Lake District Poetry
4th June 2014
Many people are familiar with the famous opening lines of William Wordsworth’s 1807 Lake District poem:
‘I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host of golden daffodils…’
This classic poem was inspired by an 1802 visit to Ullswater, a stunning lake in the heart of the Lake District. It is just one example of the vast amount of work created by the ‘Lake Poets’, a group of romantic poets who lived in the area at the turn of the nineteenth century.
Together, Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth reinvigorated a societal interest in nature. They highlighted the sublime qualities of the landscape and the profound effect such scenery produces on the soul, making Lake District poetry world-famous.
For many visitors exploring the Lake District, the desire to walk amongst the ‘vales and hills’ is often inspired by these literary icons. The Romantics observed that contemplating the natural landscape offered an intangible, healing quality, as Wordsworth wrote:
‘With life and nature, purifying thus
With life and nature, purifying thus
The elements of feeling and of thought,
And sanctifying, by such discipline,
Both pain and fear, until we recognise,
A grandeur in the beatings of the heart.’
Wordsworth clearly believed that nature was essential to human well-being. Historic sites like Dove Cottage in Grasmere, his former home, offer a direct connection to this heritage.
Historic sites across the Lake District allow visitors to step directly into the world that inspired these famous works of the Lakes Romantic poets. Dove Cottage in Grasmere, Wordsworth’s home during his most creative years, offers a fascinating glimpse into his life and writing. You can explore visitor information and historical details on the ‘Wordsworth Grasmere’ website.
The peaceful countryside settings of the Lake District offer the ideal opportunity to relax, unwind, and enjoy the scenery, and perhaps write some poetry of your own while staying in our luxury Lake District cottages.