Miss Potter's Hill Top home...................

This is the breathtaking countryside around Beatrix Potter's Lake District home, Hill Top farm. Above is the view from Hill Top's garden, across the lane to the lush farmland dotted with sheep and their many lambs. Spring time - a perfect season to visit.

A very pretty cottage down the lane from Hill Top.

Over the years Beatrix purchased thousands of acres of land with money received from sales of her delightful children's books.  Yes, Peter Rabbit and friends are responsible for this land being given to The National Trust to ensure its pristine, undeveloped beauty for posterity.

Cumbria's green and lush Lake District has to be some of the most beautiful countryside on this planet.......and beyond the rolling farmland and famous lakes are the high fells in the background, hiking destinations for those who love the great outdoors.

If you are ever here, don't miss a visit to Hill Top......left just as if Beatrix Potter had stepped out to set up her easel and paint the sweet creatures in her garden.  Interior photography is not permitted but the garden is open to visit and photograph.  Wandering up through the bordered path...........

.............the slate roofed cottage with the familiar covered entrance door soon comes into view.

The flowers were beautiful, especially the white wisteria climbing the walls..............

.......and one almost expects Miss Potter herself to be seated on the bench.

Note the umbrellas at the door - fortunately not required the morning we visited - sunny and warm, perfect in fact.

Everything blooming and very lush - note the striped window shades, and behind them, peeking out were two new blogging friends whom I met a couple of days earlier. More about them later.

The famous gate into Mr. McGregor's vegetable garden..................

......where I was ready to enter with Babs and Paula in search of that naughty rabbit........

............and there he was, Peter Rabbit himself, honestly, nibbling away just as expected!

This photo above by friend Rob - mine were blurry due to excitement and a shaking camera!

Childhood friends to so many of us - thank you Miss Potter.