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Lake District, Cumbria, England: Sunrise at Grasmere
 Wordsworth described Grasmere as the "lovliest spot that man hath ever found". I presume he was speaking of the lake, not the village. Althought the village is pleasant enough, being surrounded on all sides by wooded fells. Another prime spot for buying those must-have tourist gifts, coffees and cakes or fell walking gear.Grasmere is slap bang in the middle of the Lake District and so provides great access to many of the more appetising fells, if climbing up them is your thing. For instance, Helvellyn (the third highest peak in the Lake District) is just to the north and east. The village is at the northern shore of Grasmere lake, from which you can walk over Red Bank and Loughrigg Tarn to Ambleside. Thirlmere is to the north: a long, dark lake used for water supplies to Manchester. MORE... |
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Wordsworth described Grasmere as the "lovliest spot that man hath ever found". I presume he was speaking of the lake, not the village. Althought the village is pleasant enough, being surrounded on all sides by wooded fells. Another prime spot for buying those must-have tourist gifts, coffees and cakes or fell walking gear. Grasmere is slap bang in the middle of the Lake District and so provides great access to many of the more appetising fells, if climbing up them is your thing. For instance, Helvellyn (the third highest peak in the Lake District) is just to the north and east. The village is at the northern shore of Grasmere lake, from which you can walk over Red Bank and Loughrigg Tarn to Ambleside. Thirlmere is to the north: a long, dark lake used for water supplies to Manchester. What else is Grasmere famous for? Well, Wordsworth lived here, at Dove Cottage which is one of the most famous and most visited houses in Lakeland. The two Heaton Coopers, who painted their water colours of the Lake District have a studio here. And last but not least, there is the famous Grasmere gingerbread, which is truly scrumptious!Beatrix Potter and the Lake District Beatrix Potter first visited the Lake District along with her family on their annual holidays. They rented a number of different houses during the summer months around Windermere and Derwentwater. The success of her books enabled Beatrix Potter to buy land in the Lake District. One of the first was Hill Top, which has since become a famous literary shrine. This small Lakeland Farm House and the hamlet of Near Sawrey form the the setting for a number of her stories. The Tale of Tom Kitten and The Tale of Samuel Whiskers are based in and around Hill Top. Hill Top is open from 3 April to 31 October, daily except Thursday and Friday, from 10.30 with last admission at 4.00pm. Beatrix Potter married a local solicitor, William Heelis, from Hawkshead, just a few miles down the road from Hill Top. William's former offices are now home to the National Trust's Beatrix Potter Gallery. The Gallery contains may of Beatrix Potter's original sketches, watercolours and manuscripts. The Beatrix Potter Gallery is open from 3 April to 31 October, daily except Thursday and Friday, from 10.30 with last admission at 4.00pm. Hawkshead is one of the Lake District's more attractive villages. Howkshead is the setting for another of Beatrix Potter's books, The Tale of Johnny Town Mouse. It was in Hawkshead that another Lakeland literary figure, William Wordsworth, spent his school days. A couple of miles from Hawkshead is Tarn Hows, part of the 4,000+ acres of property that Beatrix Potter bequeathed to the National Trust. Tarm Hows is definitely one of the Lake District's most famous beauty spots. A walk around the tarn takes about an hour, the path is also suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. A shuttle service connects Hawkshead, Hill Top and Bowness-on-Windermere. At Bowness on Windermere you will find The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction, where the Lakeland tales are brought to life in an indoor recreation of the countryside. You will see Peter Rabbit tucking into a carrot from Mister MacGregor's Garden and Jemima Puddleduck in a woodland glade. The Attraction is open all year except Christmas Day and from 12-31 January. You can take a trip on a boat from Bowness on Windermere to Ambleside at the top of England's longest lake. The boats pass Wray Castle where Beatrix stayed on her first family holiday in the Lakes. The cruise is a relaxing way to enjoy the stunning Lake Ditsrict scenery. Ambleside is also home to the Armitt Museum, which contains many of Beatrix Potter's watercolour studies of fungi and mosses. The Museum is open all year from 10.00 to 5.00pm. A half hours drive north to Keswick and Derwent Water brings you to the location of several of Beatrix Potter's earlier books. The Potter family spent many summers in different homes close to the lake. In The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin, Squirrels can be seen paddling across Derwent Water to St Herbert's Island. There are boat trips around Derwent Water with stunning views of the surrounding mountains. Rowing Boats and Canoes can be hired. Sunrise at Grasmere - English Lake District.Review by Corinne. Summer 2006. NEXT -> Hotels in the Lake District 5 Day, 10 Day, 15 Day long range weather forecast and current conditions for Sunrise at Grasmere, Lake District
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