Today was a very special day for the group, as we paid a visit to historic Dove Cottage, the home of Romantic poet (and namesake of the MFS student news publication) William Wordsworth from 1799-1808. But, before we visited the quaint home, we made the three hour trek from the Peak District to the Lake District. Traveling north on the M6, we passed through Manchester – where we will be ending our trip. After a smooth ride, we entered Grasmere, the village on the 10-mile lake of the Lake District.
We entered Dove Cottage through the stables, where we watched a short introduction video to Wordsworth, his family, his work, and his impact on the modern day. We then toured the house, where we were able to see and sit at Wordsworth’s original dining room table, read through old letters, and interact with the furnishings in the kitchen, bedrooms, and other living spaces. (With an MFS WordsWorth Editor-in-Chief and adviser on the trip, this gave them great joy.)
After exiting the cottage, we ambled around the private gardens and took the stairs of the separate museum and shop building to appreciate the picturesque view of Grasmere from above. After hitting the gift shop (and leaving a bag there) we walked to Grasmere center and visited the graves of William Wordsworth, his wife, and his sister.
From there, we were free to roam the town for lunch and try the famous Grasmere gingerbread, which many students took advantage of.
Then, we went on a beautiful walk around the glistening lakes. Although it was raining, the Lake District has amazing hills and sheep roaming everywhere. There were even two sheep that were feeling brave and approached our group. After the classic rainy England day, it was time for the group to get back on the coach and head across the border to Scotland for dinner. Today was a great day for the England group, and they cannot wait until tomorrow!