Beatrix Potter's Favourite Countryside Preview

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Bowness-on-Windermere is a thriving holiday town, the largest in the Lake District National Park, situated on the shores of Lake Windermere. It developed after the opening of the railway line from Oxenholme and Kendal to Windermere in 1847. Bowness was the nearest accessible point on the lake. The Victorian influence can be seen along the shoreline, in the late 19th century, wealthy businessmen from Lancashire built large residences overlooking the lake, and many of these have now been converted to hotels, such as the Langdale Chase Hotel, Storrs Hall Hotel, and the Belsfield Hotel.

We are now approaching White Cross Bay, which is a Park Dean Holiday Resort. During the Second World War, this tranquil lakeside setting was transformed into a secret aircraft production site operated by the Short Brothers. Built in 1941, the facility was deliberately positioned inland to protect it from German bombing raids, while Windermere itself provided an ideal natural runway for testing large seaplanes. It was here that the Short Sunderland flying boat was assembled and launched. Between 1942 and 1944, dozens of these aircraft were built at White Cross Bay, with many more repaired and tested on the lake. After the war, the factory was dismantled and the area gradually returned to civilian use, eventually becoming the holiday park seen today.

Brockhole on Windermere is one of the Lake District’s most popular visitor attractions. Today it’s a lively centre for families, outdoor activities, and cultural events.

At the heart of Brockhole is a striking historic house designed by the renowned Arts and Crafts architect Dan Gibson. Built in 1899, the house was originally a private residence, showcasing elegant design, traditional craftsmanship, and beautiful detailing. Surrounding it are landscaped gardens designed by the famous garden designer Thomas Mawson.

In 1966, the estate was opened to the public as a visitor centre, allowing people to enjoy both its natural beauty and its heritage.

Coming up on your right, Low Wood Bay sits along the shores of Windermere between Ambleside and Windermere village, offering one of the most striking viewpoints across the lake.

One of the most memorable features of this view is the sight of the Langdale Pikes rising in the distance. These distinctive peaks, particularly Pike of Stickle and Harrison Stickle, form a jagged skyline that stands out clearly, especially in good light.

Low Wood Bay is also home to the Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa where guests and visitors can enjoy lakeside views that change throughout the day, from soft morning mist over the water to golden evening light illuminating the Langdale range.

At 10.5 miles long, one mile wide, and 220 feet deep, Windermere is the largest natural lake in both the Lake District and England. As a ribbon lake formed by glaciers during the last Ice Age, it is fed by numerous rivers. Its name is strictly just "Windermere", but "Lake Windermere" is often used to distinguish it from the nearby town. The lake is dotted with 18 islands, the largest of which is the privately owned Belle Isle. This 40-acre island holds a unique circular mansion built in 1774, the first of its kind in England. Windermere’s waters have also been the stage for historic speed records; in 1930, Sir Henry Segrave broke the world water speed record here in his boat, Miss England II, reaching nearly 100 mph.

The Romans established an important presence in Ambleside at what is now Borrans Field. Around AD 79, under the command of Julius Agricola, a wooden fort known as Galava was constructed on an artificial mound. This raised position was chosen to help defend the site.

In AD 122, during the reign of Hadrian, the fort was rebuilt in stone, providing a more permanent and resilient structure. Galava housed a cohort of approximately 500 Roman soldiers, making it a significant outpost in the region.

The fort’s main purpose was to protect a vital Roman road that linked Ambleside to the western coastal port of Ravenglass, known to the Romans as Glannaventa. This road formed part of a wider network, connecting Galava through Troutbeck to Penrith (Brocavum) and further south to York (Eboracum), illustrating the strategic importance of Ambleside within Roman Britain.

At the northern end of Windermere is the popular market town of Ambleside, perfectly located in the heart of the national park. Surrounded by majestic Lakeland fells, Ambleside’s roots are in the medieval woollen trade, but the town you see today is primarily Victorian, built of traditional grey slate. With easy access to Grasmere, Keswick, Windermere and an unrivalled range of water sports, Ambleside is very popular with leisure visitors. Ambleside’s origins date from Romans, who built a stone fort at Waterhead called Galava. It is thought that Ambleside may have been named after a Norseman called Amal meaning summer pasture. Ambleside was granted a market charter in 1650, and Market Place became the commercial centre for agriculture and the wool trade.

The route from Galava Roman Fort continued through the small hamlet of Clappersgate, an area that later became an important 18th-century port. Here, slate from the Langdale valleys was loaded onto barges and transported down the lake, showing how the route remained significant long after Roman times.

Coming up on your right stands The Croft, a striking Gothic Greek Revival house built in 1830 for a Liverpool sugar merchant, Mr. Branker. Its boathouse can be seen on the left, while the house itself sits on the right. In an unusual feat of landscaping, Branker diverted the River Brathay so he could sail his yacht almost directly to his front door, reflecting both wealth and ambition.

