Beatrix Potter

Mention the name Beatrix Potter to children or adults and images of Peter Rabbit, Jemina Puddleduck, Pigling Bland, Mrs Tiggy-Winkle, to name but a few, come to mind. Although she was born in South Kensington, London her love of the countryside came from holidaying and living in the Lake District. She was greatly inspired by the beautiful lakes, dramatic fells, mountains and valleys to be found in the Lakes. The success of her first books including The Tale of Peter Rabbit enabled her to buy Hill Top Farm, which was used as the model for some of her later stories, notably the home of Tom Kitten. Many of her well-known nursery classics were written in the house. Derwent Water, further north, is where Squirrel Nutkin paddled on a twig boat in The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin. 

In later years, she bought many more farms and pieces of lands including Troutbeck Park Farm and became an expert in breeding Herdwick sheep, a rare and threatened breed indigenous to the Lake District. She also bought Tarn Hows, one of the most popular landscapes in the region, which she bequeathed to the National Trust. 

The Lake District is a great area for walkers of all levels and abilities. The area has one of the most famous walks, the Coast to Coast Walk - St Bees Head to Robin Hood Bay - running through it. The route takes you through the northern lakes' contrasting landscape of wonderful mountains, rolling fells and peaceful valleys. Ambleside, to the northwest of Windermere, is at the heart of the southern lakes region and is a superb starting point for exploring the area. Everything is available for the watersports enthusiast with Lake Windermere offering different water based activities as well as the chance to sit back and enjoy the superb scenery on one of the many steamers travelling the length and breadth of the lake.

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