A Day in England’s Lake District

Leaving Liverpool, we headed north through England’s Lake District, eventually crossing into Scotland and our next destination, Edinburgh.

Today may have been one of our favorite days on the road!

 

The Lake District

The Lake District National Park is England’s largest National Park and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The region is known for its glacial ribbon lakes, rugged mountains, and local market towns.

We passed through Windermere, located at the northern end of Ambleside, considered by many to be one of the most beautiful parts of the Lake District.

 

 

Both of us commented that this would be a place we’d love to come, hide out, and explore for a few weeks.

 

First Stop Coniston

Our tour bus left the main roads and took us along winding roads that looked way too narrow for two vehicles to pass. But he was amazing and did an excellent job of getting us to our destinations safely.

We stopped at a farmhouse for a visit with the current tenant.  The property is part of the National Trust. A farmhouse dating back to 1640, which was one of many owned by Beatrix Potter, the author of Peter Rabbit.

 

Random Weird Stuff:

The National Trust is a British conservancy dedicated to preserving natural beauty and culture. Many of the houses we saw were part of the trust that maintains everything for the tenants.

 

The house we visited features dry stone walls, original slate and oak floors, a staircase dating back 250 years, and a stove that, until 1920, when a fireplace was installed, heated the entire house. They finally received electricity in 1956 and underwent an 18-month facelift in preparation for a visit from the late Queen Elizabeth in 1985.

 

 

More Random Weird Stuff:

The Queen planted an Oak tree, which later on died. The National Trust swept in under the cover of night and replaced it.

 

Our hostess was excellent, and we were divided into groups, each sitting in a different room of the house. She shared stories about life there, the house, and the Queen’s visit.

 

 

Tea and Scones

Additionally, we were treated to incredible homemade Scones, Raspberry Jam made from raspberries grown on the farm, and, of course, pots of tea. The Scones, which she let us photograph the recipe for, were huge; in the southern U.S., they’d call them ‘Cat Head Biscuits.’

 

 

 

Most of us opted for the Devon method of preparing our scones, cream first, then jam. We found that cream spreads more easily when applied first, rather than when the jam is put on first. Sorry, Cornwall. 

 

 

It was an incredible visit, and we’re so glad we got to spend some time visiting the farm.

 

Spectacular Countryside

First, spectacular lakeside towns, then a cozy country farmhouse for scones and tea, and now some of the most incredible countryside.

There seemed to be sheep everywhere we looked. The countryside was full of green rolling hills and was dotted with beautiful stone buildings.

A place to escape for a week or two.

 

 

Visiting Grasmere

Further up the road, we stopped in the beautiful village of Grasemere for some free time. We had time to stretch out our legs, shop, grab some lunch, and explore a bit.

We took some time to visit St. Oswald’s Church. This Anglican Church was built in the 14th century. It’s a quaint little church with a graveyard, best known for its connection to poet William Wordsworth, who lived in Grasmere and is buried in the churchyard.

 

Chuck was lucky enough to catch the church’s choir rehearsing as he walked in!

 

 

Grasmere Tea Gardens

Church Bridge/Stock Lane

Ambleside LA22 9SN, United Kingdom

 

Just a stone’s throw from St. Oswald’s is the Grasmere Tea Gardens. The place is super cute with both indoor and outdoor seating. We were running short on time, and the place gets crowded, so we ordered sandwiches to go.

 

 

Their team has takeaway orders down to a science. We ordered, paid, left the building, and picked up from a window just around the corner in no time flat.

Our sandwiches were simple: Baked Ham and Cheese, and Mozzarella, Tomato, and Pesto. However, they were perfect for carrying back to the bus for lunch on the road.

 

The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop

Church Cottage

Grasmere, Ambleside LA22 9SW, United Kingdom

 

The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop, more formally known as the sole makers of Sarah Nelson’s Original Celebrated Gingerbread, is not to be missed.

 

 

Just up the path from St. Oswald’s Church, you’ll see a long line out of nowhere. The line wraps around a tiny cottage and gets packed. Fortunately for us, one of our new travel companions was at the front of the line and bought bags for several people in our group. (Thank you, Chris!)

 

 

If you’re thinking traditional American Gingerbread or even the German cookies most people call Gingerbread, you’ll be mistaken. These are thin, slightly crisp ‘biscuits,’ because we are in England. They are more of a Ginger Shortbread Cookie, and they are AMAZING!

 

 

They are tender yet crisp, and taste of spices with a hint of what we think might be crystallized ginger. (Mark’s working on reproducing something similar!)

There are photos of Sarah Nelson’s church cottage dating back to 1854. Legend has it that she baked inside this cottage, selling Gingerbread on a tree stump outside the front door. Whatever the story, she was good!

 

 

Carry On

From Grasmere, we continued, crossing into Scotland, where we made a quick stop for a “Tea and a Wee” in Gretna Green.

 

 

It is best known for being the first village you come to when crossing into Scotland on the road from London. It became popular among couples eloping in Scotland, as all you needed to get married was a witness.

 

 

Then we were off to Edinburgh, where we checked into our hotel and had dinner.