4. Squirrels rafting toOwl Island6. Beatrix sketching on

St Herbert’s Island

5. Skiddaw from Cat Bells terrace

2. Mrs Tiggy-winkle onCat Bells

3. Brandelhow Barn

1. Lucie in Newlands

Beatrix Potter is famous for her links with Hawkshead and Near Sawrey, especially her home Hill Top. Less well known are her links to Keswick and the eleven summers she spent, between 1885 and 1907, staying on the shores of Derwent Water.Her time here was one of the major periods of artistic creativity in her life. The people and landscapes were inspirational to her and feature in some of her earliest books: The tales of Squirrel Nutkin, Benjamin Bunny and Mrs Tiggy-winkle, which were published between 1903 and 1905.

Beatrix later became part of the early conservation movement to save England’s open spaces, particularly in the Lake District. Her influence and vision were so profound that the head office of the National Trust is now called ‘Heelis’ in her memory (she became Mrs Heelis when she married and lived permanently at Sawrey.).

This map will help you stand at the actual locations where Beatrix sat to make her sketches.

Beatrix Potter’s ViewpointsStand in the footprints of the best-selling author and illustrator and see the views that inspired her drawings

Cat Bells

7. Keswick market

1. Lucie in Newlandsfrom The Tale of Mrs Tiggy-Winkle

Lucie Carr was the daughter of the Vicar of Newlands. Beatrix met Lucie in 1904 and the little girl was fascinated by Beatrix’s pet hedgehog 'Mrs Tiggy-winkle'.The illustration shows Castle Nook Crag and Dale Head.

‘Once upon a time there was a little girl called Lucie, who lived at a farm called Little-town’.

© F

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War

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Location: NY232191680m (½ mile) walk from Little Town car parkSatNav: CA12 5TU

7. Keswick Marketfrom the Derwent Water Sketchbook

Location: NY267235, 125m walk from Keswick Central car park, SatNav CA12 5DF

The hurried nature of this sketch suggests Beatrix was trying to capture the busy market square without drawing attention to herself.

4. Squirrels rafting to Owl Islandfrom The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin

Location: NY255222, 380m (¼ mile) walk from Lingholm car park, SatNav CA12 5TZ

The inspiration for the book came from visiting Derwent Island, although the illustration shows St Herbert’s Island from Lingholm where she spent several summers.

‘There is a lady who lives on an island on the lake who told me…when her nuts are ripe, squirrels appear on the island, but she has not seen them coming. There is an American story that squirrels go down the rivers on little rafts.’Letter to Noel Moore written at Lingholm, 26 Aug 1897.

5. Skiddaw from Cat Bellsfrom the Derwent Water Sketchbook

Location: NY248194, 340m (¼ mile) walk south of quarry layby on Cat Bells terrace path, SatNav CA12 5UG

2. Mrs Tiggy-winkle on Cat Bellsfrom The Tale of Mrs Tiggy-winkle

Location: NY232208, 390m (¼ mile) walk from Gutherscale layby, SatNav CA12 5UE

The illustration shows Skiddaw and Bassenthwaite Lake in the distance.

‘I have seen that door into the back of the hill called Cat Bells—and besides I am very well acquainted with dear Mrs. Tiggy-winkle!’

Help protect the landscape that inspired Beatrix

Donate to our Lake District Appeal

by texting NTLK11 £2/£5/£10 to 70070

or visit: nationaltrust.org.uk/lakes-appeal

3. Brandelhow Barnphotograph by Rupert Potter

Location: NY250208, 800m (½ mile) walk from roadside parking at Cat Bells hairpins, SatNav CA12 5UE

Beatrix’s father, Rupert Potter, was a keen amateur photographer, and they often took camera equipment on their carriage drives. Brandelhow Park was the first land in the Lake District to be protected by the National Trust in 1902; Beatrix and her father contributed to the campaign.

'Went to Buttermere by Grange, Honister and back by Newlands. Extraordinary and striking

For Beatrix, sketching was a release from an oppressive home environment.

Her overbearing parents disapproved of her short-lived engagement to Norman Warne, her publisher.

‘I cannot rest, I must draw, however poor the result, and when I have a bad time come over me it is a stronger desire than ever.’Journal of Beatrix Potter (transcribed by Leslie Linder), Oct 1884.

6. Beatrix sketching onSt Herbert’s Islandphotograph by Rupert Potter

Location: NY252209, 970m (⅔ mile) walk from roadside parking at Cat Bells hairpins, SatNav CA12 5UE

Hardly any images exist capturing Beatrix while she was sketching. This one appears to have been taken on St Herbert’s Island but we’ve pointed you to the lake shore so you don’t have to leave dry land.

Courtesy Frederick Warne & Co., and the National Trust

© Frederick Warne & Co., 1905, 2002

© Frederick Warne & Co., 1905, 2002

Courtesy Frederick Warne & Co., and the National Trust

© The Cotsen Foundation

Courtesy Frederick Warne & Co., and the National Trust

drive…an awful road. Never knew what jolting was before…recommend said excursion as a cure for colic’. Journal of Beatrix Potter (transcribed by Leslie Linder), Aug 1885.

JustTextGiving by Vodafone. National Trust is a registered charity, no. 205846. 100% of your donation will go towards our work to fix flood damage in the North Lakes. Please obtain the bill payer’s permission. Supporter Services Centre 0344 800 1895. Every penny helps keep special places like this special.