Famous writers connected with the English Lake District

 This evening, I am reprising a tour which connected with William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter.

This morning we departed our lodgings in Ambleside and then drove a short distance to Grasmere to join the 10.00 am guided tour of Dove Cottage. Here a very competent guide provided insight into life and living conditions of the (large) Wordworth family. The tenor of the home was characterised by stone floors, dark panelled rooms, coal fires and artefacts and furniture belonging to the family.

 

Wordsworth portrait

Dove Cottage interior Dove Cottage exterior

Wordsworth (1770-1850) was a leading English romantic poet who helped launch the Romantic Age in English literature. He was closely assisted by his sister, Dorothy. He wrote lyrical poems and  ballads and had a close affinity with the Lake District.

"I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" is possibly the most famous lyric poem by Wordsworth. The poem was inspired by an event on 15 April 1802 in which Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy came across a "long belt" of daffodils while wandering in the forest

Close to Dove Cottage is a museum housing an extensive collection of Wordsworth's letters journals and poems.

Dove Cottage from rear

Next, we moved on to Bowness-on-Windermere to visit the World of Beatrix Potter Exhibition. This was a quality experience with emphasis on the characters and stories from the famous author. The former include Peter the Rabbit, Mrs Tiggy-Winkle and Squirrel Nutkin.Beatrix Potter (1866-1943) published over 23 books and, like Wordsworth, had a close affinity with the Lake District.

Peter the Rabbit Seasonal flowers at Beatrix Potter Exhibition 

Beatrix Potter and Guest

Mrs Tiggy-Winkle

Next, we embarked on a five-hour journey to our next destination of the English Cotswolds, arriving at Moreton-in-Marsh about 5.00 pm.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Reconstructed Roman Villa

Image
This evening, I am reporting on my visit earlier today to a meticulously reconstructed Roman Villa in Somerset, England.   Funding for the project was provided by a South African billionaire. Specific features of the reconstruction project which is known as 'Villa Ventorum': Employed hundreds of architects, builders, archaelogists, mosaic makers, fresco painters and experts on ancient plumbing. The new build was built close to the remains of the original villa which dates from AD351. Incorporates the only working hypocaust system in Europe to create authentic Roman underfloor heating. Thne system also provides heating for the internal baths. Designed to appear to visitors as though still in use. Mosaics and frescoes have been made below the top standards of the time (e.g. Chedworth ) to reflect the social rank of the resident family. Incorporates a Roman 'fast food bar' allong the lines of that found in Pompeii . (Core of above information sourced from the Times newspap
Read more

Glen Quaich, one of Scotland's best backroads tour routes

Image
This afternoon, I am reporting the route of Glen Quaich in Central Scotland. This is a scenic, single track road which is usually closed to traffic in winter. The route covers about twelve miles and runs between the villages of Amulree and Kenmore on the northern tip of Loch Tay in Perthshire. Depending on time of year it is possible to encounter low lying snow, many sheep, grouse and other exceptional opportunities for photography. Incidentally, Quaich means a drinking cup. In a certain place the landscape is shaped like a bowl. Glen Quaich, Perthshire, Scotland Glen Quaich Black Grouse at Glen Quaich Here are a couple of video clips.
Read more

Fort Augustus, a popular visitor site on southern tip of Loch Ness

Image
Loch Ness from flight of locks at Fort Augustus, Scottish Highlands This evening, I am posting information on Fort Augustus, a busy tourist village on the southern tip of Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. Summary information on Fort Augustus as follows:- Population about 650 persons. Distance, about 160 miles from Edinburgh and 35 miles from Inverness entailing journey times of 3.5 hours and 1 hour respectively. Well endowed with hotels and other accommodation plus shops, restaurants and visitor attractions. From here visitors can avail of boat trips on Loch Ness. Home to an impressive flight of five locks on the Caledonian Canal. Latter dates from 1822 and is now primarily used by pleasure boats. Closely linked with the 18th century Jacobite uprising in that (a) the village was renamed Fort Augustus (after Prince William Augustus, third son of King George II) consequent upon construction of a British military (redcoat) fort in 1742 and (b) the same Prince
Read more