William Wordsworth and the Lake District

Once described by the famous poet and resident of the Lake District, William Wordsworth, as the ´loveliest spot ever known to man´ this little piece of Cumbrian paradise is one of the most scenic regions in the UK.

The diverse and ever-changing landscapes include wild fens, rugged mountains, green pastures and of course, the famous lakes. Attracting thousands of tourists every year, the Lake District, and particularly Windermere and Bowness now boast some of the best boutique hotels and romantic themed hotels in England, and many have private hot tubs and spa baths to make your stay extra special.

The Lake District is situated in the north west of England in the county of Cumbria, and is easily accessible from London, which is 280 miles away, and the nearer large cities of Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle. The region got its name from the 15 main lakes dotted around the area, and a host of smaller ones. The Lake District is the largest of 14 National Parks in England, and is made up of 880 square miles of diverse countryside.

Dove Cottage was the home of William Wordsworth's from 1799 to 1808, the years of his supreme work as a poet. The cottage is located in the hamlet of Town End, Grasmere, a place and a landscape at the centre of the English Lake District where the poet lived, wrote and found inspiration, and is now one of the most visited attractions in the region.

Most of the Lake District is either privately owned or looked after by the National Trust, which makes sure the area is looked after and preserved as much as possible. With over 1800 miles of public footpaths, the Lake District is a naturalist´s paradise, and there are plenty of things to see and do for all ages.

William Wordsworth lies buried in Grasmere Church, and spent many years living and working in the Lake District, where he found much of his inspiration. The famous poet made sure the Lake District was recorded in words, and the region of Ullswater inspired him to write ´a host of golden daffodils.´

The Wordsworth Family moved into Rydal Mount in 1813 and rented the house continually for 46 years until the death of Mary Wordsworth in 1859. Rydal Mount was the largest house the Wordsworth family lived in and became a much-loved family home.

Visitors to the Lake District can visit Rydal Mount and Dove Cottage, Grasmere, and both are within easy reach of Windermere and Bowness, where there are hundreds of attractions, fabulous spa boutique hotels, superb restaurants, bars and cafés and a wealth of things to see and do.

Whether you want to tour the Wordsworth houses in the Lake District, visit one of the residences of Beatrix Potter at Hill Top, hire a boat on Lake Windermere or make the most of the superb walking routes around the fens, this region offers something for everyone.