Following the road towards Hawkshead and crossing the River Brathay, the buildings of Brathay Hall lie to the left. The estate was purchased in the 1830s by Giles Redmayne, a successful London draper whose fortune came from trading Italian ribbons during the French Revolution. His family remained there for a century. In 1939, the estate was sold and later became a vocational training centre, a role it still serves today.

Skelwith Bridge is a small but well-known village located between Ambleside and Elterwater. It takes its name from the stone bridge that crosses the fast-flowing River Brathay, a key feature of the village and an important crossing point for travellers through the area.

One of the most striking natural attractions at Skelwith Bridge is the series of waterfalls and rapids beneath and around the bridge. The River Brathay rushes over rocks here, creating dramatic cascades that are particularly impressive after heavy rain.

Historically, Skelwith Bridge was part of a network of routes linking valleys and settlements, and its position made it a useful crossing for trade and travel. Nearby farmland and woodland supported traditional rural life, while the river itself played a role in shaping both the landscape and local activity

Once owned by Beatrix Potter, this stunning and historical Grade II listed building is one of the most famous farmhouses in the Lake District. In 1930 following the death of the previous owner James Garth Marshall, his family wished to sell the estate. William Heelis and wife Beatrix Potter were determined that the estate would not be broken up. With some effort they scraped together enough money to buy the entire estate, in the hope that the National Trust would then be able to buy half back off them after raising the necessary funds through public subscription. Fortunately, the couple’s efforts were rewarded. The couple retained Yew Tree Farm in their parcel of land, helping the tenants establish a tearoom in the farm’s parlour. On Beatrix’s death in 1943 she bequeathed fifteen farms and over 4,000 acres to the National Trust, including Yew Tree Farm, a gift which has protected and conserved this unique corner of the Lake District to this day. The building starred as the location of her home, Hilltop, in the film ‘Miss Potter’.

Coniston is a traditional Lakeland village set beside Coniston Water, known for its strong industrial heritage and dramatic mountain backdrop. Unlike some of the Lake District’s more tourist-focused centres, Coniston has a rugged, working history that still shapes its character today.

Coniston Water measures, five miles long and half a mile wide, above its western shore, the mountain of the Old Man of Coniston towers above the lake and the village. The area is known for its rich mining history of copper and slate. Coniston has rich literary links with John Ruskin living in Coniston for his final 30 years and was ultimately buried in the area, his grave can be visited at St Andrews Church. Arthur Ransome also took inspiration from the area surrounding Coniston water for his book Swallows and Amazons. Donald Campbell made history in Coniston breaking 4 world water speed records on the water.

In September 1956 Donald Campbell attempted a world record on Coniston reaching a speed of 225.63 mph (363.12 km/h), followed by 239.07 mph in November 1957 and then 248.62 mph November in 1958. In January 1967 he had a final attempt on Coniston Water trying to achieve 300mph, however, his life ended tragically when he died attempting to reclaim the record. Campbell’s jet-powered hydroplane, Bluebird K7, was recovered from the bed of Coniston Water in 2001 and has since undergone restoration. The restored Bluebird is now displayed in a dedicated wing of the Ruskin Museum.

At the junction ahead we come to the Monk Coniston Estate, a beautiful and historically significant area on the western side of Coniston Water. It is closely associated with Beatrix Potter, a famous children’s author and a passionate conservationist who played a crucial role in preserving the Lake District landscape.

In the early 20th century, Beatrix Potter purchased large areas of land across Cumbria, including farms and countryside around Coniston. Her aim was to protect traditional farming practices and prevent the land from being overdeveloped. The Monk Coniston Estate formed part of this wider vision. She carefully managed the land, supporting local farmers and maintaining the character of the area.

This Remarkable beauty spot was once owned by Beatrix Potter, with a picturesque backdrop of the Langdale Pikes and Coniston fells. Created in the 19th century, by James Garth Marshall, it transformed three small tarns into one scenic lake to feed his sawmill in Coniston. Notably, Beatrix Potter purchased Tarn Hows, along with the nearby Monk Coniston Estate, to conserve the area. Upon her passing, she bequeathed half of the Estate to the National Trust, ensuring its preservation for future generations to enjoy. Tarn Hows is a great place to see local breeds such as Herdwick Sheep and Belted Galloway cows grazing on the pastures and you can often spot red squirrels and deer during a nature trail.

Wray Church, officially known as St Margaret’s Church, is a small but fascinating building built in the mid-19th century, it reflects the Gothic Revival style popular at the time and was created to serve the local estate and community.

One of the most notable figures connected to the church is Hardwicke Rawnsley, the church vicar from1877 to 1883, who later became one of the co-founders of the National Trust. Rawnsley was deeply passionate about preserving the natural beauty of the Lake District, and his ideas had a lasting influence on visitors to the area, including a young Beatrix Potter, who stayed nearby at Wray Castle. His work helped shape the conservation movement that protects much of the landscape you see today.

