Grasmere is stunning village, one of the most picturesque but what Grasmere is most famous for is one particular past inhabitant, William Wordsworth. Wordsworth lived in Grasmere for 14 years and was quoted in saying it is, “the loveliest spot that man hath ever found”. Dove Cottage is where he lived until 1808 and it is now a museum and art gallery dedicated to the life and work of Wordsworth and other influential poets and artists. Approximately 70,000 visitors walk through Dove Cottage every year with tours, exhibitions and children’s activities.

Grasmere is also famous for its gingerbread. Dating back to 1850, Sarah Nelson’s gingerbread is now sold all over the world. The Grasmere Gingerbread shop is located in the same building that the first batch of gingerbread was made all those years ago. It also has connections with Wordsworth.

Grasmere is an excellent base for fell walking on some of the most famous fells in the Lake District. Scafell, Helvellyn, Skiddaw and the Langdale Pikes are all very near. There is a number great hotels in Grasmere to stay in. The village is so geared up for tourism that there is accommodation of all types from luxury Grasmere hotels to small bed and breakfasts. All are used to having walkers stay and accommodate them readily but should complete peace and quiet be required, there are some lovely Grasmere self catering cottages. Many being traditional Lakeland slate cottages.

Art is a large part of Grasmere with the exhibitions at Dove Cottage and the Heaton Cooper Studio which exhibits work by Alfred Heaton Cooper and his son William Heaton Cooper. Both landscape artists, their work in oil and watercolour captures the Lake District exceptionally. The Heaton Cooper Studio is run today by William’s son, Julian and which also exhibits work by other members of the family including Rebecca Heaton Cooper and William Heaton Cooper’s wife, Ophelia Gordon Bell.

When golfing in the Lake District and Cumbria, the different areas of the county present different golf courses types along with different challenges. As the county has over 160 miles of coastline, there are a number of links courses including Silecroft, St Bees and Maryport. One of the finest courses in the county is at Silloth-on-Solway. Silloth-on-Solway golf course is a 6,600 yard championship links course and an R & A regional qualifying course for The Open. During 2004 it was voted 24th in Golf Monthly’s review of Britain and Ireland’s top courses, just in front of Royal Troon Golf Club (25th place). They comment that “Carding a good score is a true test of nerve and industry on this intriguing layout”. Since then it has received accolades from Golf World.

The links courses on the west coast are very different to the courses further south as you get down into areas such as Keswick and the South Lakes. Keswick Golf Club at Threlkeld Hall, is a challenging par 71 parkland course that sits on Threlkeld Common and offers scenic, panoramic views of Blencathra, one of England’s highest mountains. The views alone make this course extremely playable. The nature of the Lake District means there are Lake District hotels in abundance to stay in whilst visiting the county to play golf.
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