This is a guest post. While we normally don’t publish information about day cruises, I found this article intriguing and hope you will, too.
Throughout literary history, certain locales have served as a colossal source of inspiration for writers. Walden Pond was the stimulation for Thoreau. Dorset in the south of England did
The Steam Yacht, Gondola, on Conistan Water, Lake District. Courtesy http://bit.ly/hQh14x
the same for Thomas Hardy. And the Incan citadel in Peru inspired Pablo Neruda to pen Alturas de Machu Picchu.
But of all of the unique and unusual corners in Britain, it seems that no place has attracted and inspired as many writers as the remarkable landscape of Cumbria’s Lake District.
Inspired by Inland Waterways
Nestled in the northwest of England, this corner of my country was first put on the literary map towards the end of the 18th and early 19th centuries. The Late Romantic poets like Wordsworth, Southey and Coleridge all spent a good portion of their lives in the Lake District and have often been referred to as the Lake Poets.
“I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud”, probably Wordsworth’s most famous poem – and the bane of every British school child who, like me, had to recite it from the back of the class – was composed here, along with many other of his immortal poems.
The Inspiration is Timeless
Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome, inspired by the beauty of the Lake District
Fast forward to the 20th century and if you’re an Arthur Ransome fan you won’t be surprised to learn that he too was inspired by the pristine beauty of the Lake District. The famous journalist and children’s book author spent much of his time in the area, laying the groundwork and stimulation for what would become Swallows and Amazons, the first of his famous series of children’s novels.
Ransome’s novel, as with several of his sequels, is set on a fictional lake. But much of his inspiration was drawn from Coniston Water. At five miles (8 kms) long, Coniston is the third largest of the ribbon lakes in the region. Chiseled by glaciations in the last Ice Age, today the lake sits in a serene, u-shaped valley.
Admittedly, Ransome invented his own geography, but he used many actual features from the Lake District landscape. Some of Coniston’s islands and other local landmarks can easily be identified in the novel – like Peel Island, the Wild Cat Island of the story, including the ‘secret harbour’.
You Will Be Inspired Too
Fast forward once more, this time to the present, and maybe you too will be inspired by the languid beauty of Coniston Water as I was. The setting is bound to awaken the writing muse within you (as it did me), and no more so than on one of Britain’s must unusual day cruises.
I recently took in the 105-minute ‘Swallows & Amazons’ lake cruise. For me, it ended up being one of those remarkably rare moments when the
Coniston Water at Dusk. Courtesy C.J. Roberts http://bit.ly/fLRJbM
world of my childhood fiction was now before me, inseparable from what I could see and experience on the lake that day.
A Piece of History on the Water
The vessel for this lake cruise is as unique as the entire experience was. Gondola is a venerable steam yacht, originally built in 1859, and capable of carrying 86 passengers. Today she still reflects snippets of the sumptuous luxury and splendor of the Victorian era through her beautifully upholstered saloons.
Built by the Furness Railway Company, Gondola is still used today as it was then. The company brought tourists to the Lake District by train and rounded off their visit with a scenic tour of Coniston Water aboard the steam yacht. The lake tours continued for decades until a few years prior to WWII when she fell into disrepair.
The prow of the Gondola, Lake Conistan, Lake District. Courtesy Dean Ayres, http://bit.ly/i36rzp
In 1980, the National Trust, Britain’s keeper of our heritage, bought and restored Gondola. And with the arrival of the 21st century came an alternative source of fuel. In bygone days, coal was used. But in 2008, sustainable and long-lasting logs made from the waste by-products of lumber were introduced. This has proven to be a much more eco-friendly way of enjoying this special corner of England. Arthur Ransome and the Lake Poets would certainly have approved.
Interior of Gondola, showing rich upholstery and quilted ceiling. Copyright: ©NTPL/Paul Harris
Here’s how you can join the pilgrimage to seek out your writer’s muse in the Lake District:
How to Get There: British Rail drops you at Windermere station and a local bus (one hour) can take you to Coniston village. Although the vessel can be boarded at various points around the lake, embarkation is usually at Coniston Pier, half a mile from Coniston village on the north end of the lake. For a helpful site to assist with public transport planning, visit Traveline.
Seasonality: Beginning of April or Easter – whichever is sooner – to the end of October. Cruises operate daily, but the longer itineraries are only on certain days of the week. For details and cruise frequency, check the timetable.
How to Book: Tickets for the cruise can be bought in advance at Coniston TIC, tel. 015394 41533 or by emailing them at mail@conistontic.org Tickets can also be purchased on board on the day of the cruise, subject to space availability, but I wouldn’t recommend this.
Cost: The 45-minute cruises are £9.90 for adults, £4.90 for children and £24.70 for families (2 adults and 3 children). Full lake cruises (105 mins.) are what I would recommend. These are £21 for adults, £10.50 for children and £52.50 for families. Unfortunately, children under six are not allowed on the ‘Swallows and Amazon’ cruise.
Have you visited a special place that has inspired you to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard)? Share with us what your favourite setting is when you’re looking for creative writing inspiration.
James Helliwell (aka Firespin Jay) is a London-based travel and eco writer who relishes all things nautical. He writes for several cruise sites, covering everything from mainstream cruise deals to niche cruises.