Two Halves of a Day

Within and above Grasmere.

As a volunteer with the Lake District National park,

I went on a village wander.

The Grasmere Wordsworth Walk,

A free, guided walk for the Lake District National Park.

I would usually don my boots and hike a hills, even with the Park.

So this was a ‘change’.

Grasmere Church

From the meeting point in Stockghyl car park we went on a ‘push chair friendly’ ,there were no push chairs, walk through the village to explore everything Wordsworth.

First the church. Everyone likes a grave. It comes to us all and the Wordsworth family plot is there for all to see. Along with a daffodil garden. For which we were a little late.

School House

From there to the old school house. Now a bakery with tantalising odours of gingerbread wafting out the windows.

Then out of the village to Allen Bank. Where Wordsworth moved his expanding family. A National Trust property, so worth a visit at a later date.

To the bottom of Easdale and the scenically positioned Jackdaw Cottage at Little Parrock. A little history of Wordsworth, before the return leg to Dove Cottage.

A short walk maybe, but packed with information of Wordsworth, his family and interesting anecdotal points of history. Mike, our guide was enthusiastic and knowledgeable with the support of Alice from the Wordsworth trust.

At salient points through the walk verses from Wordsworth’s poems were read. Enabling scenery and words to melt together into the landscape.

There was even audience participation.

Participant people whose homes were as far away as Greece and as close as Kendal was testement to how the beauty of the Lake District and the fame of its children has, and is continuing to, spread.

After directing a couple to Ambleside via Rydal, I did head up a hill. For a wander and the views of Grasmere.

Heading up towards Silver Howe with a detour to below Huntingstile Crag where I had views of the village I’d not seen before.

Find out more about National Parks walks here