Situated in the heart of the Lake District National Park, the village of Near Sawrey is very picturesque and Lakefield is situated in a peaceful location on the northern fringe of the village. At night, standing outside Lakefield, you can hear sound of the geese on the lake and the sheep in the fields. The village is a conservation area.
Near Sawrey's main attraction is undoubtedly Beatrix Potter's home, Hill Top Farm. Hill Top is owned by The National Trust and is open to the public (check times). Admission is on a timed basis.
The attractive village pub, the Tower Bank Arms, is also owned by The National Trust and serves very good food. (Turn right on the 'main' road, i.e. the road that runs through Near Sawrey and the pub is about 4 minutes walk). The Tower Bank Arms features in Beatrix Potter's books, as does Buckle Yeat Guest House, on your right before the pub. There is another pub in the next village, Far Sawrey, called the Claife Cryer Bar.
There is a playground for small children a short distance up the road from Lakefield.
It is possible to receive O2 wireless broadband reception (slowish speed), bring your own dongle. Try Sawrey Stores in Far Sawrey for groceries and papers. Tesco Direct can deliver food/groceries to Near Sawrey, if required. Booth's supermarket in Windermere can be used for a large "shop" as well as the Co-op in Hawkshead -see below.
Hilltop National Trust
Tower Bank Arms
The Sawrey Hotel
Hawkshead
Hawkshead is an attractive village five minutes by car from Near Sawrey. It is very picturesque and is characterised by clusters of whitewashed houses, alleyways and small courtyards and squares. It has strong connections with both Beatrix Potter and William Wordsworth. The Beatrix Potter Gallery (National Trust) is well worth a visit, as isthe Old School House, where William Wordsworth attended school. There are many good pubs and restaurants. Hawkshead also has a small but well stocked Co-op, a chemist and a post office, as well as numerous shops.
The Hawkshead Relish Shop in the main square sells delicious jams and relishes.
Tourist Info
Kings Arms
Red Lion
Hawkshead Clothing Shop
Esthwaite Water and Coniston Water
Fishing boats and tackle can be hired at the fishery on Esthwaite Water (near the small car park on the SW side of the lake). Pleasure boats can be hired on Coniston Water (about 15 minutes drive from Lakefield).
John Ruskin's house Brantwood is well worth a visit. It occupies a beautiful position overlooking Coniston Water.
www.hawksheadtrout.co.uk
Grizedale
There are numerous walks and cycle trails at the Forestry Commission's Centre at Grizedale Forest (the valley between Esthwaite Water and Coniston Water.
Walks
There are many walks from the Lakefield's front door but a favourite walk is the one to Moss Eccles Tarn. Turn right out of Lakefield (onto the road that runs through the village), walk thirty yards up the hill to the phone box on the left and follow the path up the lane between the phone box and the children's playground. The lane climbs gradually giving super views of Esthwaite. Moss Eccles Tarn is about 20-25 minutes walk up the lane and then on the right across the fields at the top of the lane. Beatrix Potter owned a rowing boat on the tarn and, on a summer's evening, used to row the boat while her husband fished . Fishing permits can be obtained from the Tower Bank Arms. You can follow the footpath round the tarn and on up to Wise Een Tarn further on - super views over the Langdale valley to the north west. If you go a bit further on you come to Latterbarrow which has extensive views over Ambleside, Fairfield Horseshoe, the Langdales, Wetherlam and Coniston Old Man.
Alternatively, you can walk down the small lane to Esthwaite Water. On the way, you pass a small cross-roads featured in the frontispiece to Beatrix Potter's " The Tale of Pigling Bland" (see if you can spot it). You cross over the bridge over the outflow from Esthwaite, turn right onto the Hawkshead road and then a hundred yards or so on the right there is a small rustic car park which gives good views over the lake. The lanes are generally quiet but narrow, so please exercise care with children.
There are plenty of other walks, so why not invent a few of your own?
Low Wood Leisure Club
Guests at either the House or the Cottage are entitled to use the Low Wood Leisure Club.
