Guest Author - Nicola Jane Soen
One of the most beautiful places to visit in England is the Lake District. Brought to prominence by Beatrix Potter, the author of the famous Peter Rabbit books; it is famous in its own right. Past Manchester, the Lakes are, in most people’s opinions who have seen them, one of the most beautiful places on earth.
With its Rolling hills, and valleys with rushing streams and beautiful picturesque lakes; it is breathtaking. There are so many different types of green it is absolutely stunning. In autumn it is like some foretaste of heaven. So many different types of trees; the shapes and vista are amazing.
The shades of colour when the leaves are turning from yellow, pink and brown to grey black and vibrant red are just awesome. The huge sky, showing vast over the hills, with different ranges of blue is majestic. It is a land of rainbows, although it rains a lot, the rainbows seemed to follow us everywhere; and so deep its colours!
Seeing the sheep and Shetland ponies’ knee deep in heather and grasses is a joy to behold. A camera is an absolute essential.
The streams flowing down the hills, with stones and surrounded by trees are just so pretty and scenic.
The houses with their blue grey stone are so quaint and unusual. The bricks are flat and short with some houses with many stories. They are like nothing I have seen before; really beautiful and they blend into the landscape like they are a part of it.
The landscape is so vast and of such contrast to the sky it is no surprise that artists such as Wordsworth, Beatrix Potter, Arthur Ransome (who wrote the Swallows and Amazons), Turner and Constable and others come from all over the world to paint or write about it.
There are bed and breakfasts’ available a plenty and many caravan or motor home parks. These often supply electric and have shower facilities. There are also many sights like Beatrix Potters own home and Wordsworth House. National Trust has lots of information on walks and days out. I have put a few websites, which are very good at the bottom of this article.
A word of advice take good stout walking boots and a wind and water proof coat with hat and gloves, it gets very nippy. Planning the walks ahead of time is best and guides to walks in the lakes can be brought in local shops. Research where to stay. We stayed just off Caldbeck Village; where we drove to a camping site on a farm. This has room for six caravan or motor homes. The lady there was pleasant and very helpful. There is both electric supply and shower facilities, but make sure you have you own supplies, though eggs are available on site to buy. The are also some good Bed and Breakfast places, if you are not camping out. Do check out the sites below.
www.southlakeland.gov.uk/tourism
www.nationaltrust.org.uk.
www.lake-district.gov.uk (This does a very useful year long guide of events)
