Around the Lakes
A mere puddle?
The Lake District has more than 14 lakes and tarns (a mountain lake formed by glaciers), but according to their names there is only one ‘lake’ – Bassenthwaite Lake. All the others have the terms ‘mere’ or ‘water’ incorporated into their name rendering the ‘lake’ superfluous. The deepest lake is Wastwater (74 metres), while at 10.5 miles long and covering 1,459 hectares, Windermere is both the longest and largest. The next four in order of size are Ullswater (884 ha), Derwentwater (531 ha), Bassenthwaite (518 ha) and Coniston (475 ha).
Fixing the fells
With 20 million feet tramping over the area each year, many of the Lake District’s popular footpaths incur significant erosion. Restoration of these thoroughly beaten tracks is both time consuming and expensive – it costs £100 to repair just one metre of fell. Between 2001 and 2006, 102 upland trails were restored by the fore-runner to Fix the Fells, the latest five-year Heritage Lottery Fund-backed initiative which has plans to fix a further 70 paths. Groups of volunteers can join the cause for a short stint, as can individuals through National Trust-organised week-long working holidays. However, we can all help by keeping to paths, avoiding trampling vegetation along their edges, and not taking shortcuts as other users and water will surely follow. Fix the Fells days are being held in the Lake District on 24 June and 22 July, while volunteer-led walks on repaired surfaces will take place at Tarn Hows on 21 July and at Blea Tarn on 29 August. For more information visit fixthefells.co.uk or for the walks call 017687 74649.
All mapped out
Beginner map- and compass-use days are offered at various locations throughout the Lake District this summer to improve navigation skills, and include an 8km (5 mile) walk. (Minimum age 12 years with parent / guardian). Price £5/£3. Call 0845 272 0004. Meanwhile, Cumbria-based GPS Training, which is endorsed by Sir Chris Bonington and is the recommended training partner to all the leading navigation device brands like Garmin and Magellan, offers similar courses that also include using GPS devices. Visit the website gpstraining.co.uk or call 01768 885 855.
ON A CLEAR DAY...
Five of the best lakeland views
(After all, if it was only about the exercise, we’d stick to the treadmill…)
1 The Lake District’s most famous view, at Wast Water in the western part of the Lake District: the narrow valley with the peaks of Scafell and Great Gable at the easternmost end was chosen as the symbol of the national park
2 Up Tilberthwaite Gill and over Hawkrigg with stunning views of the Langdale Pikes and southern Lakeland. Grid ref: NY307010. 7km (4.4 miles), 4hrs / moderate
3 Walla Crag, a fell above Derwentwater offers a short walk but a breathtaking panorama. Ascend via Ashness Bridge from Great Wood. Grid Ref: NY276212. 12km (7.4 miles), 4.5 hrs / moderate
4 A scenic walk from Landale valley to Loughrigg Fell via impressive TNT-created Loughrigg Cave and one of Worldsworth’s favourites, Loughrigg Tarn, or as he called it Diana’s Looking Glass. The route offers amazing panoramic views towards the Langdales across the Langdale valley, and great views over Grasmere from Loughrigg Terrace. Grid Ref: NY329048. 11.2km (6.9miles) 6hrs / moderate
5 Sometimes called a secret valley, Rannerdale offers a gentle walk up from Crummock Water, through Rannerdale Bluebell field where swathes of brilliant blue appears in April and May. Grid ref: NY174169. 4.8km (3miles) 2.5hrs / easy
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THE ULTIMATE ROUND-UP OF WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU HIT THE LAKE DISTRICT
Adventure Playground
Forget cream teas and reading Beatrix Potter (at least until you return), because visitors looking for outdoors excitement and spiritual renewal are spoilt for choice in the Lake District, Cumbria’s adventure playground. Geology and geography have combined to create an unrivalled recreational resource. The Lakes’ haunting beauty, restorative tranquillity and sense of timelessness and history continue to inspire, but Cumbria didn’t label 2008 its ‘year of adventure’ for nothing. Christian Amodeo goes in search of the wilder side of England’s largest national park...
