Europe Tour Day 6 Windemere to Chester July 10

Today we started our morning with a trip into a small village named Grassmere, Beatrix Potter country and inspiration for her famous books and characters such as Peter Rabbit and Jemima Puddleduck.

Grassmere, the home and inspiration of Beatrix Potter

They obviously couldn't think of a name for this street

Beautiful scenery of Grassmere, Lakes District

 

Grassmere

After a stop here to wander around the town and take in the sights we made our way back to Windemere to catch a ferry to take us on Lake Windemere from Windemere to Haverthwaite, with the last portion to be done by steam train.

On the waters edge in Windemere

Lake Windemere, the largest lake in England

On our ferry cruise to Haverthwaite from Windemere

On Lake Windemere, an old castle in the background

 
The cruise was very relaxing watching the scenery go by, with the odd castle popping up on the way. After arriving at Haverthwaite on the steam train we thought we had arrived at Hogwarts. On the platform also stood a man who was part of an owl rehabilitation program who had some on his beautiful birds with him him. The boys loved the owls and Brodie was particularly interested after having just done a barn owl project at school.

Matthew and a hogwarts owl on Haverthwaite rail station

Brodie and the barn owl

Who you lookin at??

Thought we'd arrived at Hogwarts there for a minute

More owls- they were all rehabilitated, some only in the last few months

Whoo is that ?

Hogwarts owl

At Hogwarts, no Haverthwaite Station

   
The afternoon was spent driving to Chester in the heart of the Lakes District. After arriving in Chester and checking into our hotel we went on a town walk. Chester was a medieval town, and still has remnants of its vast history on display all around the city. We walked past the old church and to the remains of the Roman Ampitheatre situated just at the edge of the town streets. We also saw the East Gate Clock, the second most photographed clock in England, second of course to Big Ben in London, and the black and white “rows” in the city centre and the Chester Cathedral.

Part of the Roman Ampitheatre in Chester
this dated back to the year 350

Part of the ampitheatre here and below
quite amazing

Some of the remaining walls

Some of the black and white "rows" of Chester

The East Gate Clock, the second most photographed clock in England is from the second century

Chester Cathedral from the 1400s

Chester Cathedral

Tomorrow we head to in Wales.