Lake District National Park

The Lake District’s geology provides a dramatic record of nearly 500 million years of history. Its complex landscape tells a story of colliding continents, deep oceans, tropical seas, and kilometre-thick ice sheets.

There’s a tradition of unrestricted access to the fells, plus an extensive network of public rights of way. Recreational walking can  be traced back to Wordsworth’s ‘Guide to the Lakes’.

Long revered by the creative community, the region experienced a ‘revival’ from the 18th Century onwards. Artists and writers such as Turner, Coleridge and De Quincey were inspired by the area’s astounding natural beauty.

Centuries on and children’s author Beatrix Potter remains an iconic Lake District literary figure. Potter spent many childhood  holidays in the District and these influenced her work. You can follow in the author’s footsteps around the Lake District with the National Trust’s Beatrix Potter Trail.