Beatrix Potter's Favourite Countryside

12pm-4pm
Half day tour
Departure Point:
Windermere Information Centre
Adult Tickets from:
£70.00
Runs throughout
the year

Includes Attractions

Minimum age: Travelers need to be at least 5 years-old

Hotel pick-up available

24 hour cancellation policy 

This tour gives you a great taste of the Lake District, discover the scenery and landscapes that inspired the famous author, enjoy a cruise on Lake Windermere and explore the historic village of Hawkshead. 

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Prices

Pick up from Windermere, Bowness or Ambleside

23rd March 2024 - 27th October 2024

Adult Senior Student Child
£70 £68 £68 £56

Pick up from Oxenholme Railway Station

23rd March 2024 - 27th October 2024

AdultSeniorStudentChild
£80£78£78£66

Tour Days

Pick up from Windermere, Bowness or Ambleside

Mon Tues Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun

Pick up from Oxenholme Railway Station

MonTuesWedThuFriSatSun

Duration

Half day Windermere 12:00 - 16:30 / Oxenholme 11:10 - 17:30

Activity Level

This tour is a guided scenic mini-coach tour, but there are times when you will have the option to walk up to a few hundred metres to take in a view or point of interest.

Language

English

Group Size

16 passengers maximum

Includes

  • Transport in a comfortable 16-Seater minibus
  • Knowledgeable Driver Guide
  • Lake Cruise on England's largest lake.
  • Entry to Hill Top or the World of Beatrix Potter
  • Visit locations favourite to Beatrix Potter herself

Main Departure point

Windermere Tourist Information Centre

How to find us

Pickup Service

This tour leaves from two main locations:

Windermere Tourist Information Centre at 12:00 - 16:30

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We also offer a hotel pick-up service for those who book direct and are staying in the Ambleside, Bowness-on-Windermere, and Windermere areas.

Oxenholme Train Station at 11:10 - 17:30 (Mon - Sat)

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Our driver will meet you at the Oxenholme Train Station ticket office for the scheduled departure time. We will aim to return you to Oxenholme for 17:30, however, this time may vary due to traffic.

Please note there is a surcharge of £10.00 per seat added for collection/return service from some locations including Oxenholme. 

This fantastic Lake District tour departs from Oxenholme, Windermere, Bowness, and Ambleside every afternoon throughout the summer. Taking in many places associated with the famous children’s author, Beatrix Potter, this tour is an ideal opportunity to see the scenery which inspired her. This half day tour gives you a fantastic overview of the Southern Lake District in a short amount of time. It introduces the culture and history of The Lake District, which created the landscapes you see today. Learn the significant of farming on the Lake District and how it helped the National Park achieve UNESCO World Heritage Status in 2017.

Leave Windermere in the early afternoon and head along the shores of Lake Windermere, learning about the history of the area and lake along the way from our knowledgeable, local driver-guides. You will catch several glimpses of the glittering lake as you drive towards the central Lake District.

If there is time, you may be treated to a stop at the National Trust site, Wray Castle. Wray Castle is a beautiful mock-Gothic castle which stands tall on the North West shore of Lake Windermere. Boasting beautiful views of the surrounding fells the castle is a popular destination for national park visitors. This castle has connections to Beatrix Potter as when she was 16 years old, her parents brought her to Wray Castle for a summer holiday. (Please note this stop is not guaranteed, it is dependent on timings and Hill Top entry times).

Onwards you’ll travel through more of the Lake District's landscapes, areas which inspired Miss Potter when writing her famous Tales of Peter Rabbit. On route you may spot some of the native Herdwick sheep grazing in the fields. Beatrix Potter was a committed and respected farmer and had her own flock of Herdwick Sheep.  

Next the tour stops at Hill Top Farm located in Near Sawrey, once owned by the famous author this beautifully preserved building is as enchanting as traditional farmhouses come. Beatrix Potter purchased the farm in 1905 with the royalties from her first book, The Tale of Peter Rabbit. When Beatrix Potter bought Hill Top Farm it was a working farm and remained that way throughout her lifetime and still is today. When Beatrix Potter died in 1943, Hill Top Farm was left to the National Trust with the provision in place that the house was left exactly as she had left it, and it stays that way to date.

Onward to the beauty spot Tarn How’s, this man made tarn provides some of the most incredible views in the Lake District. It has been the inspiration for many artists and writers and once you visit, you will understand why. On a clear day you can see the Langdale Pikes, a favoured adventure for walkers. The 1 ¾ mile route around the tarn is level and well maintained making it accessible for wheelchairs and prams. Beatrix Potter purchased Tarn Hows as well as nearby Monk Coniston estate to help conserve and protect them and when she died left half to the National Trust at cost and the other half in her will.

Admiring the views, the tour will then take you to the final stop which is a trip to Hawkshead. Hawkshead is a charming medieval village full of narrow alleys and characterful squares. It is home to a grammar school which was established back in 1585 and where the famous English poet, William Wordsworth went to school. Overlooking the village on a hill, you can also find St Michael and All Angels Church that has been there since 16th century. Whilst we're talking about Hawkshead we also must mention the delicious Hawkshead Relish Company, which is worth a visit! Hawkshead is a village where you get a real sense of history and it is a great place to explore, which is why we include it in so many of our tours. With further strong connections to Beatrix Potter, Hawkshead village was the location of her local solicitor husband, William Heelis office which today is Beatrix Potter’s Gallery. The 17th century building remains mostly unaltered and houses many original items, drawings, and illustrations.

Both our summer and winter tours are an ideal afternoon out for fans of Miss Potter, taking in some great locations in a scenic afternoon. Even if you’re not a fan of the author you can sit back and enjoy some of the best scenery the Lake District has to offer.

Please note: Hill Top House is closed on Fridays during term time and throughout November - February, when the house is closed, we will visit The World of Beatrix Potter.

At Mountain Goat we want to help customers as much as possible, we hope our FAQ page will help Click here to view.

You may cancel 24 hours prior to departure & receive a full refund. After 24 hours no refund will be issued.

For full terms and conditions please see here.

 

Cruise on Lake Windermere

Discover Hawkshead a picturesque medieval village

Hill Top the home of Beatrix Potter

Explore stunning landscapes and visit renowned Lake District beauty spots

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

  • Lake Cruise on Windermere 
  • Entrance to Hill Top (Please note days Hill Top is closed this tour will include The World of Beatrix Potter) 
  • Hawkshead 
  • Tarn How's 
 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

  • Activity level: You will have the option to walk up to a few hundred metres to take in a view or point of interest.
  • There is space on-board for hand luggage, for anything larger there is a luggage storage at the Windermere Tourist Information Centre.
  • All passengers must have their own seat
  • We ask all passengers to arrive on time, as we will leave promptly at the displayed time.
 

INCLUSIONS

  • Entrance to attractions 
  • Onboard commentary in English 
  • Knowledgeable driver-guides 
 

EXCLUSIONS

  • Food and drink 
  • No dogs 
 
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