Lakes District - Windermere, Hill Top & Beatrix Potter

After leaving Sweetheart Abbey we crossed from Scotland into England, on our way to Windermere.

The roads narrowed, with stone walls to be seen everywhere.

Here is our accommodation in Windermere - a very nice self-contained apartment, Briscoe Lodge:

Some of the shops in Windermere:

There are many lovely homes in and around Windermere:

On our first full day in Lakes District, Thursday 22nd August, we left early, to catch the ferry across Lake Windermere, to Hawkeshead and then Hill Top.  We had read that it was best to get to Hill Top early, as tickets to see this home of Beatrix Potter were timed entry.   Got to the ferry at 8:30am, amazed we were first in the queue, then saw that the first ferry didn't leave until 10am! So we drove around to Hawkeshead instead, which didn't take that long.  

The famous poet Wordsworth attended school in Hawkeshead:

Here is Sawrey village, just near Beatrix Potter's farm Hill Top:

 Emily , Emily & Dad stand on the path leading to Beatrix Potter's home:

Here is Hill Top, Beatrix Potter's farm.  Here is some information about Hill Top, from the Visit Cumbria website:  (http://www.visitcumbria.com/amb/hill-top/)

Beatrix Potter bought Hill Top in 1905 with the royalties from her first few books, written at her parents home in London, but inspired by her annual holiday visits to the Lake District. She visited as often as she could, but never for more than a few days at a time, sketching the house, garden, countryside and animals for her new books.

After she bought the house, she busied herself writing more books, and visiting her farm. In 1909 she bought another farm opposite Hill Top, Castle Farm, which became her main Lakeland base.

Beatrix wrote many of her famous children’s stories in this little 17th century stone house. Characters such as Tom Kitten, Samuel Whiskers and Jemima Puddleduck were all created here, and the books contain many pictures based on the house and garden.  

 A descendant of Peter Rabbit perhaps?

 This is the Beatrix Potter Gallery in Hawkeshead.  Very interesting displays, including some of Beatrix's original sketches and manuscripts:

 This is Wray Castle, near Hawkeshead.   Not an ancient castle, but a great place to visit.
Some details from Wikipedia:
Wray Castle is a Victorian neo-gothic building at Claife in the English county of Cumbria. The house and grounds have belonged to the National Trust since 1929, but the house has only recently opened to the public on a regular basis.

 These people are on a painting holiday; this was their first sunny day of painting.

 Trying to look like Beatrix Potter and her parents, who stayed at Wray Castle:

 Emily & Mum try their hand at stone fence building:

 Inside Wray Castle:

 More royal dressing up:

 Fancy some croquet in the castle grounds?