by Katerina Nikolas

Created on: June 21, 2010

The English Lake District is much famed for its poetry connections and travellers come from worldwide to see the land where Wordsworth wandered. Visitors come in their thousands from Japan, fascinated by images conjured by Beatrix Potter. It is an area where nature dominates, with mountains shadowing lakes, fells and pikes offering almost solitary discoveries, and small villages which have grown to accommodate the tourist trade. It is preserved as a National Park and has areas of stunning beauty to rival anywhere in the world.

Walkers head to the Lake District in droves, clad in sturdy boots, to escape from the beaten track. Fell walking is a more popular pursuit than scaling the mountain heights, whilst the less energetic can enjoy country walks in splendour.

A good route to take if travelling within the Lake District is to start with Bowness on Windermere, then move onto Ambleside, Rydal, Grasmere, and up to Keswick. These are good bases for both walking and enjoying the lakes of Windermere, Rydal Water, Grasmere and Derwentwater. For those who really like the more secluded heights it is well worth taking the mountain road from Windermere and travelling up to Ullswater.

Bowness on Windermere sits on the edge of Lake Windermere, the largest lake. It is a small town which is packed to the brim with summer tourists who are catered for with lots of restaurants and pubs, plus boat trips. Even amidst the summer crowds there are quiet walks to be found, and it is well worth taking the car ferry over to Hawksworth, a charming countryside village made famous as the home of Beatix Potter. The ‘World of Beatrix Potter’ which houses exhibitions celebrating her writings is actually found in Bowness itself, and is a must see attraction for children.

Ambleside is the next port of call, sitting on the edge of Lake Windermere. The village itself is a short walk away from the lake, and a popular stop with the picture postcard Bridge House in the village center. The small town is packed with good places to eat and is surrounded by lush countryside. It is just a short distance away from the tiny hamlet of Rydal, home to one of the best kept secrets of the Lake District, Rydal Water. Although not as well known as the larger lakes it is the perfect spot for fell walkers to explore the low fells, and is home to Rydal Mount, a small country house once rented by Wordsworth.

Dove Cottage in the next small village of Grasmere can be reached by walking along the edge of

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