Wednesday 29 February 2012

Stamford and Burghley

A couple of weeks ago I was driving north on the A1 when I decided to take a break and divert into Stamford. First stop, though, was Burghley.

I blogged briefly about Burghley House on the main Around-England site in January but didn't have a very good photograph to show, so here's another.

Burghley House Stamford

Having driven back towards Stamford town centre I parked the car a little distance out and walked to the bridge over the River Welland.

River Welland at Stamford

Stamford is a lovely old town full of ancient stone-built houses, shops and churches - especially churches; for a small town centre there seems to be an enormous concentration of church buildings dating back many centuries. Unsurprisingly, maybe, there is also quite a concentration of antique and antiquarian book shops.


Stamford is a very nice place to spend an afternoon, but on this occasion after half and hour or so I had to get back in the car and continue the grind up the A1.

Tuesday 7 February 2012

Grasmere - in the heart of the Lake District

Grasmere is a very special place. It was the home of William Wordsworth during his best years as a poet in the early 19th century. It has stimulated artists of many kinds ever since. Today it is a popular destination for millions of tourists coming to enjoy this most beautiful corner of England. They come not only to Dove Cottage and the Wordsworth Museum but also to the village churchyard to see where the great poet and his family are buried.

The village itself is a pleasant place at all times of year, whether in Winter snow, with daffodils in the Spring, or at the height of Summer. In this post all three photographs were taken in winter (February 2011). On a new page I have just added to the main Around-England site the Grasmere photographs are from summer months.


Grasmere is a good starting point for many Lake District walks, and for the less-energetic there are things to do in the village. Sarah Nelson's Grasmere Gingerbread Shop is a perennial favourite. The Heaton Cooper Studio has an extensive display of work by several generations of the Heaton Cooper family. In the photograph below what was (at the far end of the row of cottages) a Storytelling Centre is now the Grasmere National Trust shop and information centre.


Grasmere and Lake District Accommodation


Grasmere village, not to mention the beautiful lake, attracts me back time after time. Living within driving distance is a great privilege but for many people such day trips will not be practicable. There is no shortage of accommodation. Cumbrian cottages are available in great variety for those who like to look after themselves, and there are hotels in the Lake District at many different price levels to suit every taste.

If you have never been to Grasmere you should start to plan your trip now.