Anna Rubingh - Lake District

Photography & Text © Anna Rubingh

Published in Seasons Magazine (NL) 09-2021

combined with a culinary series

#3518 Moss Eccles Tarn

#2679 Hawkshead

#3495

#2922

#2292 Lake Windermere

#3598 Lake Windermere

#2793

#2563

#2370

#3475

#3179 Near Sawrey

#2966 Hill Top

#2340 Lake Windermere

A short ferry trip (or a longer scenic boat trip) across lake Windermere brings you to the more peaceful side of the lake. The views from the lake are stunning by the way; the big deep blue lake with forest clad lakesides and the rough fells beyond. Beatrix Potter (the famous children’s book writer and illustrator, but I guess her name needs no further explanation) , who lived and farmed in this region for more than 30 years in the second part of her life after having shaken off her Victorian upbringing, bought big parts of land and several farms in this area preventing it from being spoilt by holiday home developers in the 1930ies. That is probably the most important reason for the area being still quit unspoiled today. After she died in 1943 she left everything she owned to the National Trust, including over 4,000 acres of land (over 1600 ha.), 17 farms, cottages and herds of Herdwick sheep and cattle together with all her original artworks.

After crossing the lake the quiet countryside on the east side of the lake covers you with peace, quiet and of course an abundance of beautiful English countryside. Small gravelled country footpaths taking you as far as Hawkshead, a pretty, old market town just north of Esthwaite Water, yet another beautiful lake, passing the picturesque old small villages of Far - & Near Sawrey along the way. Real English countryside in plenty with its old farms, green hills, forests and of course sheep, plenty of sheep. Beyond that are the rough fells with its beautiful views, wherever you look really, and more sheep and cattle. This part of the Lake District brings you the best of both worlds; lovely green hills and English countryside together with rough Lake District fell land with its mesmerizing views. And the funny (and good) part of it all is that it is really quiet, apart from a couple of walkers and the occasional local walking his or her dog or attending his sheep, the trainload of tourists I met on arrival were nowhere to be found.