June 15, 2026

 June 15, 2026 England’s Lake District


At 9:15 this morning, we boarded the coach and headed for the charming village of Grasmere in the heart of England’s Lake District.

Our first stop was Dove Cottage, the home of poet William Wordsworth and his sister, Dorothy Wordsworth. Wordsworth was constantly composing poetry, and it was fascinating to see the humble home where so much literary history was made.











Grasmere itself is a delightful town filled with traditional stone houses and inviting shops. We spent some time wandering through the village, browsing the stores and enjoying the atmosphere. One favorite stop was the The World of Beatrix Potter shop, celebrating the beloved children’s author. Beatrix Potter was a local resident and played a significant role in preserving the beauty and character of the Lake District.



Lunch was at Tweedies, a cozy pub at the top of town. We enjoyed cottage pie, ratatouille, and salad. After lunch, we were entertained by Taffy Thomas, a gifted storyteller. As a special surprise, Tauck presented each of us with a copy of one of Taffy’s books.







We then continued to Lake Windermere. Along the way, our guide mentioned that Taylor Swift has visited the area and even referenced Windermere in her music.

Soon we boarded a sightseeing boat for a cruise on Lake Windermere, the longest lake in England at approximately 10 miles long and about 220 feet deep. Before boarding, I checked the water temperature and found it ranged between 57°F and 62°F. The cruise offered beautiful views of stone homes, boathouses, and the stunning Lake District scenery.








As we stepped off the boat, our steam train was just pulling into the station. We immediately spotted a Tauck placard displayed in one of the windows and climbed aboard. Our hotel was only one stop away. When we arrived, everyone disembarked and gathered for photos of the locomotive as steam billowed from its smokestack—a classic Lake District moment.





The walk back to the hotel was short but interesting. Along the way, we stopped at a weir, a low barrier built across a river to control or redirect the flow of water. I had never heard of a weir before, so it was fun to learn something new.



Tonight we got together for dinner which included a two piece string, accordion, harmonica, and bagpipe. It sounded like St. Patrick’s Day for an hour! 



It was followed by a trivia night with our fellow travelers. It was a fun way to end another wonderful day in the Lake District testing our knowledge while sharing memories of our day. The icing on top is that we won tonight’s trivia night! It was tie with our table and another. The sudden death question: What mythical figure is on the Flag of Wales. Jeff raised his hand and said the dragon and the victory was ours! Susie and I each received a Swan Hotel bag!





Good Night Newry Bridge! 💤😴


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