Hill Top

Wednesday was another beautiful sunny day in the Lake District. A few fluffy white clouds billowing across the sky, ideal for a walk in this picturesque part of the UK. I looked at the maps and decided I would take the ferry across the Lake and then walk along a lakeside path to Wray Castle.

 This is the small car and pedestrian ferry. I had to climb down to the water's edge for the photo but it was difficult to get a side on view of the boat without wading out into the water! If you look at the right hand side you can just about make out a tractor driving off the ferry.

     But once across the lake I was intrigued by a pathway leading me upwards to a disused Victorian viewing station. In its heyday in the 1830s and 40s you would have been able to enjoy afternoon tea whilst admiring the view. The windows would have been tinted just as the light changes according to the season: light blue for Winter, green for Spring and yellow for Summer.

 I continued up the hill and was thrilled by the views that emerged once I got above the tree tops. As it is still winter the leafless trees made the views more spectacular.

 I now realised I was going in the wrong direction for Wray Castle but the walk was so good I just carried on up and over the hill until I came across a signpost. This showed me the way to Hill Top the home of Beatrix Potter, most famous for her illustrated children's books ( The Tale of Peter Rabbit etc).

 Coming down the hillside I could see the village of Near Sawrey nestled in amongst the trees.

 If I'd brought a packed lunch I could have rested here but the temperature was only just above freezing so still a little cold to sit outside. In many places I saw an honesty box where people just left the money.

 Finally I reached Hill Top. Beatrix Potter was an excellent artist and loved to draw and paint plants. She was not just an author but a very talented illustrator, her drawings of fungi are still recognised today as being of excellent accuracy and quality.

 The garden was featured in a number of her books.

By now I had walked quite a few miles and was in need of a sit down and something to eat and drink. Luckily for me there was a pub not too far away.

 The stables had also been converted into cosy eating places.

 After a delicious meal and drink I made my way back to the ferry.