The Lake District - Autumn Gold

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They say that one of the best times to visit the Lake District is in the Autumn and they are so right especially when the weather is fine and the sun shows its face every now and again. We stayed in a converted coach house to the old vicarage near to Wray Castle on the banks of Lake Windermere. On our our first full day we stepped out of the coach house and were soon on the path along the lake that took us to the ferry opposite Windemere. From Windermere we took the ferry across the lake to Ambleside and then back to Wray Castle. It was glorious.

The next day we walked around Rydal Water and took in Rydal Mount, where William Wordsworth spent the last few years of his life. Close by was Dove Cottage where Wordsworth spent the early part of his married life. You can understand why the surrounding countryside with its hills and lakes inspired him to write such wonderful poetry.

Not far away from where we were staying is Hill Top being the first house that Beatrix Potter purchased in the Lake District. On our visit it struck us as being dark and compact and no doubt very cold during the winter. Still when she died in 1943 she left 4000 acres and 15 farms to the National Trust. She did a lot of good in this part of the world and is fondly remembered by the National Trust.

Also close to the coach house is Lake Coniston which we visited. It was here in 1966 that Donald Campbell was killed attempting to break the world water speed record. They reckoned he crashed at about 300mph. It was not until the early 2000s the boat and his body was recovered On a much more calmer front John Ruskin, the art critic, writer and artist lived on the banks of Lake Coniston during the later years of his life at a wonderful house called Brantwood, which we visited. An inspiring house with lots of his belongings remaining there.Wonderful views of the lake.Ruskin is buried in the local churchyard at Coniston which he preferred to Westminster.

So many places to visit, so many paths by lakes and hills to be walked and so many golden trees to be admired in the autumn light. A corner of England to admire.

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Photos

Lake Windermere
A view from the shore near Wray Castle

On the Lake Windermere ferry
On the ferry from Windermere to Ambleside

Hill Top
Beatrix Potter's first home in the Lake District

Rydal Mount
The home of William Wordswoth during his later years

Dove Cottage, Grasmere
The cottage where Wordsworth lived during his early married life

Ambleside and Lake Windermere
The view from Latterbarrow. A steep walk up.

The old vicarage and coach house
The view of our accomodation from Latterbarrow.

Tarn Hows
A very popular lake to walk and not far from Coniston

Townend near Windermere
A 17th century farmhouse preserved by the National Trust

Comments

[Joy]

It looks amazing! I want to go!

[Bryce]

The Lakes
Hi guys, looks like you timed it right to visit the lakes. The colours in the photos are lovely. Did you get a chance to visit the Beatrix Potter park? We went with Alan,s ex Carol who had been dragged to the lakes almost every weekend as a child from Buxton. Poor her but lucky us cos she knew so much about everywhere we went. See you soon. x x x