Allan Bank

We awoke to a very grey rainy day.

We drove to Allan Bank on the banks of Grassmere. Once home to National Trust founder Canon Rawnsley and only partially decorated, this isn’t a typical National Trust experience. Everything is very informal at Allan Bank. You can help yourself to tea, coffee and biscuits for a small donation and drink them anywhere in the house. You can have a read by th fire or try your hand at painting or drawing. We sat by the widow watching the bird and saw a couple of red squirrels. Secret hideaways, such as the Victorian viewing tunnel, create an air of mystery. Unfortunately it was still rainy quite heavily so we didn’t get to explore the gardens.

We then drove to Townend. The Brownes of Townend in the Troutbeck Valley were just an ordinary farming family: but their home and belongings bring to life more than 400 years of extraordinary stories. Beatrix Potter described Troutbeck Valley as her favourite.

Once inside, you are welcomed into the farmhouse kitchen with a real fire -  burning most afternoons -  and a quirky collection of domestic tools. Throughout the house, intricately carved furniture provides a window into the personality of George Browne. The library contains the family’s well-used collection of books, including 45 that are the only remaining copies in the world. Outside, the colourful cottage-style garden is a lovely place to while away some time among the flowers, but unfortunately it was still raining so we headed for Kendal.

We did a bit of shopping before dropping into Wetherspoons for dinner as it was still raining. The Miles Thompson is set in the old council offices, but the building was originally the towns public baths, complete with chimney. By the time we came out it had finally stopped raining and we had some sunny spells. We headed back to he caravan