Wastwater Britain's Favourite View
The Lake District, Peter Rabbit, Beatrix Potter, William Wordsworth
Sep 19, 2007
The land of Peter Rabbit and Squirrel Nutkin has just won another title – Wastwater in Cumbria’s Lake District has been awarded the title of ‘Britain’s Favourite View’.
Wastwater is the deepest lake in England. It’s not a vast stretch of water at nearly three miles long and almost half a mile wide but Wastwater in the Wasdale Valley of the Lake District has been awarded the title of ‘Britain’s Favourite View’ by Sir Sir Trevor McDonald, presenter of the show of the same name.
A live TV final on “Britain’s Favourite View” on 9th September 2007 saw Wastwater beat Gower Peninsula in Wales, Stangford Lough in Northern Ireland and Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland in a live final.
The Lake District, England’s largest National Park is an area of natural beauty, a lot of which, such as Wastwater is owned and managed by the National Trust. The National Trust works to maintain the natural spaces and conserve the footpaths for easy access enabling people to enjoy the beauty of the area.
The Lake District, in the north of England, has as its name implies has a wealth of water, there are16 lakes, 53 tarns, and several “waters”. It’s an area carved by glacial erosion, which provides dramatic scenery and excellent walking country.
Wastwater also has another claim to fame that probably swayed the favourite view title - it is dramatically overlooked by Scafell Pike, which at 3,210 feet is England’s highest mountain.
The fells and mountains of The Lake District make it one of Britain's most popular destinations as well as being the home and inspiration for one of Britain’s favourite female authors - Beatrix Potter.
It was the Peter Rabbit story that gave Beatrix Potter the income to buy a house, Hill Top, in The Lake District. She was born in London but spent many holidays in and around the area. Beatrix became an avid supporter of the National Trust and she bought many farms and properties for the trust while she lived there. After her death in 1943 she left over 4,000 acres, 14 farms and many areas of natural beauty.
Without her legacy this area of outstanding natural beauty would have without a doubt been divided up and developed.
The Lake District was the birthplace place of Britain’s famous male author William Wordsworth who throughout his life spent only twelve years away from The Lakes, the place that inspired him the most.
The houses of both Beatrix Potter and William Wordsworth are now National Trust properties and are open to the public.
See here for more information on the Lake District.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
