In 1799, while on a walking tour of the Lake District, William Wordsworth saw Dove Cottage in Grasmere and decided to make it his home. He had known the valley as a boy, describing it as ‘paradise’. Within a few weeks, William and his sister Dorothy had moved in and were busily furnishing the home and planning a garden. It was whilst living here that Wordsworth produced most of his best-loved poems, and Dorothy wrote her fascinating Grasmere journal.
A visit to Dove Cottage today transports you back to this remarkable period of ‘plain living and high thinking’. The sights, sounds and smells bring to life the bustling family home the Wordsworths’ would have known over 200 years ago.
After visiting Dove Cottage, you can take a stroll through the delightful Garden-Orchard, which Wordsworth referred to as a ‘little domestic slip of mountain’. It was a place of peace and inspiration for Wordsworth, who would often compose poetry outdoors.
The Museum is opening in spring 2021. Uncover Wordsworth’s radical and creative life in the new and expanded Museum and enjoy breathtaking views of Grasmere Vale from a unique Viewing Station.
Please visit their website for opening times and information.
Hints & Tips: Check out their programme of special events and poetry readings – lots to choose from and they of course do school and group visits.
Why we like it: If you love literature and poetry, it’s amazing to be where the great man lived and wrote. If you like social history, its a real insight into life and times for a Cumbrian family, and of course, Grasmere is a lovely village to visit too.
