Wordsworth, Faeries, and Mulled Apple Juice.

Not a particularly inspiring day for a walk, a bit grey and gloomy, however as you will see I did manage to find a bit of colour in Grasmere.

Rowing Boat on Grasmere Lake

Just a quick walk on Silver Howe today as rain wasn’t far away. I headed up towards Allan Bank.

Allan Bank Sign Grasmere

Owned by the National Trust, it is now a private residence, however it has had a few notable tenants. Built by Liverpool Attorney Mr Crump this new and large house dominated the view up the Easdale Valley. Wordsworth had seen Allan Bank being built when he lived in Dove Cottage and had called it “a temple of abomination”. He had to eat his words a few years later as his family had outgrown Dove Cottage and it was to Allan Bank that they moved. They were not happy there, it was draughty with smoky chimneys which blew back into the house.

Allan Bank Grasmere

Dorothy Wordsworth however did have a few good words to say about the view from inside Allan Bank looking out “Wherever we turn there is nothing more beautiful than we see from our windows, while the treasures of Easdale lie as it were at our door”.

Tunnel in Allan Bank grounds

And Coleridge liked it so much he stayed for 8 months. Two of  Wordsworth’s children were born here, Catherine in 1808 and William in 1810. As you walk past, see if you can spot the open ended tunnel hidden in the grounds.

Towards Helm Crag

The weather was still fairly miserable so I headed up the lane towards Wray Gill on the slopes of Silver Howe.

Wray Gill

After climbing carefully over the slippery rocks, I turned to head down back to Grasmere.

Wray Gill towards Grasmere

On a clear day the views from here are spectacular with Grasmere, Rydal and the surrounding fells stretched out before you, a lovely place to sit and have a picnic.

Towards Grasmere Lake

If you head down and over the stile and veer to your right you hit the path down off the fellside. As I was getting chilly now I was looking forward to seeing if Faeryland Tea Garden was open for the season, as the path comes out directly opposite.

Faeryland Grasmere

Result! Not only was it open, but was thoughtfully selling hot mulled apple juice. Deliciously warming apple and cinnamon, what could be better. As I thawed out I sat and looked at the one bit of colour I had seen all day, the rowing boats bobbing on the lake.

Rowing Boats, Grasmere

Faeryland sells the most amazing range of teas. Who would think somewhere in Grasmere would be selling such delights as, Russian Caravan tea, Nonsuch Nilgirin black tea, Organic Khartoum Hibiscus tea, Lovers Leap Estate ceylon tea, Pai Mu tan white tea, or indeed, Kama Sutra chai! Even better if you can’t manage a visit to Grasmere in person, they are all available on Ebay.

Faeryland Grasmere

I love this time of year in Grasmere, everything is getting spruced up for the season. Just think how many people will enjoy a row on the lake in these boats this year.

Faeryland Grasmere

Although another mulled apple juice was tempting, it was time to head for home, with a quick nod to the faeries on the way past.

Grasmere Faery

Postscript. Today 23rd March 2011. Fire broke out in Allan Bank last night in the roof and first floor. At the height of the fire there were five appliances in attendance. No one was injured. The damage has still to be assessed. It is thought to have been started by an electrical fault.

Damage to the roof. Allan Bank Grasmere