Buttermere

Trip Start Jun 11, 2008
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Trip End Aug 15, 2008


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Where I stayed
Wood House, Buttermere
(Buttermere hotels)

Flag of United Kingdom  , England,
Thursday, July 24, 2008

A warm, overcast and muggy day.  We returned to Ambleside to visit Rydal Mount, the house where Wordsworth spent most of his adult life.  It has been purchased by his descendents and is now open to the public as well as being used by the family on occasion as a residence - probably more as a holiday home.  It is well presented and has a lovely garden which was laid out by William and his wife.  We had lunch in the gardens enjoying the warmth of outdoors.

Then on to Keswick to the Cumberland Pencil Museum which tells the story of the discovery of graphite and how pencils were developed.  We saw the large range of products now produced - many more than we were aware of.  We learned that during World War II there was a special section making pencils for British aircraft crews.  These pencils also contained a compass and a map of the area the crews were flying over.  They were a different colour than the other wartime pencils.

Finally back to Wood House for a delightful dinner with the other two couples who are staying here.  It is very pleasant to sip sherry in the sitting room, then be served a four course dinner before retiring to the sitting room for tea or coffee and mints.
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