Inside the church, you’ll find beautiful stained glass windows designed by leading figures of the Arts and Crafts movement, including William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones. Their intricate designs bring colour and artistry into the otherwise simple interior.

A private house built in in the Gothic Revival Style in 1840. It was built for Dr James Dawson, a retired Liverpool surgeon, using his wife’s inheritance from a gin fortune. Wray Castle is an elaborate building, not technically a medieval fortress. The private house was rented out to guests including Beatrix Potter's parents who took her north for her summer holidays. Early holiday visits were to Scotland, but when the house they rented there became unavailable, they rented Wray Castle. Beatrix was 16 years old when they stayed here in 1882. Her parents entertained many eminent guests here, including Hardwicke Rawnsley. His views on the need to preserve the natural beauty of Lakeland had a lasting effect on the young Beatrix. She had already fallen in love with the unspoilt beauty surrounding the holiday home, which led her to buy Hill Top in 1905 with the royalties from her first books.

Hawkshead is a charming, historic village, known for its car-free cobbled streets, medieval charm, winding lanes, and whitewashed cottages. Explore local artisan shops, sample regional delights like Hawkshead Relish and Grasmere Gingerbread. Visit the Grammar School once attended by William Wordsworth, where his early writings are still on display. Hawkshead was originally part of the Furness Abbey Estate, with the monks residing at Hawkshead Hall just outside the village. Following the dissolution of the monasteries in 1536, Hawkshead developed primarily as a market town, with most of the buildings you see today built between the 17th and 18th centuries.

We now pass Colthouse, which played a significant role in the early Quaker movement in Cumbria. During the 17th century, this area became a centre for the Religious Society of Friends, who were drawn to the region’s relative isolation where they could worship freely. The Colthouse Meeting House, established in 1688, is one of the earliest purpose-built Quaker meeting houses in the north of England and reflects the Quaker values of simplicity, equality, and quiet reflection.

The surrounding burial ground offers a fascinating insight into Quaker traditions. Unlike many churchyards, Quaker graves are typically plain and unadorned, reflecting their belief in equality before God and rejection of outward display. At Colthouse, there is also the notable custom of separate burial areas for men and women. This reflects the historical structure of Quaker meetings, where men’s and women’s business meetings were held separately, each playing an important but distinct role within the community. Despite this division, the underlying belief was one of equality, with both men and women having a voice in religious and social matters, quite progressive for the time.

Esthwaite Water is one of the quieter and less crowded lakes in the District, yet it holds a special charm and character of its own. It is the eleventh longest lake in the region, measuring around 1.5 miles long and half a mile in width, with a depth of approximately 80 feet.

The lake is particularly well known for its rich wildlife. At the southern end, areas of still water are often covered with lily pads, creating a calm and picturesque scene. These lily-covered waters are famously associated with Jeremy Fisher, a character created by Beatrix Potter, who imagined him living among the reeds and lilies. Visitors may also think of Jemima Puddle-Duck, another of Potter’s creations, as they explore the area.

Hill Top Farm in Near Sawrey, was once owned by Beatrix Potter. This beautifully preserved farmhouse is a true gem, reflecting the charm of traditional Lakeland buildings. Potter purchased Hill Top Farm in 1905, with the proceeds from her first book, the Tale of Peter Rabbit. It became a source of inspiration for her and her writing, featuring in several of her stories. It functioned as a working farm throughout her lifetime and continues to do so today. Beatrix bought many pieces of land and property in and around Sawrey, including the Old Post Office, Castle Cottage and a number of small farms. In 1913, aged 47, she married William Heelis in London and moved to Lakeland, living at Castle Cottage which was bigger and more convenient than Hill Top. Upon her passing in 1943, Potter bequeathed Hill Top Farm to the National Trust with the stipulation that it be preserved exactly as she left it, a legacy that endures to this day.

Windermere village is situated just over one mile from the lake. Previously a village called Birthwaite, the town grew as a result of the railway station. Created due to local commercial interest in Kendal after the mainline went elsewhere, industrial leaders wanted the railway to head north to make use of the region's settlements and raw materials, such as iron ore and steel. Thanks to William Wordsworth, the famous poet who protested the railway through letter writing and rallying public opinion, the railway was never developed beyond Windermere. As the final stop on the line, Windermere became a crucial gateway, transforming the area into a popular tourist destination and leading to the development of the town.

We are now approaching Lindeth Howe Hotel, this is a historic country house overlooking Lake Windermere, and it has a special connection to Beatrix Potter and her family. In 1915, Potter purchased the property as a gift for her mother, Helen Potter. At the time, Beatrix had begun to invest much of her earnings from her successful children’s books into land and property in the Lake District, both to support her family and to help preserve the countryside she loved.

Her mother had spent many summers in the Lake District and had a deep affection for the area, so Lindeth Howe provided her with a permanent and comfortable home. Beatrix Potter regularly visited Lindeth Howe, and the house became closely associated with her life in the region.