This route is a circular drive around the southern Lake District that visits the the Beatrix Potter Gallery, Hill Top and The World of Beatrix Attraction. There is also time to explore some of the beautiful scenery that Beatrix Potter owned and bequeathed to the National Trust. The route also allows time for a cruise on Lake Windermere, afternoon tea and to explore the beautiful village of Hawkshead and to visit one of the locations in the Miss Potter movie.

 

Leaving Coniston travel south to Torver, on to Greenodd and then turn north at Newby Bridge to travel up the east side of Lake Windermere to Bowness on Windermere. Park in the car park on Rayrigg Road and the World of Beatrix Potter Attraction is less than a minutes walk away.

 

Download the directions here: Coniston - Newby Bridge - Bowness-on-Windermere

 

A twenty minute drive from Bowness-on-Windermere is the village of Hawkshead. Hawkshead is one of the nicest villages in the Lake District. Allow sufficient time to visit the parish church, Wordsworth's Grammar School, the Beatrix Potter Gallery and the delightful shops including the National Trust shop.

Download the directions here: Bowness-on-Windermere to Hawkshead

Continue from Hawkshead south along the east side of Esthwaite Water (the setting for "The Tale of Jeremy Fisher") and into the village of Near Sawrey to visit Hill Top, the home of Beatrix Potter. The car park and ticket office are on the right as you enter the village and the entrance to the house and shop are 200m further along the road, just after the pub, The Tower Bank Arms, an excellent place to have lunch

 

Download the directions here: Hawkshead - Near Sawrey

 

After visiting Hilltop return to Hawkshead by the same route. Turn right as you approach Hawkshead and follow the road towards Ambleside a short distance out of the village take the right turn up the hill towards Coniston. Almost at the top of the hill the road passes through a very small village with white cottages. The village is called Hawkshead Hill. Turn right in the village along a narrow road, go directly across a crossroads and continue up the hill to a place called Tarn Hows, often described as "England's most beautiful view". A large car park is found on the left just after the lake. This is a great place to park and enjoy a walk. One can easily walk round the lake in less than one hour.

 

Continue from the car park down the hill and along side the north west shore of Coniston Water and into Coniston Village. Coniston Tourist Information Centre can be found on the left before the church. The Information Centre had an display about the making of the "Miss Potter" movie and is a great source of information about the whole of the Lake District.

 

Turn right in the village. The road follows the valley floor and on the left, after crossing the a bridge, Yew Tree Farm can be seen on the left. Yew Tree Farm was used as the set for Hilltop in the "Miss Potter" movie.

 

 

Download the directions: Hawkshead - Tarn Hows - Coniston - Yew Tree Farm

 

Return to Coniston via the same route