20th Aug 2008 - Lake District (Keswick)

Day 2

Woke up @ 7.45am to prepare for my departure. Went down for breakfast and there's already several other guests in the dining table. The owner greeted me and sat me down. Started with some cornflakes, followed by toast and coffee. His daughter was helping him serve the food. Then the full English breakfast with sausage, bacon, egg, baked beans, grilled mushroom and tomato. With a full stomach, I cleared my stuff into my car. The owner was kind enough to let me leave my car there while I hike up the Orrest Head Viewpoint on a hill nearby, made popular by the poet William Wordsworth. It has long been proclaimed one of the finest viewpoints in the Lake District offering an extensive panorama and it is very easy to reach on foot as it's not a steep climb and after 30mins I reached the top. Its an amazing view from the top overlooking the windermere lake and the surrounding hills. As i was alone there so i was jumping and running around taking shots of the view and also myself. Just I as I was ending my crazy run around, other tourists started to arrive. Phew, talk about good timing =)

Back at the B&B, i bid the owner goodbye and head to Hawkshead for the Beatrix Potter's Gallary situated just 30mins away. The roads were narrow winding country roads. So concentration and going slow is the way to go. Park & Display carpark at the village costs GBP2.20 for 2 hours. Lucky the machine takes debit card as I didn't have enough coins.

I first stopped by the Old Grammar School founded in 1585 by the Archbishop of York, Edwin Sandys. The ground floor classroom retains many old & original desks covered in carvings done by the boys, including the poet William Wordsworth and his brother John. Upstairs is the headmaster's study and a classroom containing an exhibition relating to the history of the school, the founder and William Wordsworth.

Hawkshead is quite a charming little town. It's layout reminds me of my visit to Padstow minus the pier. Bought the entrance ticket for the Beatrix Potter Gallery for GBP4 from the tourist information centre adjacent to the gallery. It's a scheduled entry (meaning they only let you in according to the time written at your ticket, which is just a piece of paper attached to the brochure) as the gallery is pretty compact. It's a 17th Century building, which was once the office of her husband, local solicitor William Heelis, has remained largely unaltered since his day. Upon entering, you'll come to a reconstruction of part of William Heelis' office on your left. To your right is a room similar to a living room and behind that is the kitchen. Upstairs in several small rooms, you'll come to the exhibition of a selection of Beatrix Potter's original drawings and illustrations (changes annually). You can also find her published books and some information about this amazing lady.

Helen Beatrix Potter (28 July 1866 – 22 December 1943) was an English author, illustrator, mycologist, and conservationist who was best known for her children's books, which featured animal characters such as Peter Rabbit. Potter published 23 children's books in total. With her earnings from the books, she bought the Hill Top Farm and many other farms nearby to protect them from being industrialized. She died at Castle Cottage in Sawrey on 22 December 1943. In her will, Potter left almost all of her property to the National Trust — 4,000 acres (16 km²) of land, cottages, and 15 farms. The legacy has helped ensure that the Lake District and the practice of fell farming remain unspoiled to this day.