Cumbria—Land of the Fells

A Patron

The Cumbria region of Northwest England is known as the "Lake District"—home to the Fell Pony and Beatrix Potter of Peter Rabbit fame.

Beatrix, although known primarily as a writer of children's books, was herself a farmer. She raised prize pigs and native Herdwick sheep. Beatrix bequeathed 4,000 acres of Lake District land, 14 farms, and several cottages to the National Trust—preserving a slice of unspoiled rural countryside for future generations. She, as a patron of the breed, also helped return the Fell Pony from the brink— at one time only five stallions remained. Today, you can visit Hill Top Farm in Sawrey, where she wrote most of her 13 books.

A Poet

The Lake District was also home to William Wordsworth, one of England's great Romantic Poets (1770-1850). A nature lover, he logged many miles walking through fells and dales — we can only surmise that he and a Fell Pony would have enjoyed each other's company. Today, fell walking is a popular pastime in Cumbria.

A Special Place

The area was long isolated from the south and east by moorlands, peat bogs, lakes, and forests. The ancient kingdom was given the name Rheged, which stretched from Strathclyde to Lancashire. The legendary King Arthur, it is claimed by many, was born and lived in what is now Cumbria.

The Lake District became a national park in 1951, and the increased social mobility of the population of the industrial regions of northern England has stimulated the tourist industry. Traditional forms of extensive agriculture (cattle and sheep rearing) have been intensified and include the production of milk and eggs.

The Lake District's scenery is breathtaking. Its national park covers an area of 866 sq mi. It contains the principal English lakes, including Windermere (10.5 mi. long), and the highest English mountains (Scafell Pike, 3,210 ft). The famous lake-strewn valleys of the region radiate from a core of central mountains, which make a unique centerpiece that attracts tourists to Cumbria's Lake District.