ELTIPS AV R T
The romantic poet wrote his most famous line “I wandered lonely as a cloud” after a stroll there.
It doesn’t take long for visitors to see why the great man called it “a sort of national property” for everyone “who has an eye to perceive and a heart to enjoy”.
His 1802 guidebook sparked the first mass tourism to the area. So naturally our first stop was the poet’s home Dove Cottage in Grasmere.
Visitors on the guided tour are treated to a beautifully maintained garden, stone floors, panelled elled rooms, glowing coal fires and d the family’s belongings kept as though ough time had stood still.
Dove Cottage is a short drive rive f rom t he pretty t own of Ambleside, which we reached d by taking a ferry across Lake Windermere from our base in Bowness.
A return trip on a steamer by Windermere Lake Cruises costs sts £11.30 return per adult.
There is a full bar on board, d, if you can neck a tipple during the 15-minute journey.
We enjoyed the full force of an early autumn Lakes day by sitting tting on deck. Truly, nature at its best. Conditions on our trip varied between a mild, grey drizzle to a full- on wall of water, meaning a sturdy anorak and wellies are a must. Windermere, England’s largest natural lake, is stunning. Surrounded by mountain peaks and tiny villages, it is about a mile wide, 11 miles long and 219ft at its deepest point. Ravenous when we got back to Bowness, we dived into Vinegar Jones, a wonderful chippie just three minutes walk from the pier. Our portions of locally sourced haddock and chips were hot and plentiful – just the tonic from the wetness all around. Then it was time for more literary sightseeing. Wordsworth isn’t the only author associated with the Lakes, the district was also home to Beatrix Potter.
The children’s writer attracts visitors from all over the globe.
The woman who penned The Tale of Peter Rabbit among other classics is celebrated in Windermere’s World of Beatrix Potter exhibition. It features 3D scenes which bring Potter’s pages to life.
There is a chance to stroll around the Peter Rabbit garden and Jeremy Fisher’s lily-pad boat.
Afterwards why not enjoy high tea for two – £16.95. The sandwiches and cakes would easily grace Mrs Tiggy-Winkle’s kitchen.
Best of all, no bookings are needed so it’s perfect for that spur of the moment indulgence which CULTURE vultures will love Theatre by the Lake in Keswick, magnificently appointed on the shore of Derwentwater. EMBRACE your inner oarsman by hiring a rowboat at Coniston Boating Centre. For less than enthusiastic rowers, motorboats seating up to eight are available and just as fun. SHOP till you drop at K Village outlet centre in Kendal. It gives the Mint Cake a run for its money as Kendal’s No1 attraction.
Gems
holidays should be all about. Of course all that indulgence needs balancing out, which is handy as the Lake District offers some of the most magnificent walks on earth.
You could simply put a pin in a map of the place and happen upon a gem. The more ambitious can explore Scafell Pike, England’s highest mountain, which towers 3,209ft above sea level.
More than 100,000 people give it a crack each year. We didn’t. Although it did look nice from the car window. After all that effort we retired to our room at the Wild Boar, a five- star AA- rated hotel and restaurant in the village of Crook, just outside Bowness.
The on-site smokehouse means fantastically flavoursome meat, from the sausages on your morning full English to a deliciously filling 12oz Herefordshire fillet steak – £37 with a flat mushroom, grilled tomato and triple-cooked chips.
Woodland attached to the hotel offers a wonderful walk and you can barrow a pair of wellies for free.
Just don’t forget to hose off the mud afterwards. FACTFILE: Feature rooms at the Wild Boar are from £156 booked through englishlakehotels. co. uk. Dove Cottage tour tickets are £8.95 for adults. World of Beatrix Potter tickets: adults £7.50, children £3.95, or £21 for two adults and two kids. Also see www. theatrebythelake. com, www. conistonboatingcentre. co. uk and www.kvillage.co.uk.