Bowness and Beatrice Potter

Lake Windermere is the largest natural lake in England but only a mile at it's widest and just over 11 miles long
The whole lake is within the Lakes District National Park - it is a long skinny lake(ribbon is the correct geographical term)
but has quite a few islands in it.  The biggest of these is Belle Island and is privately owned. The previous owner built a
round house on it that the locals of Bowness across the water from it objected to so he planted lots of trees to hide it
from them. The herons that nest in the trees of the islands have very acidic poo and are slowly killing them.

Back of the B&B in Bowness on Lake Windemere

Front of the B&B - Doggy friendly,
Great Vegetarian cooked breakfast

Michael and Michael, owners of the B&B told us that the Lake Districts have over 9 million visitors a year and that they rarely have vacancies. The shops in Bowness were certainly set up to take advantage of the tourist trade. Just as many camping gear shops as there were sweet shops.  Lots of art galleries and trinket shops. One I really liked was called Love the Lakes, they stocked local artist's cards, jewelry and prints. Another item was refills for reed diffuser bottles, a sensible idea that I have been wishing my favourite brand -Ecoya would do to save waste and cash! They had a fig and pear one that I will order online(within UK only) one day to try.

The Beatrix Potter Attraction was one reason why I chose to get our accommodation in Bowness. Apart from her fame as the most published English author she also bought up local farms to protect them from development then gifted all her land to the National Trust to be protected for public enjoyment and conservation.

The first farm bought by Ms Potter with the royalties from her 'little books'

The post code I had recorded for this place took us up the road to Windermere village, it was very very busy but M managed to find a park. A very rude and pudgy young chap in a black hatch thought that he should have had the park and threw the middle finger at us as he impatiently passed when M had finished maneuvering into place.  Nana was very offended and considered chasing him down for an apology, the next three men walking towards the pay and display machine were given close scrutiny but none turned out to be the lout in question.  Lucky him! Unfortunately M discovered, after a bit of a wander around Windermere that the B.P.A was back down the road from our B&B. We had a nosy in a couple more chocolate shops and another art gallery before we passed the library that was advertising a display of Auschwitz survivors that had been resettled in the town after WWII. M gave someone else our parking ticket and we went back down to Bowness.

Even though he had had a big walk, Charlie didn't want to stay in the car this time and stood on the driver's seat while we were in the B.P.A.  The Pay and Display machine was right beside the car so he probably had a merry time barking his head off at anyone approaching - at least no one would try to nick him in that mood. Unfortunately for his tough guy image he still had his fleecy blanket over his back the whole time.

Nana and Peter Rabbit

Petal colours in a drawing on the touch screen

Willow with Mrs Helis(nee Potter)

This story was the first book I ever bought with
my own money - won in a colouring competition.

Instructions from mum before off to play

Mr McGregor loves disobedient rabbits for tea

Instructions ignored

We watched a little film sketching out the details of Ms Potter's life then were allowed through to a giant diorama of Peter Rabbit and his friends. Life sized displays of water coloured scenes from the little books were presented along winding paths until arriving at a room with interactive displays about the author and her creations. The expected store was full of little creatures wanting to be taken home.

The Blue cruise - Charlie was a bit green

After rescuing Charlie and the folks wanting to buy their parking tickets, we walked down to the lake and caught the Blue cruise ferry which took us past some beautiful properties on the shore of the lake. The rain came so we were happy to stay indoors with a drink and snacks as we listened to the pilot's narration.  One large hotel had been built as a private residence and the owner had used it to train black slaves how to work as household servants before selling them. A folly built on this property at the edge of the lake had arches 10 feet above the water level that in a recent flood had been covered - that is a lot of rain and runoff.

Storrs Hotel - built by Joseph Gandy for John Bolton - Slave Trader

As we got off the cruise the rain hammered down, the biggest optimist, M - the only one without a raincoat on, had to borrow my gum flower umbrella. A work colleague had told him that it just wasn't the done thing to walk around the Lake Districts with and umbrella - water proof pants yes, umbrellas no.

The family were much happier
at a place with WIFI.

Nana was tired so had a night in with Charlie while we went to the local Cinema - Willow choose 'Summer on Leith'.  Unless you are a huge fan of the Proclaimers, I suggest you give it a miss.  The best thing about it was the tiny theater we watched it in and the scenery of Edinburgh.
We got absolutely soaked walking to tea but soon warmed up with plates full of deep fried Camembert with cranberry sauce and breaded mushrooms with a chilli dipping mayo and a brown butter sauce. Petal's pizza passed the test too - great Italian opposite the theater!

Reading Now: Didn't find a book shop although Nana found a Newsagent to buy the Christening Mags to take home. Had to watch a doco on saving Britain's narrow gauge railways instead - oh joy.