Hill Top

Readers of Beatrix Potter's fascinating stories are likely to have heard of Hill Top Farm. It was with the money from her early Peter Rabbit tales that meant Potter was able to buy the farm and invest in a flock of Herdwick sheep to keep there. Beatrix adored the house, although lived at home with her parents until she married. She did, however, visit whenever she could and it was her first step towards independence.

Beatrix spent several months a year at the farm and filled it with furniture and ornaments. Whilst at the farm, she was inspired to write more of her books and some of the characters even 'lived' there, such as Tom Kitten and Samuel Whiskers.

As she became more successful, Beatrix invested in another property, Castle Farm nearby and eventually ended up owning 14 farms and 4000 acres.

When she died in 1943, Hill Top Farm was preserved exactly as she left it, complete with her furniture and china. The garden even includes the same combination of herbs, flowers, fruit and vegetables that Beatrix herself grew.

Today, Hill Top is open to the public and eagle eyed visitors should be able to spot something in each room that has appeared in one of her books.

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