Fell on earth - Fell racing
Fell running and trail running are increasingly popular worldwide, but fell racing is a Cumbrian pursuit that was taking place as early as 1850 at the Grasmere sports meeting (still held every August, and featuring other local delights such as Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling). Back then, participants raced up and down a fell via its summit, while today fell races range from the (relatively) mild to the positively masochistic, requiring navigational skills as well as endurance. Established annual races include that of Borrowdale, an infamous 17-mile gruelling competition in August that involves 6,500 feet of ascent and six summit checkpoints including Scafell Pike. September’s annual Lake District Mountain Trial, an orienteering-based race started by the YHA in 1952, is another major event in the fell-running calendar. Attracting a wider cross section of enthusiasts is the Puma Lakeland Trails, annual running and walking events that attract 15,000 entrants. ‘It caters to people of all ages and abilities, from two years old to 82 years old, and from world-class Olympic marathon runners to recreational walkers,’ says organiser Graham Patten. ‘Competitors travel from all over the world to take part – more than 20 different nationalities are represented.’
FACT FILE
Requirements: Aside from good fitness and stamina, rubber-studded fell-running shoes are a must.
Contact: www.lakelandtrails.org; the Fell Runners Association website: www.fellrunner.org.uk; the Lake District Mountain Trial Association: www.ldmta.org.uk
Blown away
Kitesurfing
A new sport rapidly growing in popularity, with more than an estimated 200,000 participants worldwide, kitesurfing or kiteboarding harnesses the wind with a power kite to pull a rider through the water on a small surfboard. The exposed beaches to the south and east of the Lake District provide some of the best locations in the country (the lakes themselves do not, however). The pursuit has developed its own terminology and training infrastructure – in the UK, the British Kitesurfing Association (BKSA), which has more than 3,000 members, has accredited instructors to ensure that you avoid any ‘kitemares’. Progress for learners can be swift. ‘I had a student become an instructor within a year of lessons,’ says Gary Powell, one of eight BKSA national trainers and founder of Northwest Kitesurfing, which last year tutored 100 students. ‘The difficult part is the initial two- or three-day course. Once up and riding, the progress to your first jump and upwind riding is very quick.’ On 13-15 June, Earnse Bay on Walney Island near Barrow-in-Furness is again the venue for the British Kite Surfing Championships, where taster sessions will be available to the public.
FACT FILE
Requirements: No previous experience necessary, but must have ability to swim with confidence.
Contact:
www.northwestkitesurfing.co.uk
Tel 01229 470303 • www.kitesurfing.org (BKSA)
A view to a ghyll
Ghyll scrambling
‘Sometimes it rains in the Lake District…and if you’re going to get wet you might as well have lots of fun at the same time. This is basically what ghyll scrambling is – getting thoroughly soaked with a big smile on your face.’ So says Johan Hoving, owner of the excellently named River Deep Mountain High, which offers gorge walking, (or ghyll scrambling, as it’s also known in these parts), from Easter to October. It’s a pursuit that is far younger than the Northern English word ‘ghyll’, which means stream and originates from Old Norse. Indeed, the internationally-understood language of laughter and excited yelps is more often associated with this thrilling activity, as helmeted and waterproofed participants scramble, swim and slide along water courses, occasionally jumping off a waterfall or enjoying a natural ‘jacuzzi’. As Hoving makes clear, if you insist on clambering up and down streams, two things are inevitable: you’ll get wet, but you’ll also have a great time. In the north lakes, ghyll scrambling is offered by Newlands, an activity centre with a long and strong tradition dating back to 1905.
FACT FILE
Requirements: Equipment and waterproofs are supplied. Bring sensible shoes, swimwear and a change of clothes. Minimum age is normally 10 (but this can vary - so check with individual centres).
Contacts:
www.riverdeepmountainhigh.co.uk • Tel: 015395 31116
www.activity-centre.com (Newlands) • Tel: 017687 78463
Cache and carry
Geocaching
One of the fastest-growing outdoor pursuits is that of geocaching, basically treasure hunting using a GPS. It is played in most countries around the world with more than 75,000 caches in existence. Grid references are usually posted on a website and then you hunt them down – so it’s not the ‘where’ but the experience of the ‘getting there’ that is often difficult, while a walk in the countryside suddenly becomes an adventure (for children and adults alike) if there is hidden treasure at the end of it. Caches usually comprise small items such as trinkets or possibly a toy, though it could be anything, such as a Michael Bolton CD if you’re particularly unlucky), with the idea that you register your finding the cache, take the object and leave something in its place. With a good imagination, the options for group activities are endless.
