who were all awesome. We were that awesome that we won all of the challenges! Go group 3 go!!

On a few occasions during the trip, we managed to go on walked down to the shore and explore a bit. We walked through a forest and found a jetty on the lake that we went to sit on. the first night was very windy so our photographs were not as beautiful, however, it was still pretty impressive!

Here are a few piccies from our first evening...

During the four days we canoed down the lake to a cafe, orienteered, swam in the lake, make a buggy, made a raft and won the race! The lake was better to  look at that to be in!! The water was so clean but so damn cold!

On our last night we took some amazing photographs at sunset. Jake took some amazing pics on his HTC phone. I could not believe the quality of them! I have his permission of show you a few of them but it you would like to see more then visit his blog http://www.writteninthedna.blogspot.com.

Me chilling our on the jetty.

Me and the girls.

This photo was taken before sunrise by Jake. The water is so still. you could imagine

a monster lurking in the depths of this lake. Apparently its deeper than the English Channel!

This is the view from the cabin at sunrise. You can see the mist floating above the lake.

This photo just makes me so happy!

Can you even believe that this was taken with a HTC camera??!! it looks like the tree is floating in mid-air because the lake is so still! How eerie does the lake look?

This pic looks like a drawing. Its so perfect.

I just had to share these pictures taken by Jake, theyre so beautiful, hes got such a talent to make pictures as great as these with a mobile phone camera!

I was so sad to leave Conistion but quite glad! My muscles ache so bad I cannot wait for bed time! Please visit jakes blog, he writes about his travels and has more lovely photos available there!

Bye guys!

K x