Grasmere is a picturesque village in Central Lake District, beloved of Wordsworth who worte of its lake, "the most loveliest spot that man hath found". The village has a range of shops, cafes, pubs, restaurants and parks and is the perfect starting point for walks and bike rides. There are activities for all visitors including:

• Grasmere lake with its gentle rowing boats.
• Dove Cottage - Wordsworth home from 1799 to 1808. It was here where Wordsworth wrote much of his poetry
• Rydal Mount - Wordsworth's home from 1813 to his death. Its extensive gardens were landscaped by the poet.
• Grasmere's famous gingerbread shop
• Heaton Cooper studios
• Loughrigg Fell - with panoramic views of Grasmere, Rydal Water, Windermere and the rest of the Lakes
• St Oswald's church - the final resting place of both William and Mary Wordsworth

Ambleside (bottom right) is the closet town (3 miles) and is connected with many well known characters including John Ruskin, Beatrix Potter and Harwicke Rawnsley. Here you will find:

• Zeffirellis cinema & pizzeria
• Armitt library and museum
• Bridge House - one of the most photographed scenes in the Lake District
• Windermere Lake Cruises - ferries can be taken from Ambleside to Bowness and Lakeside
• and many more shops, galleries, cafes and restaurants

Hawkshead is still the same tiny village of higgledy-piggledy houses, archways, and squares beloved by William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter. Cars are banned from the village, but there is a large car park on the outskirts.

• Beatrix Potter Gallery
• Car ferry to Windermere and Bowness
• Nearby Grisedale forest with its woodland walks & bike trails and its forest sculptures

You are also close to Keswick (11 miles), Bowness on Windermere (7 miles) and the beautiful Langdale valley.