A new twist and a little face-to-face competition has been added by local company Summit Journeys, which offers team geocaching days.
‘I use only my own caches as I prefer to create a theme that gives the client a more interactive and enjoyable experience, for example a spy story or hidden treasure,’ says Chris Boughay of Summit Journeys. As part of Cumbria’s Year of Adventure 2008, free geocaching taster sessions are available for all the family (minimum age 8 years) on 27 and 29 May and 27 October at Brockhole visitor centre.
FACT FILE
Requirements: GPS devices are usually provided on courses. Before buying your own, speak to an expert such as those at GPS Training (See All Mapped Out for details).
Contacts:
www.summitjourneys.co.uk • Tel: 01539 535810
Brockhole visitor centre: Tel: 0845 272 0004
www.gagb.org.uk (The Geocaching Association of Great Britain)
www.geocacheuk.com (UK Geocache Database)
Two wheels good
Biking
For those who like to see the scenery as a passing blur, downhill biking trails don’t come much faster than Skiddaw (931m or 3,054 feet) near Keswick, where if the ascent doesn’t kill you, the descent – described as ‘mental’ by some – just might. There is an abundance of mountain biking and more leisurely cycling on offer in the Lakes. For young cyclists, the village of Grizedale is a great cycling base, as its nearby tracks are free of other traffic. Grizedale Mountain Bikes offer cycle hire here. The forest is also home to the Northwest of England’s first purpose-built mountain bike route; the North Face Trail comprises nine sections of sinuous single-track and forms a ten-mile circuit. The Lakes also have three new cycle routes for 2008: a newly researched 72-mile Cumbria Way Cycle Route, which loosely follows the scenic Cumbria Way walking route; a 19-kilometre bike trail – the longest purpose-built mountain bike trail in the Lake District – opening at the end of this summer in Whinlatter Forest Park, near Keswick; and finally, the Lake District’s first permanent orienteering course for mountain bikers in Grizedale Forest. This new ‘Trailquest’ course offers something for keen family mountain bikers, as well as the enthusiasts. For those wishing to improve, CycleActive offers day and weekend mountain biking courses and private tuition for all levels, in Ambleside, including off-road and road cycling (National Standards Training) courses for kids.
FACT FILE
Contacts:
www.grizedalemountainbikes.co.uk • Tel: 01229 860369
Whinlatter Visitor Centre, Tel: 01768 778469
www.cycleactive.co.uk • Tel: 01768 840400
www.cumbriawaycycleroute.co.uk
www.sustrans.org.uk
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Power shower
Aquaseiling
In addition to becoming very wet, aquaseiling is what you get if you combine a waterfall and abseiling. For those for whom abseiling is getting a tad dull, you can now do it under a torrent of cold, free-falling mountain water, creating one of the best adrenaline activities in the Lake District. Adventure21 and Coniston-based Summitreks both offer this activity at various locations. Please be warned, though, power showers will forever disappoint after this exhilarating experience.
FACT FILE
Requirements: Safety equipment and waterproofs supplied. Bring spare shoes and swimming costume.
Contacts:
www.adventure21.co.uk • Tel: 01257 474467
www.summitreks.co.uk • Tel: 01539 441212
Walk on water
Walking
Who needs added incentives like geo-caching treasure when the splendour of this region is so close at hand (or should that be foot)? To truly appreciate the beauty of the Lakes, and to gain the best access to it, one must strike out on two legs (although it’s not against the rules to include the novelty of a ferry ride – see Don’t Miss page 76). The Lake District has six peaks over 900m in height (four above 3,000ft) for all kinds of walkers to enjoy, including of course England’s highest peak, Scafell Pike, at 978m (3,209ft), part of the foreboding Scafell massif to the north of Wast Water. A further 29 peaks lie above 800m (2,624ft), while there are 170 over 600m. However, to best appreciate these and other impressive mountains you don’t have to be on top of them – indeed, many of the lake shore and gentler, lower valley walks offer the best views (see Five of the Best page. Appreciation is enhanced by a good guide, however, and Mark Scott is one of the region’s most knowledgeable (as well as being a National Park Voluntary Ranger and mountain rescuer for the past 23 years). His company, Classic Fell Walks, offers 21 guided walks in summer and 13 lower-level winter walks. With so many options, it’s hard to whittle down the list. Andrew Leaney, a walking enthusiast whose excellent website contains useful descriptions and photography of many Lakeland fell routes, considers these the top five climbs: Fairfield Horseshoe, Skiddaw, The Langdale Pikes, The Coniston Fells and High Street from Mardale Head.
