The English Lake District – Inspiration not just for walking

Of course my association with the Lake District is the love of the mountains, and over the next weeks and months I will be profiling many many of my favourite climbs and hikes there.

BUT! It’s not just me or other fell walkers who have wandered the lakes and mountains for motivation .  Some of the greatest names in British literature and poetry have lived or travelled here for their inspiration.  I can understand why and their work that we value today is owed much to this wonderful place.

William Wordsworth

I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o’er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

I suppose the most famous of the ‘Lake Poets’, the above poem ‘Daffodils’ was written by the sight of  the flowers on the banks of Ullswater, one the grandest Lakes.

Wordsworth was born and died in Cumbria and his house in the village of Grasmere attracts many a traveller from around the world.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

And a good south wind sprung up behind;
The albatross … did follow, And every day, for food or play, Came to the mariners’ hollo!
His most famous piece of work.. ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’
A great friend of Wordsworth they together formed the Romantic movement of poetry. This duo was also joined by Robert Southey. With the inspiration of the beautiful land about them it is easy to see how the  words came to be.

Beatrix Potter

Once upon a time there were four little Rabbits, and their names were — Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail, and Peter. They lived with their Mother in a sand-bank, underneath the root of a very big tree. Now then, this lady could be considered the Queen of the Lake District.  She loved animals, she loved nature.  In her childrens books she incorporated both and went on to bring us Peter rabbit and Co that we all know and love.  The money she made from the books went into buying farm after farm in The Lake District.  On her death she gave all to the National Trust and thus ensuring we have much the lovely untouched scenery we can see today.

Arthur Ransome

Another classic writer of childrens books.  His most famous being ‘Swallows and Amazons’ Many of the descriptions in his books stem from his surroundings in the Lake District and of course his love of sailing.  The Lakes being the perfect place. I could quite honestly go on and on with this list as many many writers famous or not have gone to the Lakes to write and live.  If you have never been then I would say it is a must for any trip taking in the Nort of England.  I look forward to sharing in the near future many of my travels there, past and present.