The Lake District is somewhere I haven’t explored that much, so a trip last September had me pleasantly surprised and ‘wowed’ by the wonderful scenery. My husband and I were only there for a couple of days but I can’t wait to return again soon.
On our first day we went to see Beatrix Potter’s cottage – we had deliberately chosen our hotel to be nearby. The National Trust who own the property, often arrange visits to her farm too but not on the day we visited. However, we were happy just to visit her delightful country cottage. I was particularly struck by a lovely old clock (still in working order) in the entrance hall but unfortunately couldn’t take it with me!
The cottage looks out over the fields as well as having a working garden still growing vegetables.
Our next stop took us to the very pretty tourist centre of Hawkshead where we bought our lunch.
Then we travelled to Coniston Water for our pre-arranged trip on one of the last original steam boats on the Lake. Our National Trust guide told us that not only is Coniston Water one of the deepest lakes, it also has its fair amount of history. It is the resting place of Donald Campbell who tried to break a new water speed record in 1967; but on a happier note, it also boasts the houses of Ruskin, an important Victorian art historian and critic, and Arthur Ransome, author of the children’s classic, Swallows and Amazons.. The original 1974 film adaption of Arthur Ransome’s book was actually filmed on Coniston Water. Author, Sophie Neville, played the heroine in this production as a young girl and I have asked her to share her experience with me.
“Playing the part of Titty Walker in ‘Swallows and Amazons’ was much like sailing into the pages of the book – except that we had a seventy-strong film crew in our wake. We spent the first day on the Haverthwaite Steam Railway, and later recorded scenes with Dame Virginia McKenna at Bank Ground Farm above Coniston Water, where you can stay or take tea when visiting the lakes. The old farmhouse is called Holly Howe in the books and has amazing views. You can also run down the field to Coniston Water to the boathouses where we found the clinker-built dinghy ‘Swallow’, based on one that Arthur Ransome bought himself in 1929. However, it is a long, long way down the lake to Peel Island, which is featured as Wild Cat Island in the original film and series of books. I made the voyage wearing nothing but a yellow cotton dress and pair of enormous navy blue gym nickers, nearly freezing to death, but enjoyed exploring the island and other locations.”
You can read more in Sophie’s ebook, ‘The Secrets of Filming Swallows and Amazons” available from all the usual retailers and on Kindle here:
Listen to Sophie narrate ‘The Making of Swallows and Amazons’
A signed and dedicated copy of Sophie Neville’s illustrated paperback, ‘The Making of Swallows and Amazons (1974) is being auctioned in aid of BBC Children in Need. Please find the details on the Jumble Bee site here:
Sophie appears with Dame Virginia McKenna and Suzanna Hamilton in the DVD Extras accompanying the 40th Anniversary DVD of Swallows and Amazons available here:
The film is also streaming on Amazon Prime Video:
Or you can watch a trailer of her book on Youtube
