Lake District Trip

So last weekend my parents, my dog, and myself took a cheeky three day trip to the Lake District. I've literally been born and raised with this place, its so beautiful and its one of my favourite places of all time. 

As we only had three days we tried to pack in as much as we could, and do all of our most favourite things. We stayed in Windermere in the cutest guest house called  Virginia Cottage, which was great as it allowed dogs, (in selected rooms). So my dog George, and myself had a lovely dog friendly room. What I thought was extra lovely was that they included home made cakes and biscuits with the tea, but they also had home made dog biscuits for dogs. How cute and lovely is that!  

 

When we first arrived in Windermere, our first protocol was to go to The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction. This is a walk-around attraction featuring all of the characters from Beatrix Potter's books, set out in scenes from her books. When I was really little we would go every time we went to the Lakes, but as I got older we didn't really bother so much, but it was really nice to go again, and see how its developed, but also all the old faithful characters that are still there. 

The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck 

The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin 

Of course I had to have my picture with Mrs Tiggy-Winkle 

The Tale of Mrs Tiggy-Winkle 

 Something that's new and that I hadn't seen before was the Peter Rabbit Garden, which is like a little walk-around garden with lots of plants and bits from her books. Which I think is really lovely. 

Spy Peter Rabbits jacket at the back

Once we had been round the attraction, and spent about three million years in the gift shop, because there was just soo many cute bits. We headed back into Windermere town centre and went round the shops, until we started to feel a little bit peckish, to which we made our way back to the Peter Rabbit Attraction, where they have a little tea shop on the side. Mumma Drake and myself had a drink and some cake, I opted for a hot chocolate and some carrot cake, while Mum had tea and a cupcake. 

We then checked into the guest house and headed down to the River for a little walk, before returning and having a little nap. 

Once we had charged our batteries we headed out to find somewhere to have dinner, and we ended up stopping at a local pub, before heading back and getting some shuteye.

The next day we headed into Keswick, which is where we usually stay when we go to the Lakes. One of our many Lake District traditions is to get our Christmas tree chocolates from a shop called Ye Olde Friars of Keswick. It is literally the most amazing chocolate/ sweet shop ever, and my favourite time to go in there is when they have all of the Christmas bits in there. 

I was in Heaven 

We picked up our usual Christmas decorations, and more... oops. 

Keeping with the Christmas theme, Mum and I a few years ago created the tradition where we buy a Christmas tree ornament from this shop every year, or maybe three as we do tend to go a bit mental. But the orchid house is one of my favourite shops ever, when I'm older I'm sure my house will be completely furnished with stuff from this shop. 

Sooo many cute decorations! 

Once we had well and truly brought as many Christmas decorations as we possibly could, we headed over to Buttermere, where we grabbed a cheeky ice cream and went on a walk. 

My dog absolutely loves playing in the water, he never swims, but he loves it when you throw rocks into the water for him. 

Beautiful view

Sadly our walk was cut short because a bridge that we usually go over was totally flooded, and we didn't fancy swimming across...

We made a quick stop at The Kirkstile Inn, where we used to always stay when I was little, just for old times sake. 

We then headed over to Maryport, where we had some drinks and a couple of games of pool in the Sailors Return, before heading next door to the fish and chips shop, and getting our usual order, and sitting down by the water to enjoy another one of our Lake District traditions. 

On the Sunday (which was our last day, boo), we got the ferry over to Sawrey which was the home of Beatrix Potter, and is where her house Hill Top still stands, as its owned by the National Trust. 

Hill Top is literally the cutest house ever and I'd happily live there. It's also the place where Beatrix Potter wrote the majority of her books, and based a lot of them in the house, or on parts of the house. 

Once we'd been round the whole house, and did a lot of damage in the gift shop, we went on a walk using a book I brought called 'Walking with Beatrix Potter'.We did the walk which takes you round Near Sawrey and Castle Woods, with views of Esthwaite Water (which was where her book The Tale of Mr Jeremy Fisher was based). 

How intellectual do I look? 

This signpost and spot features in The Tale of Pigling Bland 

We tried to re-create a photo that
was taken of us when I was really little.
Bless

After almost getting lost and having to backtrack a little bit, we finally made it back to our car and had a spot of afternoon tea with scones, before having to get in the car and start making our way home. 

Spot George cuing up for some scone. 

What kind of post would this be unless I showed you what I got? 

Prepare yourselves I did go a little bit crazy...

Christmas hanging- £4.99
Post cards- 50p each
From gift shop in Windermere

Letters 35p each from Poppi Red 

Bath Bomb- £2.49 - From Lonsdale Galleries
Wind in the Willows- £1.49
Blood Brothers- £1.99
Both books from Oxfam

Reindeer- £2.99 - From Lonsdale Galleries
Hedgehog- £5, Berry Bush- £1
- Both from The Orchid House
Christmas tin- £6.99 -From Ye Olde Friars

Chocolates 55p each
Tea light holder- £1.75
All from Ye Olde Friars

Fizzy bubblegum bottles- £1.75
Assorted chocolates- £4
Both from Ye Olde Friars 

Coasters- £1.25 each
Hunca Munca magnet- £2.25
Mini card- 90p
All from The World of Beatrix Potter

Book- £5.99
Book mark- £1.99
Both from The World of Beatrix Potter

Postcards- 50p each
Magnet- £3.50
From Hill Top gift shop
Tailor of Gloucester tree decoration- £3.95
-From The World of Beatrix Potter gift shop

Lady and Gentleman mouse- £11 each
Guide book- £4
All from Hill Top gift shop

I was sooo chuffed when I found this Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottontail figure in Oxfam in Keswick, as its original Beswick, which is the type of figures I collect, and it was only £4.99! As you can see one of their ears has broken off, so Oxfam priced it accordingly, which was really good of them. But I really don't mind about the ear because its not like I want to sell it on, I only want it for my collection, so to get an original Beswick for £4.99 I was so impressed. 

Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottontail figure- £4.99
From Oxfam 

  I also picked up this skirt, originally from H&M. I thought it would be perfect from the Autumn/ Winter months. 

Skirt- £5.99- From Oxfam

Then finally from Cancer Research I found this Warehouse cardigan, and strangely enough a couple of years ago when I was in the Lakes, mum and myself had gone shopping and I saw this exact cardigan in a House of Fraser. I nearly brought it, but didn't because it was quite expensive, (I think it might have been around the £35-£40 mark). So when I saw it this time round for £5.95 how could I refuse? 

Cardigan- £5.95

And that everyone is my little trip to the Lake District in a nutshell! 

I had such a lovely time and can't thank my parents enough for going, and just generally making the trip so lovely and fun. 

Where's your favourite place to go? Let me know down below. 

Cheerio! 

Hannah