Grasmere

Grasmere is the village people imagine when they think of the Lake District: grey stone houses, a church by the river, a small lake below and fells closing in on every side. William Wordsworth called it the loveliest spot that man hath ever found, and lived here at Dove Cottage and later at Allan Bank and the Rectory. He is buried in the churchyard of St Oswald's with his family.

Wordsworth Grasmere, the museum and cottage at Town End, is the main literary draw and is genuinely excellent. Next to the churchyard gate is the small shop selling Grasmere Gingerbread, a recipe dating from the nineteenth century, and the queue is part of the experience. The Heaton Cooper Studio shows the work of a family of Lakeland painters.

The walking is superb and very varied. Helm Crag, the small fell above the village with its odd rocky summit, is a classic short climb. Easedale Tarn is a gentle walk up beside a waterfall. Loughrigg Terrace gives the best view of the lake for the least effort, and the full circuit of Grasmere and Rydal Water is one of the finest low level walks in the county. Grasmere Sports, the traditional fell running and Cumberland wrestling meeting, is held in late August.

The village gets very busy in summer and coaches stop here, and the main car parks are pay and display and fill early. It is on the main bus route, so the bus is easy. Out of season and early in the morning it is quiet and lovely.