Britain 09 - Day 17

Introduction

Today the weather dawned fine and cool with a scattering of clouds. I took the opportunity to take the walk from Bowness up to the top of Brentfell, the high point behind the town. On my return we had breakfast then queued for the car ferry across to Near Sawrey and Beatrix Potter country. We had lunch at Hawkshead then drove on to Grasmere and Dove Cottage.

Walking up to Brentfell

The hill immediately behind Bowness has a steep walking track that climbs first to Knott Top then on to Brentfell. In the early morning there were a few walkers, mostly with dogs, but these all stopped at Knott Top and none went on to the real top at Brentfell as I did. The whole walk took me 47 minutes and I climbed a total of 127m vertical distance. From the top there are extensive views across Bowness and to the head of each arm of Lake Windermere.

Windermere
The steep street behind Bowness
Windermer
The start of the track
Windermere
Crossing the first field
Windermere
Looking back towards Bowness
Windermere
Mist amongst the trees
Windermere
The first gate, the track goes right
Windermere
Bowness from Knott Top with the car ferry on its first trip of the day
Windermere
The track goes on towards Brentfell.....
Windermere
and crosses the style over the wall.
Windermere
Looking towards Ambleside
Windermere
Bowness and Ambleside
Windermere
The other arm, towards Lakeside
Windermere
Bowness
Windermere
The track coming back down
Windermere
The lake through the trees

Across Windermere on the Car Ferry

After breakfast, we headed for the car ferry to go across the lake to Sawrey and Hill Top Farm. I had long been longing forward to this crossing, firsly because I like car ferries and have sailed on them in many parts of the world. Secondly, this one has a webcam, and I had been watching it over the past year or so, I was interested to see the ferry in real life. The webcam can be found here. This ferry is also unusual as it uses a pair of cables run across the lake as its means of propulsion.

Windermere
Lake Windermere by the ferry in the early morning
Windermer
Windermere
Windermere
The car ferry
Windermere
Looking across to the other side
Windermere
The car deck
Windermere
Across the lake to Sawrey
Windermere
Waiting in the queue for the ferry
Windermere
Here it comes
Windermere
On the ferry
Windermere
Nearing the other side
Windermere
Ready to dock
Windermere
The building and the webcam
Windermere
View from the webcam looking across to Bowness
Windermere
Standing under the webcam to get the same view
Windermere
The webcam picture in early January 2010

Hill Top Farm, Sawrey

From the car ferry it was a short drive to Near Sawrey and Hill Top Farm. There is a small car park at the entrance to the famr, but this was full, so we were directed to a public car park about 300m further along, and this still had several spaces. We walked back, paied our money for tickets to the farm and then wandered through Near Sawrey to the farm. The tickets are timed - you have a 10 minute window during which you can enter. There were knowledgeable guides throughout the property, and as you exit there is a well-stocked souvenir shop. From the farm, we drove on to Hawkshead for the Potter Gallery, in theold Heelis law offices. We found lunch at the Kings Arms Hotel, and recommend their smoked salmon salad and the Ploughman's lunch.

From Hawkshead we drove on to Coniston for a quick look at Coniston Water of Donald Campbell and "Bluebird" fame, before continuing on to Dove Cottage at Grasmere.

Windermere
Driving into Near Sawrey
Windermer
National Trust sign
Windermere
Waiting for our time to enter Hill Top
Windermere
Outside the farmhouse - its our turn to enter
Windermere
The house with the addition designed by HB Potter
Windermere
The Hill Top gift shop - Margaret is in there somewhere gathering goodies
Windermere
Colma checking the books
Windermere
Mr McGregor's garden
Windermere
The fields across the road from Hill Top
Windermere
A successful visit and purchases
Windermere
The Potter Gallery in Hawkshead
Windermere
The yard beside the building
Windermere
Lunch at the Kings Arms
Windermere
Coniston Water
Windermere
Another view of Coniston Water

Dove Cottage and the Lake Poets

We followed the A591 past Rydal Water and Lake Grasmere. It was late afternoon, and the weather had cleared up nicely with a fine sunny afternoon. We took the guided tour through the Cottage and then went through the museum with its wonderful collection of materials.

Windermere
Approaching Dove Cottage
Windermer
The entrance in the late afternoon sun
Windermere
The back of the cottage
Windermere
View across the vallety from behind the cottage
Windermere
The view
Windermere
Closer view of the river
Windermere
The museum adjacent to the cottage
Windermere
The garden path behind the cottage
Windermere
The story of the cottage


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Last updated: 16/06/2017