back from the lakes part 3

Wednesday:  On Wednesday we set off for Beatrix Potter's first cottage in the Lake District, Hill Top Farm.  Of course, we used our bikes as our primary means of transportation from Chapel Stile to the village of Near Sawrey.

Our bike path (in blue).

Picture taken during a bike rest and map check.

We arrived at Hill Top Farm around 12:45pm, ready to find somewhere to eat our pack lunches, but we first went and bought our tickets, which gave us entry at 1:30pm.  I also bought a small book about Hill Top and Beatrix Potter (it was offered in two languages, English and Japanese).

We ate our lunch outside the small cottage and read the book.

Beatrix outside Hill Top.

Within two years of her purchase, Hill Top Farm had 10 cows, 14 pigs, some ducks and hens, and over 30 Herdwick sheep.  Beatrix added to her property whenever she could, buying land to extend her holding when it became available.  In May 1909 she bought a second farm in Sawrey, Castle Cottage, which met up with Hill Top land, and which she later moved into with William Heelis, whom she married in 1913.  Even after moving to the larger home she kept Hill Top exactly as it was to use as her studio and study, and as a place to entertain her increasing number of 'book visitors'.

SJ eating lunch and reading.

Part of her vegetable garden.

Being at Hill Top began to influence her writing and in the book there are many examples of illustrations from her books that are inspired by Hill Top.

The Entrance Hall and illustrations from The Tale of Samuel Whiskers (click to enlarge).

The Landing and illustrations.

The garden path and illustrations from The Tale of Tom Kitten and The Tale of Pigling Bland.

Pictures from her home and sketches that match with her book illustrations.

I find Beatrix Potter to be a great source of inspiration.  Not only did she strive to do what she truly enjoyed (and succeeded), but she was a very strong woman in other aspects.  For example, during World War I, with the men being called up at ploughing time and taking horses to the Front, Beatrix managed the farm herself, even working in the fields at harvest time.  In 1924 she bought Troutbeck Farm (which I would like to go to someday), near Windermere.

Through her friendship with Canon Hardwicke Rawnsley, who founded the National Trust in 1895, she became a strong supporter, particularly interested in land preservation, preventing the break-up of large estates and the destruction of old cottages, in stopping the building of cheap developments, and ensuring the continued breeding and maintaining of Herdwick sheep on farms in the district.

Beatrix left everything in her will to Willie for his lifetime, stipulating that after his death all her property should go to the National Trust: over 4,000 acres of land, and numerous cottages and farms.

After Hill Top we biked down to the lake to get the ferry across and then to take another ferry ride up to Ambleside.

Views from the ferry.

From Ambleside we biked 4 miles back to Chapel Stile, where we washed up, took our postcards to the pub and wrote while having a pint to cool down.

Adventures in the mountains tomorrow...