FACT FILE
www.leaney.org; www.lakedistrictwalks.com
Contact: classicfellwalks.co.uk • Tel: 07743 274115
Surf the turf
Skateboarding
Skateboarding goes off-road at the South Lakeland Mountainboard Centre in Sedgwick, where adrenaline junkies take to mountain boards (snowboards with big chunky wheels) in order to navigate obstacles, ramps and jumps on a grassy slope in open countryside. A friendly atmosphere prevails at the centre (most people seemed to be Spanish and polite – I heard the word ‘gracias’ a lot) where boarders can choose between three colour-rated runs (beginners green, intermediate blue and, frankly, lethal black). Trained instructors are on hand to help minimise the grass burn and steer you towards improving your technique.
FACT FILE
Requirements: A sense of balance? All safety equipment and boards provided.
Contact: www.surf-the-turf.co.uk • Tel: 07740 861019
Cliffhanger
Climbing
Cumbria’s multitude of crags, outcrops and varying terrain offers traditional and sport climbing to suit every style and grade. ‘The choice on offer in the Lake District is astounding,’ says Chris Boughay, owner of Summit Journeys, which offers introductory courses and advanced instruction. ‘For example, the Fell and Rock Climbing Club (FRCC) has five main guidebooks for the Lake District crags, with about 800 in each.’ At Borrowdale there are easy-access roadside climbs, quarries at Hodge Close and Parrock present superb slate climbing, while Langdale offers three excellent bouldering sites. That the Lake District (and in particular the cliffs at Wasdale Head) is considered the birthplace of English rock climbing makes it the natural place to try it for the first time. Joint Adventures of Coniston offers an array of outdoor courses, including a full day one for complete beginners, while at Lakeland Climbing Centre’s indoor wall in Kendal, where an entire room – known as The Chamber – is dedicated to easier grades, a 90-minute taster session should whet your appetite for more. Its Saturday Geckos session also allows children as young as six on the walls. In the north, Keswick Climbing Wall offers a similar introduction, with indoor and outdoor course for all abilities.
FACT FILE
Contact: Lakeland Climbing Centre: kendalwall.co.uk • Tel: 01539 721766
keswickclimbingwall.co.uk
Tel: 01768 772 000
www.jointadventures.co.uk • Tel: 01539 441526
www.summitjourneys.co.uk • Tel: 01539 535810
Polling day
Nordic walking
A sticky twist on the most basic method of travel, Nordic walking uses specially-designed, incredibly light poles to enhance your movement. It’s rise in popularity from its origins as a summer training technique for cross-country skiers in the 1930s is easily explained: anyone can do it, it burns around 400 calories per hour compared to normal walking’s 280 and is up to 46 per cent more efficient; and it tones the upper body, improves posture and is gentle on knee joints. Fiona Jones is an International Nordic Walking Association-qualified instructor who runs introductory workshops. ‘Unlike normal walking, it exercises both upper and lower body, so it’s a time-saving exercise,’ she says. ‘The special technique enables less fit Nordic walkers to easily keep pace with fitter walkers. It’s like having a gentle propellant, a hand behind your back helping you along.’ Even more impressive, Fiona has introduced many injured athletes to the sport, including one marathon runner awaiting a knee operation who was unable to walk let alone run, but who excelled at Nordic walking. She will be giving free taster sessions at the Lake District Visitor Centre, Brockhole on Saturday 2 and Saturday 30 August. There are thought to be seven million Nordic walkers worldwide, and with ever more folks out on the fell looking like they’ve lost their skis, one thing is clear: this Finnish pursuit is just getting started.
FACT FILE
Requirements: flexible walking shoes, layered clothing, poles are provided.
