Best Things to Do in Hawkshead Village | Lake District
Best Things to Do in Hawkshead Village | Lake District
Best Things to Do in Hawkshead Village: Hawkshead is a bustling village located in the Vale of Esthwaite and in the heart of the Lake District.
A great pit stop and resupply point for those hiking in and around the Lake District.
History of Hawkshead in the Lake District
In the past the village was a prosperous wool town and was once owned by the powerful Furness Abbey, the only building to survive from this period is the small courthouse to the north of the village.
Hawkshead has important literary connections.
William Wordsworth went to the grammar school here, he also lodged in the village at the house of Ann Tyson.
Beatrix Potter lived nearby at Hill Top, her husband, a solicitor, had his office in the village, which today houses the Beatrix Potter Gallery.
What is There to See in Hawkshead Village?
The centre of the village is pedestrianised so visitors can wander safely around the numerous craft shops, restaurants and tea rooms which occupy the alleyways, courtyards and squares of the village.
The majority of the whitewashed houses in Hawkshead date from the 17th or 18th century and there are 38 buildings of historic and architectural interest in the village.
Hawkshead village is a short walk away from Esthwaite Water and just a short drive from Grizedale Forest.
Which comprises over 9,000 acres, and contains Britain's largest collection of outdoor sculpture - there's nearly 100 of them!
Getting to Hawkshead Village in the Lake District
The best way to get to Hawkshead is by car, the nearest railway station is at Windermere, you can then travel to Hawkshead by road via Ambleside.
Alternatively you can catch the car ferry from Bowness which crosses Lake Windermere to Far Sawrey a 5 minute drive away from Hawkshead.
Have you been to Hawkshead Village before?
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