Come For An Amble With Me…
This week my husband is on leave. We decided to take full advantage and explore our surrounds. I am so very excited to share this particular trip with you. Can you guess where we are…
Another clue perhaps?
Yes! We took a drive up to Windermere Lake, and among other things, visited Ambleside, home of Charlotte Mason! This was one visit that was purely for mom! Although having said that, as we visited the Armitt Museum, where Charlotte Masons original works are held, we found so much more! This beautiful part of the world has been home to numerous famous people such as the likes of Beatrix Potter. The girls set about making various things at the activity table – Jessica made a collage of all things notable from Windermere, and Tori, inspired by paintings by Beatrix Potter, created a little folded nature booklet, complete with fungi illustrations.
Walking around Ambleside, it is not hard to see why Charlotte Mason advocated lots of time spent outdoors. It is just beautiful! There is a lifetime of nature to satisfy even the most avid of naturalists! This area is just so beautiful that I could not stop clicking away! I will include a couple of photographs here, but if you would like to see the complete set, please visit my Flickr page.
Another of my hero’s that come from this beautiful area is of course Beatrix Potter! She also drew much inspiration from her surrounds and was an avid mycologist. We decided to give the Beatrix Potter Museum in the town of Windermere a miss, mainly because it seems to be an area with lots of over-sized replicas of her characters which really does not appeal to me. It feels kinda of kitsch – but I am sure that younger children would probably be enthralled by it all. Instead we decided to head up to Hilltop Farm. We decided to take the ferry across the lake to get there – much to the girls delight!
BTW, this is the little jumper I knitted for Jess for Christmas
We enjoyed our surrounds while we waited…
And of course the actually trip across the lake!
Unfortunately Hilltop Farm was closed due to winter maintenance, but we got a couple of snaps at the foot of the drive ;o) and enjoyed the Cumbrian countryside.
It has given us the perfect excuse to come back in summer. We have all agreed that we would rather make a weekend of it next time as there is just so much to see and enjoy! I’m looking forward to seeing Hilltop Farm in full bloom as well as enjoying some of the water sports that the lake has to offer in summer ;o)
7 Comments
Hoeks-in-UK
I love the lake District – could easily love there 🙂
Nancy Kelly
I am both happy for you and insanely jealous. Next thing I know, you'll have visited Tintern Abbey, too.
Lovely, lovely photos and family.
Some day I'll get there. For now, I'm off to see your other photos.
Admiration, Hope and Love,
Nancy
karen
I am totally admiring the cardigan you knit!!
Serena
I too am jealous! 😉 Beautiful scenery and photos. Love the jumper that you knit for your daughter. Great color.
Loving Learning
wow, how wonderful Shirls!
Ellen
Just joining in the jealousy circle. 🙂 I'm a new follower; found your blog via the CM carnival. I'm going to be in the UK this March for a quick trip with a friend — she goes on business every year and I've tagged along before. I'd suggested a day trip to the lakes, especially to see Windermere and Hilltop Farm (I just read Linda Lear's most excellent bio of Beatrix Potter — reviewed on my blog, if you're interested). But turns out it's too far to make a good daytrip, especially since we won't have a car. Next time! For now, your photos will have to do, which I'm sure they will do marvelously!
Shirley-Ann
;o) Thank you all for your lovely comments. Ellen, If you ever do get to England again, pencil in an overnight stay at Windermere – it is just beautiful! We are certainly going to do the same some time this summer!
Nancy – I love your blog and thought of you and Karen Andreola while walking through Ambleside! How funny is that???
Desiree – I know that you were lucky enough to spend a whole week in the lake district – lucky girl! I could live there too ;o) It is probably horrid in summer with all the tourists though -lol