Click here for an overview of prices

Beatrix Potter's Lake District:

Visitors can trace the footsteps of the beloved children's author and the stars of Miss Potter by exploring the breathtaking scenery of the Lake District. Much of the land, and many of the original attractions have been well-kept since the early 1900s, largely a result of Potter's efforts to preserve the land she loved. Potter donated over 4,000 acres of land to The National Trust to keep it safe for future generations to enjoy. Most of Potter’s classic children’s books, including the ever popular, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, were inspired by and written in the area.

Beatrix Potter was a bold advocate of the local farmlands and countryside of the Lakeland area, and her influence has remained apparent in the preservation of the land to this day. Hill Top  (www.nationaltrust.org.uk),  a small farm near Sawrey in Cumbria  was once a prized farm of Beatrix Potter who loved to care for the land herself. Potter said that she was happiest when she was at her farm with the animals, an inspiration for many of her stories and books. Today the Hill Top farm and house are in the care of the National Trust and open to the public. Visitors can view the furnishings, library, and manicured gardens exactly as Potter left them, an excellent outing to explore a bit of the past.

Tarn Hows, one of the most visited spots in the Lake District, was also bought by Beatrix Potter and later sold to the National Trust. Travelers can take a walk through the magnificent forests along the lakes and revel in the natural beauty surrounding.

Another great walk is the Coffin Walk between Dove Cottage and Rydal Mount.  These are two of famous poet William Wordsworth's houses, so there is plenty of romance in the air. The walk is about 45 minutes long and very scenic.

In addition to the peaceful lakes, the many gardens in the area are a famous attraction of the Lake District. Holehird Gardens were voted one of the nation’s favorite gardens by Gardeners’ World in 2002. Potter stayed twice at the ten-acre hillside gardens that feature a wide variety of plants and flowers.

A must-see for any Beatrix Potter or Peter Rabbit fan is The World of Beatrix Potter (www.hop-skip-jump.com) in Bowness-on-Windermere. Renee Zellweger recently unveiled a new bronze outdoor sculpture called The Enchanting World of Beatrix Potter. Here, visitors can see three-dimensional representations of the famous characters Cecily Parsley, Jemima Puddleduck and Peter Rabbit in real life, and take a tour of the Peter Rabbit garden.

In addition to being a skillful writer, Beatrix Potter was also a masterful painter. The Beatrix Potter Gallery (www.nationaltrust.org.uk) in Hawkshead houses an annually changing exhibition of Potter’s original artwork and watercolors. The gallery stands in a renovated building that was once the site of her husband William Heelis’ (played by Lloyd Owen in the film) offices. In addition to Potter’s artwork, the building houses many of the artifacts from the original office.

The area of Derwent Water  has a long historical and literary background as well. Potter called the shores of Derwent Water home from 1885 to 1903. This area later became a setting for a number of her books and many of her sketches and illustrations include well-known views from the area. In one such sketch, the character Squirrel Nutkin is shown paddling the lake towards St. Herbert’s Island, and in another illustration, Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle can be seen in front of one of the highest mountains in the Lake District, Skiddaw. The Catbells (www.catbells.co.uk) walk around beautiful Derwent Water is also a great opportunity to take in the sites. The walk up Catbells fell is also where Potter set her Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle story, and offers exquisite views of the lake below.

• Please click here for more information on Beatrix Potter  and the Miss Potter film
• Please click here for the life of Beatrix Potter

Back to top