Hi Friends,
One of the highlights of my trip to England was visiting the Lake District, which is the northwest section of England. The azaleas, rhododendrons, and bluebells were blooming, and new lambs frolicked in the pastures. I fell in love with this beautiful area, and I hope to go back one day. I’m also planning to write a new series set in this lovely area.
Cathy Gohlke and I stayed in the lovely village of Windermere, which is on one of the largest lakes in the area. We enjoyed touring the countryside, taking in views of the lakes and valleys (called fells), and visiting several other villages including Grasmere, Keswick, and Ambleside.
Beatrix Potter, the author of Peter Rabbit and many other children’s stories, owned several farms in the Lake District, and she wanted to preserve the land for future generations to enjoy. In her will she left much of her land to The National Trust. Besides writing and illustrating children’s books, she was involved in raising prize-winning sheep.
We visited Beatrix’s Hill Top Farm and enjoyed walking through her home and garden. Guides in each room showed us scenes from her books that were actually views of her home and garden. I read a book about Beatrix while we were in England, and I loved learning more about her life and her writing. Very inspiring!
The poet William Wordsworth is also from the Lake District. We visited his school and the churchyard where he and his family are buried. There was a lovely daffodil garden planted there in his memory. We also ate the most delicious gingerbread made in a tiny shop in Grasmere. It was a bit chewy like a cookie…spicy and sweet. the perfect treat to have with our afternoon tea!
Have you ever read any of Beatrix Potter’s books or William Wordsworth’s poetry?
Cathy and I are both thinking about setting more stories in England ….
Until then, Happy Reading!
The Lake District is so beautiful, restful, peaceful and lovely! My uncle lives in Penrith and has a B&B on his farm. I also really enjoyed Winnie the Pooh and Beetrix Potter. What a great trip! Thanks for sharing your trip.
I think I meant Peter Rabbit not Winnie the Pooh!
Hi Sharon, thanks for stopping by! That’s so fun to hear your uncle lives in Penrith and has a B&B on his farm. I loved visiting England. This is my third trip and I can’t wait to return.
Beautiful pictures! I enjoyed Beatrix Potter’s stores as a child. And while I’m not familiar with much poetry, I do have a painting on slate that my friend made for me with daffodils on it and the end of one of Wordsworth’s poems: “And then my heart with pleasure fills, and dances with the daffodils.”
Hi Pam, I love that daffodil quote!
Just beautiful, Carrie! I’ve watched Miss Potter 3 or 4 times now and I fall deeper in love with the Lake District every time. I hope with all my heart to get to visit there some day! Thanks so much for sharing your trip and giving me yet another reason to GET THERE! 🙂
Hi Deb, I love the movie Miss Potter as well. I watched it again after we came back from our trip just to see the area. I hope we both have a chance to go to the Lake Distric!
Thank you for sharing the pics from your trip. I’d love to visit the The Lake District. I’ve been a Beatrix Potter fan for years. She did quite a lot to move the children’s book industry forward and to encourage women to write. Maybe I’ll get there someday.
I loved this post and photos, Carrie, and I’m so happy you were able to visit there. If I could only visit one area of England, that would be it. 🙂 Beatrix Potter books have always been special to me – – both as a child and an adult (reading them to my own kiddos). And that gingerbread sounds scrumptious—Yum!
Hugs, Patti Jo 🙂
Hi Patti Jo, you would’ve loved seeing all the Beatrix Potter gifts, prints, stuffed animals, etc! And yes, the gingerbread was delicious. : ) Thanks for stopping by!
I loved this posting! I would love to go there and see all the sights that you saw. I love Beatrix Potter books. I am not so much a fan of poetry although I really appreciate the persons who write it.
Lovely!!!
Love anything Beatrix Potter. When the Smithsonian Institute had her things on display I took a bus trip to DC so that I could see it. I have a small collection of items decorating a guest room.