Anglotopia Podcast: Episode 69 – The Anglotopia Guide to Cumbria and the Lake District

In this episode of the Anglotopia podcast, Jonathan Thomas explores the beauty and cultural significance of Cumbria and the Lake District. He shares his personal experiences, literary connections, and the planning process for his trip, including a writer's retreat. The conversation delves into the stunning landscapes, historical sites, and the unique charm of the region, emphasizing its importance in British culture and literature. Links Derwent Pencil Museum Wordsworth House visit Brougham Castle article Ullswater steamer boat experience Hardknott Roman Fort Muncaster Castle podcast interview episode "The Shepherd's Life" by James Rebanks "English Pastoral" by James Rebanks "The Place of Tides" by James Rebanks "The Natural World of Winnie the Pooh" by Kathryn Aalto Writing Wild: Women Poets, Ramblers, and Mavericks Who Shape How We See the Natural World by Kathryn Aalto "Adventures in Anglotopia" by Jonathan Thomas Takeaways Cumbria and the Lake District are remote yet culturally rich destinations. The region is deeply connected to British literature, especially with figures like Wordsworth. Planning a trip to Cumbria requires careful consideration of travel logistics. Exploring the Lake District offers breathtaking views and unique experiences. The writer's retreat provided invaluable insights into writing about landscapes. Driving the Hardknott Pass is a thrilling adventure for travelers. Cumbria is a popular holiday destination for British tourists. The local cuisine, including Cumbria sausage and Kendall mint cake, is worth trying. The landscape of Cumbria is characterized by its mountains and lakes. Future visits to Cumbria should include more literary and historical sites. Sound Bites "Many would argue that the soul of British culture and literature kind of lives in the Lake District, mostly because of its connections with William Wordsworth and his poetry." "It was the furthest point that the Romans went when they had conquered Britain. They actually built a fort at Hardknot that had a view of the Irish Sea." "The Hardknott Pass is Britain's most steepest and dangerous road... it has a 15% grade. The regulations on US highways are like that the grade can't be more than 3 or 4%. So this is 15%." "After she became famous, rich and famous from the Beatrix Potter books, she dedicated herself to preserving the landscape of the Lake District... The reason so much of the Lake District landscape is protected is because of Beatrix Potter." "It's a place British people travel for holiday... if you really want to get a sense of Britishness and how they vacation and how they holiday then Cumbria and the Lake District is the place to go for that." "Every turn of the road is like the most beautiful place you've ever seen... I had just had no idea how incredibly beautiful England and Britain's mountain landscapes can be." "The sun doesn't set to like 11 p.m. in the summer... we had these author events that would go to like 11 o'clock and there was still like this twilight at 11 p.m." "Getting to Cumbria and the Lake District is the hard part... it's very remote. It's as far away from London as you can get going into Scotland." "It's really been a place where people kind of scrap in existence... There was never a lot of wealth generated there like in other places like say the Cotswolds." "You really the best way to get around is by car because the Lake District is very poorly served by trains and buses because it's so remote." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Cumbria and the Lake District 05:11 Literary Connections and Personal Journey 10:37 Planning the Trip to Cumbria 17:05 Exploring the Lake District 23:42 The Writer's Retreat Experience 25:21 Cumberland Lake District: A Legacy of Farming and Writing 26:33 Transformative Writing Retreat Experiences 28:19 The Journey of Self-Publishing and Creative Growth 29:56 Ex