If you are not interested in the Swallows and Amazons books or the life of Arthur Ransome, then don't bother reading this post!!
Today we took a boat cruise on Coniston Water, and spent a couple of hours looking at some of the sites which Arthur Ransome either used or adapted in his wonderful books. Seeing the sites first hand only reinforces how well Ransome described the scenery.
For once in my life, I am speechless!!!! Most of the description for this trip is with the images.
I have loaded some photos onto Flickr, and enthusiasts will know for themselves where a site exists exactly as in the books, and where features have been adapted. One thing is for sure - Wild Cat Island did not disappoint!
Heading to Wales tomorrow.........next post will be from there!
Showing posts with label Arthur Ransome. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Arthur Ransome. Show all posts
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
The Lake District
Here we are at Bowness on Windemere. What a beautiful place.......but I suppose I'm saying that about each place we go to, aren't I??
There is something very special about this place, however. Lake Windemere is spellbinding. And of course, having grown up on Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons series, Lake Windemere and Coniston Water are places that I have wanted to visit for a long time.
We are spending our time here just walking around and exploring the lakes, picking out some landmarks and sites from the books. The weather for the last week has been very warm for England and just right for me! Temperatures around 25 degrees or so. Perfect for this type of sight seeing and exploring.
This afternoon, on our way back from Coniston Water, we visited Hill Top Farm, the home of Beatrix Potter. This also made me reflect on her work to protect the Lake District, and donation of land to the National Trust.
Tomorrow, we are going out on Coniston Water to look at Peel (aka Wild Cat) Island and other points of interest :-))
There is something very special about this place, however. Lake Windemere is spellbinding. And of course, having grown up on Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons series, Lake Windemere and Coniston Water are places that I have wanted to visit for a long time.
We are spending our time here just walking around and exploring the lakes, picking out some landmarks and sites from the books. The weather for the last week has been very warm for England and just right for me! Temperatures around 25 degrees or so. Perfect for this type of sight seeing and exploring.
This afternoon, on our way back from Coniston Water, we visited Hill Top Farm, the home of Beatrix Potter. This also made me reflect on her work to protect the Lake District, and donation of land to the National Trust.
Tomorrow, we are going out on Coniston Water to look at Peel (aka Wild Cat) Island and other points of interest :-))
Monday, May 25, 2009
Cambridge and Potter Heigham
We have slowed the pace down over the weekend; we packed so much into our time in London that it has been nice to take things more slowly for a couple of days and "soak up" some of the experiences.
On Saturday morning we went into Cambridge, which is a really lovely place. I wouldn't want to drive around it, however! It was very busy - this weekend is a long weekend for Bank Holiday and there were lots of people around. I was struck by the number of bicycles; it is obviously a popular mode of transport for the locals.
I took a couple of photos of the streets and street scenes, but photos can't do justice to the character of this town.
Kings College Chapel was spectacular, and having watched the Christmas Carols from the Chapel so many times on television, I was really pleased to have the opportunity to see the Chapel. Once again, the ubiquitous Henry VIII has left his stamp on this place! Surprisingly, photographs were allowed (without flash of course), but I am disappointed with the way my photos turned out - Dad's were much better!!
After the Chapel, we walked down to the River Cam and along to The Backs and then back up past the fascinating Mathematical Bridge.
We met up with a cousin and his wife and had a lovely lunch at the University Arms - this was a wonderful retreat from the hustle and bustle of the streets. The room overlooked Parkers Piece
In the afternoon we drove down to Norfolk, where we are spending some time with my Aunt and Uncle. They took us for a drive down to Great Yarmouth and Potter Heigham last night, passing through towns with names which are very familiar from Arthur Ransome's Coot Club and The Big Six.
This morning we went to Ranworth, where we saw Malthouse Broad. The Broads were a hive of activity today, with many people out and about in boats and enjoying the sunshine. We walked up to the historic Church at Ranworth, in which there is a medieval screen which stretches across the Church and was decorated in the 15th Century. The Church also contains an illuminated manuscript songbook (the Ranworth Antiphoner) which dates from the 1440s.
In the afternoon we went to Wroxham - more boats and sunshine, and a walk along the River Bure.
A lovely weekend! More photos to follow.
On Saturday morning we went into Cambridge, which is a really lovely place. I wouldn't want to drive around it, however! It was very busy - this weekend is a long weekend for Bank Holiday and there were lots of people around. I was struck by the number of bicycles; it is obviously a popular mode of transport for the locals.
I took a couple of photos of the streets and street scenes, but photos can't do justice to the character of this town.
Kings College Chapel was spectacular, and having watched the Christmas Carols from the Chapel so many times on television, I was really pleased to have the opportunity to see the Chapel. Once again, the ubiquitous Henry VIII has left his stamp on this place! Surprisingly, photographs were allowed (without flash of course), but I am disappointed with the way my photos turned out - Dad's were much better!!
After the Chapel, we walked down to the River Cam and along to The Backs and then back up past the fascinating Mathematical Bridge.
We met up with a cousin and his wife and had a lovely lunch at the University Arms - this was a wonderful retreat from the hustle and bustle of the streets. The room overlooked Parkers Piece
In the afternoon we drove down to Norfolk, where we are spending some time with my Aunt and Uncle. They took us for a drive down to Great Yarmouth and Potter Heigham last night, passing through towns with names which are very familiar from Arthur Ransome's Coot Club and The Big Six.
This morning we went to Ranworth, where we saw Malthouse Broad. The Broads were a hive of activity today, with many people out and about in boats and enjoying the sunshine. We walked up to the historic Church at Ranworth, in which there is a medieval screen which stretches across the Church and was decorated in the 15th Century. The Church also contains an illuminated manuscript songbook (the Ranworth Antiphoner) which dates from the 1440s.
In the afternoon we went to Wroxham - more boats and sunshine, and a walk along the River Bure.
A lovely weekend! More photos to follow.
Monday, May 4, 2009
"Surreality"
Surreality - is there such a word? Because surreal is the word I find myself most often using when people ask me how I am feeling about this trip. Surreal because suddenly, after 38 years, I am finally going back to England. Although I identify myself without hesitation as an Australian, this trip will be something of a "back to roots" pilgrimage for me.
There are so many places that I want to see. This is reflected in the itinerary, some of which I know looks like a children's literature tour of England (the lake district country of Arthur Ransome and Beatrix Potter; Rye and Shropshire which are described so well in the works of Malcolm Saville; even the Hundred Acre Wood). But I am especially looking forward to the dearly remembered village of Borth in Wales, for which I was so homesick when we left.
Then there will be the visits and meetings with family, some of whom I don't remember (not having seen them since I was a baby), and others who have been to Australia, but a long time ago.
And so it seems surreal to me that in two weeks time we will actually be in London; there is a lot of work still to be done before that time, but it is very close now.
There are so many places that I want to see. This is reflected in the itinerary, some of which I know looks like a children's literature tour of England (the lake district country of Arthur Ransome and Beatrix Potter; Rye and Shropshire which are described so well in the works of Malcolm Saville; even the Hundred Acre Wood). But I am especially looking forward to the dearly remembered village of Borth in Wales, for which I was so homesick when we left.
Then there will be the visits and meetings with family, some of whom I don't remember (not having seen them since I was a baby), and others who have been to Australia, but a long time ago.
And so it seems surreal to me that in two weeks time we will actually be in London; there is a lot of work still to be done before that time, but it is very close now.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)