CUMBRIA, formerly referred to as the Lake District for centuries, is a
land that has inspired poets, painters and tellers of fairy tales. The beautiful
la k e s in Cumb r ia w e r e home to romantic wordsmiths such as William
Wordsworth, Beatrix Potter and John Ruskin. It is the contrast of snowcapped
mountains, green hillsides, calm clear water and rustic life allied to such
artistic talents that makes Cumbria so special to the visitor.

Beatrix Potter Gallery

YOU have probably read some Beatrix Potter tales. The interactive World of Beatrix Potter museum brings all 23 of her stories to life in three-dimensional sculptures. She loved to use animals as a background to characters in her works. In the Tale of Mr Jeremy Fisher, the frog, Jeremy, came to the Lake District and didn't want to leave. He was attracted by the tranquil scenes. Take an hour's walk along the footpath of Lakeland from Bowness to Beatrix' house at Hill Top, meet famous residents (sheep and geese) and immerse yourself in all the places that inspired
Beatrix' tales. The authoress purchased Hill Top farmhouse in November 1905 with the profi ts from her fi rst published books. Everything displayed inside her house is original, including manuscripts, paintings and letters, with the exception of the carpet and curtains. There are also miniculptures of her tales made in Austria between the two world wars. In each room you can fi nd something that appears in one of her books. She said she was happiest out on her farm with the animals.

"Let the wealthy and great
roll in splendour and fate.
I envy them not, I declare it.
I eat my own lamb,
my own chickens and ham.
I fl eer my own fl eece and I wear it.
I have lawns, I have bowers,
I have fruits, I have fl owers.
The lark is my morning alarm.
So you jolly boys now,
here's God bless the Pluto.
long life and fuccefesto the farmers."

This is a poem written on a vase in her bedroom. With a short walk from Hill Top, you can also visit the Beatrix Potter Gallery to view her original storybook illustrations.

William Wordsworth's Cottage

Dove Cottage, the last home of Romantic poet William Wordsworth (1799-1808), is located at Grasmere. It is probably one of the most popular attractions in the Lake
District. Inspired by the beauty of the surrounding landscape, Wordsworth settled down in the Lake District and wrote many famous works there. He believed that nature had a special relationship with human life. Often in his poetry, you can feel the power of his imagination, which naturally impacts the emotion and spiritual life of many people. And imagination works alongside our senses while interpretation influences the way we view the world and how we react to events. Reading his sister
Dorothy's journals, kept at Dove Cottage, illustrating the daily life of the poet and his family, visitors will get a picture of Wordsworth's ". . . plain living, but high thinking."

John Ruskin Museum
John Ruskin, an artist, writer, critic, thinker, teacher and social revolutionary, was one of the most infl uential people of the 19th century. He supported environmental protection and social equality, and believed that people are really happy when they work on their own. This, especially so when they produced their own supplies in farm work, not by doing a routine job in a big factory. Ruskin questioned the whole system of capitalism and railed against industrialisation, concluding that "there is no wealth but life". He firmly believed that everything connects, and was also an avid believer in the literal truth of the Bible. The Ruskin museum was built with all-local materials
– stones and locally mined copper – and there is a woolinsulated roof. Impressed by the independence of the simple way of life, he thought of living in Switzerland, but the idea faded – partly due to modernisation. Ruskin moved to the Lake District in 1871 and lived there until his death on January 20, 1900. His books had a profound impact on a later radical thinker, Indian nationalist Mahatma Karimchand Gandhi, in
his fi ght for social justice. "Coniston (lake), I noted it more beautiful then
anything I had ever seen to my remembrance in gladness and infi nitude of light," said John Ruskin.

Travel Tips: UK on a budget
Travelling in Britain is not as expensive as most people think. BritRail passes allow you unlimited travel from morning to night. You can hop on and off trains (including
the airport express) and visit different cities as often as you wish. Fast trains speed travellers between Manchester and Liverpool, London and Cambridge in an hour or so. It is also cheaper than purchasing individual journey tickets, especially when you're travelling in small groups or with your family. These discount rail passes are not available within the UK; they must be purchased before departure from your
country of origin. Look up www.visitbritain.hk/shop or email your enquiry to hongkong@visitbritain.org.

Visas: HKSAR and BNO passport holders do not need a visa. Call the British
Consulate-General in Hong Kong, tel: 2901 3111.

UK weather: 0-10 degC (expect showers, rain)
Language: English
Currency: British pound (GBP)
Exchange rate: £1 = HK$15.04
Travel resources: www.visitbritain.hk / Tel: 3515 7815
Accommodation: bed down at Ambleside Youth Hostel (£14.50/night) with lake view and English buffet breakfast.
Getting around: Bicycle rental: £1.50/hour up to £9.50/ day; bus day passes, £5/day; cross-lake ferries, £2.75/single journey; £5.50/day, unlimited.

Text : Vigi Tam / Photo: Bonnie Chan
Courtesy of: Visit Britain
Published in: English Street / January 9, 2007