Beatrix Potter Morning Half Day Tour
Overview
The Beatrix Potter Morning Half Day Tour is a small-group minivan tour of the villages, farms and lakes where Beatrix Potter lived and set her stories. In one morning you see the Lake District as she knew it, and understand why she spent her fortune protecting it.
We begin at Wray Castle, where she first stayed at sixteen, then go on to Near Sawrey, the village you will recognize from her illustrations, and Hill Top, the farmhouse she bought in 1905 with the earnings from her first books. From Esthwaite Water and Hawkshead, where her future husband William Heelis practiced law, we climb to Tarn Hows and return by Coniston Water and Yew Tree Farm, which played Hill Top in the film Miss Potter. Our guides work from our own research library of some 6,500 books, so the story goes well beyond Peter Rabbit. Entry to Hill Top is included.
Tour highlights
- Wray Castle where Beatrix spent her 16th birthday and first discovered the Lake District where she was to later make her home.
- Near Sawrey village which Beatrix visited often, used as inspiration for her illustrations and where she happily settled and married.
- Hill Top, the house which Beatrix bought from the money she made from the publication of Peter Rabbit.
- Esthwaite Water where Beatrix fished from her boat and said was "the most beautiful of the lakes...some scenery is almost theatrical or ultra-romantic".
- Hawkshead village where she visited her future husband, William Heelis on business.
- Tarn Hows bought by Beatrix as part of the vast Monk Coniston Estate and regarded as one of the most beautiful places in the Lake District.
- Coniston Water with spectacular views of the lake and Coniston Old Man and from where Beatrix's Monk Coniston Estate land started which she left in her will to the National Trust to be worked and preserved for the nation.
- Yewdale Valley where Beatrix owned farms and land including Yew Tree Farm which you may recognize from the film Miss Potter.
What's included
- Half Day Tour
- Admission to Hill Top
- Knowledgeable guide to provide expert commentary and analysis, as well as taking care of practicalities and general support throughout the tour
- Experienced driver for your safety on the steep, narrow and twisty Lakeland roads
- Small group of up to 7 people for a more flexible and personalized experience
- Use of personal radio communication technology to keep you in touch with your guide when you are off the minivan (where applicable)
Not included
- Food and drink
Pickup points and times
- AmblesidePickup about 09:24, back about 12:36
- BownessPickup about 09:13, back about 12:54
- WindermerePickup about 09:05, back about 13:04
Itinerary
Stops may be visited in a different order depending on traffic, weather and opening times.
This half day tour will take you to all the important places associated with Beatrix Potter in just one morning. This is one of our most popular tours and gets fully booked quickly so please book early as we have limited places and dates available.
Your morning starts with a visit to Wray Castle for spectacular scenery and lake views. This is the vacation home where Beatrix first fell in love with the Lake District.
While on vacation, Beatrix visited many of the small villages in the area and Near Sawrey became her favorite. This village features in many of her "little books" illustrations. The Tower Bank Arms is immediately recognizable as the place where Kep, the collie-dog goes looking for the two foxhound puppies to rescue Jemima Puddle-Duck. You will be amazed when you see it, exactly like it is in the book!
One of the reasons why Beatrix visited Near Sawrey so often was because while vacationing in the area, the Potters' coachman and his family were lodging at a farm there. That farm was Hill Top and is the one Beatrix later bought with the profits from publishing Peter Rabbit. She often visited her 'vacation home' Hill Top and wrote many more books here which were inspired by the people and the places around her in this beautiful part of England.
We stop at Near Sawrey and Hill Top for you to see the locations which are so recognizable in the books and the place where Beatrix Potter lived. Entry to Hill Top is included in the price of this tour.
Close by Hill Top is Esthwaite Water where Beatrix walked while courting her future husband, William Heelis. This was a favorite spot for Beatrix who thought it "the most beautiful of the Lakes".
William Heelis was a solicitor who advised Beatrix about her land purchases. His offices were in Hawkshead village. Your guide will take you on a short tour of this, "the most picturesque village in the Lake District".
Beatrix bought a lot of land in the Lake District and owned the beauty spot Tarn Hows. You will have a photo opportunity here and then, after a short scenic drive, Coniston Water comes into view.
Coniston Water is the third largest lake in the Lake District and is the straightest. You will have a short stop here to admire the view and see the famous fell of Coniston Old Man towering over the village and the lake.
Beatrix also owned a lot of farms in the area and as we travel down the Yewdale Valley back to Ambleside, you will see Yew Tree Farm, famous as a location in the film "Miss Potter".
Good to know before you go
Weather
The English Lake District weather can change quickly, even in the summer months. Please bring a waterproof coat with a hood in case of rain or windy weather.
Footwear
As there is some walking involved in the tour, some uphill and on uneven or wet terrain, please wear suitable, comfortable shoes.
Restrooms
Restrooms are available at Hill Top, Tarn Hows, Wray Castle and Hawkshead village.
Gift shops
Gift shops at Hill Top and Hawkshead village.
Solo travelers
This tour is suitable for solo travelers.
Children
This tour is not suitable for children under the age of 7.
You might also like
If you’d like to explore more of Beatrix Potter’s Lake District, our Beatrix Potter Afternoon Tour visits many of the same beloved locations and adds a cruise on Lake Windermere. Prefer a private experience? Our Private Beatrix Potter Morning Tour is exclusively for your group. If you’re interested in other literary connections in the region, don’t miss our Wordsworth Afternoon Tour. Visiting from the US? Our American Visitors Guide has everything you need to know before you travel.