Contact: www.lake-district-nordic-walking.co.uk • Tel: 015394 46435
Wet wet wet
Water adventures
Some might say that if you don’t go on the water then you haven’t really visited the Lakes, especially when so much of the Lake District – some 5,669 hectares – is covered by the wet stuff. For sure, if you don’t go on the water, you’re missing out on a whole heap of fun. As you’d expect, waterborne activities are available throughout the area, but not always in winter. Lakes Leisure offers tuition in windsurfing, as well as sessions and courses in other pursuits at Windermere. Only on Windermere is there waterskiing, which is now only available from Low Wood Watersports and Activity Centre, but the relatively new 10mph speed limit has taken some of the oomph out of waterskiing. Like Low Wood, the National Park Authority’s Coniston Boating Centre on Coniston Water offers sailing lessons, and sail boat, row boat and canoe hire, while a particularly good choice of lake for a spot of sailing, canoeing or kayaking is third largest, Derwentwater (531ha). Not only might you spot an osprey or an otter, but you can explore and picnic upon three of the lake’s four islets. Boat hire and excellent tuition is provided by the very reasonable Platty+. From March until the end of October, amiable husband-and-wife team John and Sarah Platt not only offers the usual sailing, kayaking and canoeing but also, for groups, dragonboating and a chance to sail or row in a replica Viking longship. ‘Canoeing is our most popular activity,’ says John, a brilliant instructor who is friendly and widely knowledgeable. ‘If you really want to get on the water quickly, then canoeing is the easiest way.’ He’s right, but it’s trickier than it looks.
FACT FILE
Requirements: boats and safety equipment are provided.
Contact:
www.lakesleisure.org.uk • Tel: 01539 447 183
www.elh.co.uk/watersports • Tel: 01539 439 441
www.lake-district.gov.uk • Tel: 01539 441 366
www.plattyplus.co.uk • Tel: 01768 777 282
Monkey business
High ropes courses
Little monkeys (and their larger relatives) can climb and swing to their hearts’ content with two Go Ape attractions at each end of the Lake District, in Grizedale Forest Park, near Hawkshead in the south, and a new one in Whinlatter Forest Park near Bassenthwaite Lake in the north. With 16 around the country, Go Ape is something of a high-wire chain, and offers a challenge with an acrophobia-inducing adventure course of rope bridges, tarzan swings and zip slides, all set high up in the treetops.
FACT FILE
Requirements: Minimum age 10 years; children must be supervised by a participating adult; height and weight restrictions apply; wear practical clothing; safety equipment provided
Contact:
www.goape.co.uk • Tel: 0845 6439086
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IN THE KNOW
Getting there
The M6 motorway runs along the east of the national park, with the average car journey time from London, some 300 miles away, taking five hours, and about one and half hours from Manchester and two hours from York (both just over 100 miles). By plane, Manchester Airport is closest, while Penrith (best for Keswick), Carlisle and Kendal are served by fast, frequent Intercity rail services (four hours from London Euston).
Getting around the Lakes
Given that 89 per cent of the 12 million yearly visitors come by car, the roads can become heavily congested during summer with travel times on the roads slow (Windermere to Keswick may take 40mins, for example) and parking heavily restricted along many lanes. A good alternative is to take ferries across Windermere, Coniston Water and Derwentwater to foot- or cycle paths (bus services often link piers and paths too), or use the Oxenholme to Windermere Lakes Line rail service.
Local walks author Mary Welsh has designed five walks (one from each station), available to download at www.lakesline.co.uk/walks.pdf. Public transport Traveline: 0871 200 2233
When to visit
While visitors should be prepared to get wet even if they don’t do water sports (Seathwaite, just south of Keswick, is the wettest inhabited place in England, receiving on average 3,552mm annually), the unreliable – or reliably wet – weather has increased the Lakes potential as a year-round destination because there is such a rich variety of high-quality indoor attractions. (It perhaps should be noted that while fine weather cannot be relied upon, when this journalist visited he was blessed with a fair amount of sunshine while the rest of the country suffered rain.) Cumbria Tourism: 015398 22222; The Lake District Weatherline: 0870 055 0575 or visit www.lake-district.gov.uk/weatherline; Mountain Weather Information Service: www.mwis.org.uk
Fall-free fells
As I write this, five teenagers have just been airlifted to safety after becoming lost overnight in ‘atrocious conditions’ between Scafell and Scafell Pike. In 2007, Lakes rescuers dealt with 425 emergencies – the highest number to date. When splashing about on the water, wear a lifejacket and go with someone who is competent and knows the area. Walking routes should be suitable for conditions worse than forecast and for the weakest member of your party. Be aware of changing weather conditions and don’t be afraid to turn back. Take a phone and map and compass (and know how to use them). Let someone know your route/timetable. Take spare warm clothes, waterproofs, hat and gloves, a torch, survival bag, first-aid kit and plenty of water and food (don’t forget the Kendal mint cake – the local, world famous high-energy confectionery).
