Last day so John and I decided to play tourist while Theresa and David went walking. First we went to Wray Castle, near Ambleside, an amazing mock gothic castle built in about 1840 as a retirement home for a very rich childless couple who lived there for 30 years. The designer was in fact an accountant, who then drank himself to death before it was finished!

Beatrix Potter, her brother and parents holidayed there when it became a "holiday rental" after the owners' deaths . Eventually various friendships between the owners and the Potters led to the foundation of the National Trust and then Beatrix leaving her home, Hill Farm, and her numerous other farms to the National Trust, enabling folk nowadays to walk all around the shores of Lake Windemere.

The National Trust have owned Wray Castle since 1929 but had leased it. Its history was fascinating, as we learnt on the conducted tour. The house opened to the public in 2012 and is unfurnished , to be child friendly - huge foam blocks to build castles, dressing up room, old photos of the Potter family and Peter Rabbit, paints and crayons to write on walls or draw pictures, etc.

After a picnic lunch in the grounds, we went to Grasmere. Visited Dove Cottage, home of the poet William Wordsworth and family for 10 years. Another great guided tour and then the garden and museum. Looked at the Wordsworth family grave sites, and the memorial plaque in the church. There are at least 3 other "Wordsworth" sites to keep for "next time".

Final place was Castlerigg stone circle, near Keswick, an amazing oval circle of stones, not Stonehenge but very "atmospheric" on an open hilltop surrounded by Lakeland peaks.
Home to pack and for our final dinner with Theresa and David. Such a great holiday, only 3 wets days, enough fine ones and even a few sunny days too. Thanks to Theresa and David for arranging it all.