Beatrix Potter’s Cottage

Today I’m posting photos from a couple of weeks ago when William and I were at Bay View for a few days and had decided to take a drive up the west side of Lake Windermere to Sawrey.  Sawrey being the location of Beatrix Potter’s cottage.  We stopped at a couple of places along the route.

Esthwaite Water being one of those places.   We parked the car and walked to the waters edge.  Fishermen in boats were doing their thing.  I always think it looks ever so nice when you see fishermen standing up in boats but at the same time I don’t think it looks particularly safe.  Think I’d rather sit down myself.

The whole scene was so calm and relaxing.  The view across the water was idyllic.

No picnic tables were in evidence so we opened the rear door of the car and used the back shelf.  A dull, damp and overcast day it might have been but that didn’t detract from the fun for me.  The smells of the damp earth, trees, dead leaves, the water and so on are all heightened on days like that and to me it’s all the better for of it. 

Travelling in a  northerly direction the next stop we made was Hawkshead.  We encountered rain there but still made it to the 12th century church for a look around.  We have visited Hawkshead more than once or twice over the years and always marvel at this beautiful age old church.

Our final destination, Sawrey, is only a hop, skip and a jump away from Hawkshead.  The countryside around these parts is, to my eyes, a to-die-for-picture-perfect-kind-of-countryside.  This house and its surroundings look just about perfect to me.

Looking over to the right of the house in the last photo is yet more perfection.

This garden path leads to…

 

… Hill Top, the famous cottage belonging to Beatrix Potter.  The day we visited the house was closed to visitors, just  my luck, but the garden was open.  William was none too bothered  but I would’ve liked to go inside.  The next time I go I’m thinking it’ll be with my daughter, Caroline.  We’re both Beatrix Potter fans and she like me will appreciate the experience. 

Walking around the village of Sawrey was a pleasure.  I love spotting little red Royal Mail post boxes slotted into stone walls.

This is  my favourite picture of the day.  I’m not quite sure why.  It may well have something to do with the red Virginia Creeper draped over the wall.  I do like Virginia Creepers.

On another day we took a picnic and prior to a walk ate it in the grounds of Sizergh Castle.  This time a picnic table was at hand.

Our walk brought this impressive elevation of Sizergh Castle into our sights.

On the drive home we spotted this herd of fallow deer by the River Bela on the Mallam Estate.  We’ve occasionally caught a glimpse of the deer up on the hill in the distance but never seen them en masse at the water’s edge like this.  I asked William to pull over so we could get a good look at them. 

Walking down by the salt marshes one sunny afternoon the horses as usual were in the field.  This horse was so friendly.  As jolly as anything he came right over to me as soon as I stood at the fence.  What a beauty he was too.

And with that my work here (at least for today) is done.

Until next time,

Sizergh to Helsington Church

As usual lately I’m behind with blogging so today’s post is from early last month when William and I had a few carefree days up at Bay View.

The weather was very kind to us and a walk in the country was what we fancied.  In particular the walk from Sizergh Castle to Helsington Church.

The land was level along this well travelled footpath at first but we knew it was going to be uphill some of the way. 

Through that gate and round that bend in the path…

.. was this green and pleasant view.

We weren’t there yet.  Still more climbing to do..

..before that white house came into full view.

Along with its farm buildings.

Some or all of that white house is available to rent through The National Trust.  If you follow this link you’ll be able to see what that lovely country farmhouse looks like on the inside.  It’d be a fantastic place for a break away from it all for certain.

Walking onwards and upwards and peering over a wall I noticed this farmer hard at work.  It’s always good to see dry stone walls being maintained and we’ve seen a lot of repair work being carried out over the last several years.  Our countryside just wouldn’t be the same if they were left to go to rack and ruin.

Finally the summit and the reward for our hike up the hill, The Parish Church of St. Helsington

.. with this wonderful, far reaching, panoramic view in front of it.  I borrowed this picture from a Visit Cumbria website.  It really doesn’t do the view justice but it was better than no picture at all.  Can’t remember why I didn’t get a shot of the view myself.

William and I both enjoyed a wander through the graveyard reading the headstones as we went.

Doesn’t everybody enjoy that?  Okay, I know maybe not everybody does but we certainly do!

The interior of the church with its lovely painted mural which was painted in 1919 and is  a WW1 memorial. 

After devouring the view and a good look round the church and its grounds we set off for the downhill ramble back to the car.

Our little dog, Muffin, is bobbing on in years now.  He turned 16 this week. At one stage he couldn’t navigate the steep steps down so William had to give him a helping hand.  At one time he would have practically flown down steps like that!

On the way down I peeped my head inside the barn we’d passed on the way up.

Won’t be long now before it’s full I’d say judging from the work going on in the fields around it.  I love our countryside and I love to see country life in action.

A couple of the sights along the route.

I thought this was a pretty sight.  I wondered if they were edible but needless to say that was all I did, just wondered.

It would’ve been nice to have spread a blanket and eaten a picnic here beside the car.  Maybe we’ll do that next time. 

 

A few minutes away from Sizergh Castle is Sizergh Barn where they sell home grown produce and locally handmade goods.

Including these baskets which I rather liked.

My favourite was this gondola basket.  They were all the rage when I was at school in the 60s.  I remember my brother made me one in his woodwork class.

And  now a couple of random pics to finish off.  The above vegetables were on sale at the Wolf House at Silverdale.  I loved the old rustic table, boxes and scales.  I must watch next time I’m there and notice if the scales get used.  I hope they do.  Looking at the picture now, I don’t think they do.  The weights wouldn’t have that much rust on them if they were in constant use would they?

And lastly, on the drive up to Bay View we stopped at the motorway services for a Starbucks coffee and this lovely vision with the Stars and Stripes flying pulled alongside the kerb in front of us.  It’s a 1959 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (or was it de Point?).  It was huge and it was immaculate!   It was fascinating too, just not your everyday sight.  Funnily enough we saw it again in the same place a couple of weeks later.  The owner sat nearby us and we got to chatting.  He told us the car’s history, most of which I cannot remember but it was interesting at the time. :-)

Until next time,