Beatrix Potter & Arthur Ransome

Another beautiful, sunny, 72-degree day here in the Lakes district. An quick breakfast and an early start took us down some of the most terrifyingly narrow roads we've yet seen with towering 10'-12' stone walls on either side. We passed two busses and two semis which was heart-stopping. But we survived. We were at Beatrix Potter's Hilltop home well before opening time to avoid the queue. Here's the gate into Beatrix's Hilltop cottage...

And here's the home where she wrote most of her work. It looks as if she just stepped out for some fresh air and left all of her possessions exactly where she last used them- which is pretty much what she wanted to have done upon her passing. Once again- no interior photography allowed.

Jane peeking into the vegetable garden at Hilltop...

Waiting to go inside...

And a broader view, thanks to some English friends we made while waiting to go in.

Poetically- here's one of Peter Rabbit's kin hopping about in Beatrix' yard quite near the vegetable garden...

This is actually the home where Beatrix and Willie Heelis lived for 30+ years: Castle Cottage. It's right across the street from Hilltop. Beatrix never lived in Hilltop after she was married, saying it was too small for two people. She used Hilltop for her writing and painting throughout her lifetime, but not her residence after marriage.

And here's Jane, waiting to go into the Tower Bank Arms pub right next door to Hilltop. This pub is also a part of the National Trust of England and has been there for centuries. Like Hilltop itself, Tower Bank Arms dates from the early 1600's and remains largely unchanged.

Here's the fireplace inside...

And the bar itself...

The former office where Beatrix Potter's husband Walter Heelis worded (with his uncle Walter Heelis) is now the site of the Beatrix Potter museum which holds her original manuscripts and illustrations. Again- no photos allowed inside.

This afternoon we went on the once-per-week-only "Arthur Ransome Cruise" on Coniston Lake. Here's the boat. We were blessed to have been here on Wednesday afternoon- the only day this tour operates!

The boat operator is a SERIOUS member of the Arthur Ransome Society and provided a WONDERFUL 2-hour tour of many of the sites that Ransome wrote about in his wonderful books. He quoted the books at length, did dramatic recitations, asked Ransome trivia questions, taught everyone nautical knots and much more. We thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the cruise. Below is a small island that figured prominently in Ransome's writings; Wildcat Island.

Sheep graze near the lake. These sheep were hundreds of feet up a steep hillside above the water.

Ransome's writings feature a steam-powered boat, much like this one still operating today.

This is a Herdwick sheep, which is the type Beatrix Potter raised at Hilltop.

Late afternoon sun illuminated the hills above Coniston and Windemere lakes...

We had a truly memorable day. Everywhere you looked inside Hilltop there were details which appear EXACTLY the same way in Beatrix Potter's illustrations for her wonderful little books: stair cases, tables, windows, doors, gates and more. She simply painted what she saw around her every day and it was magical to see the illustration right beside the inspiration for the drawing. Likewise, we saw dozens of sites on Coniston lake that are a part of the fabric and detail of Arthur Ransom's writings. We also saw the home where Ransome lived for many years with his wife, overlooking Coniston lake. Back to Lindthwaite house for a wonderful dinner and tomorrow it's off for the Yorkshire Dales in search of James Herriot!