The Beautiful Lake District

Using a sheep as an armrest is pretty special and it’s no wonder the Herdwick breed is the beloved symbol of the Lake District.

What’s not to love about a friendly face which plonks itself down and is content to be pampered by over excited humans?

The Herdwick Experience at Yew Tree Farm in Coniston pays tribute to famous writer Beatrix Potter who loved the hardy breed which is native to this beautiful corner of the North of England.

Potter used her wealth made from writing and illustrating children’s books to buy farms across the Lake District and all the tenant farmers had to have a Landlord’s Flock of pure Herdwick sheep in a bid to keep the breed alive.

She left the farms to the National Trust and Yew Tree has more than 800 sheep, most who hide away on the surrounding fells. But a handful of the more sociable sheep love nothing more than meeting people and having a good ruffle as they are photographed.

Meeting the ambassador sheep is the highlight of the two and a half hour tour at the 4,000 acre farm which is home to animal artist Jo McGrath and her husband Jon Watson, who also runs an onsite butchery.

Enthusiast Melanie Oddy fell in love with the Herdwicks during a family trip to the Lakes and a year later she joined the team and now entertains fellow sheep followers with an in-depth and interesting look at how clever the animals are at living in often harsh conditions.

Yew Tree farm was used as the backdrop for the 2006 film about Beatrix’s life. She actually lived 21 miles away at Hill Top, which is also owned by the National Trust, but it wasn’t suitable for the cameras.

Today Yew Tree also caters for self-catering and weddings and social events and the Herdwicks dotted about the fields make it all the more of an attraction.

The Lake District is a haven for visitors, with its natural landscape being the main draw. There are so many different places to explore, it’s difficult to choose a base.

Image of Herdwick sheep by A P B from Pixabay

Fair Rigg By Cradel Haus, owned by Craig Parsons has four luxury apartments in the heart of Bowness-on-Windermere and they are ideal for relaxing in. Providing accommodation from two guests up to eight, the whole establishment can be booked and sleeps up to 14 to 20 people.

It’s a 20 minute picturesque walk into Bowness and the apartments have their own parking spaces with electric car chargers.

Inside, everything is top quality from the subtle decoration to the fittings and fixtures. The Wainright is described by Craig as “a sophisticated and sumptuous two bedroom apartment”.

And it’s just that. The entrance heads straight into the modern NEFF fitted kitchen which has all the mod cons and perfect coffee pods. To its right is a big bedroom, full of all the creature comforts and close to the relaxing lounge with LG Smart television, high speed Wi-Fi and which can also be used as a dining room.

The luxurious bathroom is decorated with Italian tiles and has a lovely powerful shower and locally sourced toiletries, which are a delight. The second bedroom looks onto the front and across the rolling hills and is spacious and with a fabulously comfy bed.

Fair Rigg by Cradel Haus is an ideal spot to reach all the fabulous attractions the Lake District has to offer.

A great way of seeing it at its best is by Windermere Lake Cruises which offers a Freedom of the Lakes pass. A short 20 minute walk from the accommodation finds the boats at the picturesque Bowness Pier and a choice of water rides which really do the area justice.

The red cruise heads gently to Waterhead pier at Ambleside, which is the official beginning of Lake Windermere, England’s largest lake.

Ambleside itself is a joy to visit, with a range of smart independent shops and restaurants housed in historic buildings and with plenty of outdoor activity options.

Walkers can enjoy a 45 minute stroll to Stockghyll Force, a 70ft waterfall with a viewing platform and a wonderful pitstop at the Force café en route.

It’s a great place to stop and take in the magic of the Lake District, England’s largest national park and UNESCO recognised world heritage park. It is a truly wild and spectacular spot!

Fact Box:

The dedicated visitor-facing website www.visitlakedistrict.com serves as a comprehensive resource for anyone planning a trip to Cumbria, featuring information on upcoming events, activities, accommodation, itineraries and inspirational content. It is designed to be a one-stop shop for visitors seeking to make the most of their time in Cumbria.

Author Bio:

Rebecca Hay is an experienced travel writer and member of The British Guild of Travel Writers. Follow her adventures with her family on Twitter and Instagram @emojiadventurer and on Facebook via EmojiAdventurers2

Top photograph courtesy of Windermere Lake Cruises