Websites:
www.lake-district.gov.uk
www.golakes.co.uk
www.lakedistrictoutdoors.co.uk
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DON'T MISS...
The Lakes’ long-standing status as a tourist destination, its rich cultural history and abundance of wet weather mean that visitors have more than enough attractions to keep them entertained and fascinated when not out on the fell. Christian Amodeo picks a few of the best
Hawkshead
Tiny and charming, with good restaurants and shopping, picturesque narrow cobbled streets and whitewashed houses, Hawkshead also boasts the Beatrix Potter Gallery in what was the writer’s husband William Heelis’ office. (A word of advice, buy tickets when you arrive as it gets busy.) William Wordsworth attended the local grammar school and you can still see his 200-year-old graffiti on many of the desks there. (Hill Top, where Potter wrote many of her children’s stories, is also well worth a visit, located between Hawkshead and Lake Windermere.
Bryson’s of Keswick
Bryson’s on Main Street, Keswick, is a long-established bakery whose first-floor traditional tea room is still the place to come for excellent sandwiches, cream tea, and its unique and delicious local speciality plum bread. These days you can order their products online, but it’s not the same as being there.
Lake cruises
Why splash, when you can glide? Pleasure cruising the lakes is a highly popular pastime invented by those clever Victorians, as well as a nifty way of moving around the Lake District. Ullswater ‘Steamers’ have been sailing for almost 150 years, while, Windermere Lake Cruises has three original steamers – Swan and Teal built in the 1930s, and Tern which was built way back in 1891 – as well as many, more recently-built launches. Apparently William Wordsworth fiercely opposed the launching of the first steamer, Lady of the Lake, on Windermere in 1845, but many celebrated it then and continue to do so today.
Dove cottage
Wordsworth lived at Dove Cottage from December 1799 to May 1808, his most productive years in terms of poetry. When one has tired of wandering lonely as a cloud, the Wordsworth Museum and Art Gallery at Dove Cottage (near Grasmere on the A591) is a must for any fans of poetry or the Romanticism movement, offering a guided tour with Wordsworth family portraits and furniture on display, as well exhibitions inspired by the poet or the Lakes, and children’s activities.
Rheged
Award-winning Rheged is an impressive, partially earth-covered visitor centre (Europe’s largest grass-covered building, in fact) at Redhills, Penrith. It has a lot going on, from live events to antique fairs, as well as shopping, a place to eat and indoor ‘soft play’ and new ‘Turrets and Tunnels’ outdoor play facilities for children. There are the IMAX movies shown every day about exploration, wildlife and the ancient history of the Lakes on a cinema screen the size of six double-decker buses, and a new, free, Discovering Cumbria Exhibition and Cumbria Information Centre. Finally, Rheged offers an array of craft shops and activities that reflect the region.
Mining heritage
Did you know that in the 16th century German miners came to Keswick and Coniston? Or that genteel and pleasant Keswick was once, according to local John Platt, more like a Gold Rush town in the Wild West, with as many as 70 pubs? I didn’t either. Keswick Mining Museum plots mining’s long history from the Lakeland mining from the Stone Age to the present day, and offers visitors the chance to strike it rich by gold panning – ‘Lovely little crystals and minerals to take away with you – the gold is a bit harder to find!’ The mine also runs a series of heritage walks throughout the year to various old mines, while for an established attraction, take Honiston Slate Mine’s ‘Kimberley’ tour, for an idea of what conditions underground were really like.
World of Beatrix Potter
The only Beatrix Potter-themed attraction in Europe, where you can visit Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddle-duck and many other delightful characters, the World of Beatrix Potter Attraction is located in Bowness-on-Windermere. For children of a certain age, and reminiscing adults who’d like to be that age once more.
Wordsworth house
National Trust-owned Wordsworth House in Cockermouth was where in the 1770s the young William lived with his four siblings and parents (and servants). After considerable research, the house and garden has been ‘returned’ to the late 18th century, so that a visit provides a fascinating insight into (relatively affluent) family life in this period. When you visit, look out for some of the Wordsworths’ servants going about their daily chores.
Images: Christian Amodeo, shutterstock.com, adventure21, River Deep Mountain High,
Illustrations: John Plumer
