Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
with floral prints and pastel shades; some have four-poster beds and ample seating
areas. In addition to savoring the tasty and healthful culinary creations in the
restau-
rant,
you can pamper your body with a facial and massage in the spa.
Easedale, Grasmere, Cumbria LA22 9QN. www.lancrigg.com.
&
01539/435317.
Fax 01539/435058. 12
units. £110-£170 double. Rates include vegetarian breakfast. Dinner £24 extra per person. AE, MC, V.
Free parking. Closed Dec-Jan.
Amenities:
Restaurant; spa and leisure club.
In room:
TV, hair dryer,
Wi-Fi (free).
16
CONISTON & HAWKSHEAD
263 miles NW of London; 19 miles NW of Kendal; 52 miles S of Carlisle
Coniston Water lies in a tranquil wooded valley between Grizedale Forest and the
high fells of Coniston Old Man and Wetherlam. Coniston village is famously associ-
ated with
John Ruskin;
visit the museum named after him, his grave in the ceme-
tery, and his former house,
Brantwood,
across the lake. It's also a good place for
hiking and rock climbing. The
Coniston Old Man
towers in the background at
790m (2,633 ft.), giving mountain climbers one of the finest views of the Lake
District.
The pretty village of
Hawkshead
is just 4 miles east of Coniston, but to get there
you have to drive around the north side of the lake along the B5285. Hawkshead is
home to the 15th-century grammar school where Wordsworth studied for 8 years (it
is said he carved his name on a desk that is still there). The main attraction here
though is the
Beatrix Potter Gallery,
located in the former offices of her husband.
Nearby, in Near Sawrey, is
Hill Top Farm,
former 17th-century home of the author.
Essentials
GETTING THERE
Take a train to Windermere and proceed the rest of the way
by boat/bus. Local buses are operated mainly by
Stagecoach,
and for Hawkshead
you'll need to catch a connecting bus in Ambleside.
Windermere Lake Cruises Ltd.
(
&
01539/443360;
www.windermere-lake-
cruises.co.uk) operates a ferry service in summer from Bowness, directly south of
Windermere, to Ferry House. From April to September,
Mountain Goat
(
&
01539/445161;
www.mountain-goat.com) operates several shuttle buses per
day from Ferry House to Hawkshead.
By car from Windermere, proceed north on the A591 to Ambleside, cutting south-
west on the B5285 to Hawkshead.
VISITOR INFORMATION
Coniston Tourist Information Centre,
Ruskin
Avenue (
&
01539/441533;
www.conistontic.org), is open from April (or Easter,
whichever is earlier) to September, daily 9:30am to 5pm, and from October to March
(Easter), daily 10am to 4pm.
Hawkshead Tourist Information Centre,
Main Street (
&
01539/436946;
www.hawksheadtouristinfo.org.uk), is open the same hours as Coniston Tourist Infor-
mation Centre.
Exploring the Area
Beatrix Potter Gallery
GALLERY This cream-colored cottage was once the
office of Potter's husband, solicitor William Heelis. The interior remains largely unal-
tered since his day, but for the addition of Beatrix Potter's original illustrations, water-
colors, and sketches. You can learn something of her role as a landowner and farmer.
