Low Hall Farm was a B&B as well as about 20 pitches for campers. Had the best amenities of the “farm stay” camping sites on our trip. Walked to Beckside across the fields and over a tiny bridge across a babbling brook. Outside a lot of houses, there were milk bottles waiting for the milk to be delivered. Found a shop open, a bit unusual at 8:30 in the morning. Have noticed that shops, in general, do not open early (don’t close all that early either, mind you). Most tourist type shops do not open until 10am. Bought some cereal and tissues then back across the fields.
Drove to Haverthwaite, where we parked the motorhome and took the steam train to Lakeside and then a steamboat to the north of Lake Windemere.
The boat was pretty big, licensed to carry about 500 passengers with 7 crew. It was brought to the lake by train in 14 pieces and assembled at Lakeside. This interesting fact and many others (eg a large home on the lake being built by a man who made his money from the slave trade) were relayed as we travelled up the lake.
Got off the boat at Ambleside and had lunch, then a coffee (at Costa). Back on the boat for the return trip. A different boat this time. You could see this one was a steamer – it had a chimney (and built in 1891). Stopped in at Bowness where there is a Beatrix Potter Attraction. Apparently Beatrix Potter spent much of her life in this area and actually purchased and donated much of the land that is now the Lake District National Park. We didn’t go into the museum as it was almost closing time.
