Hill Top is the small 17th-century farmhouse in Near Sawrey that Beatrix Potter bought in 1905 with the proceeds of The Tale of Peter Rabbit, and it stays much as she left it, full of her furniture, china and favourite things, with real scenes from the little books to spot in the rooms and from the garden path. The cottage garden is a loose mix of flowers, herbs, fruit and vegetables restored to her time, and the orchard has picnic benches, an independently run coffee cabin and a shop of Potter gifts. Entry is by timed ticket and drivers must book in advance, members included; walkers and cyclists can turn up, and there is no space for motorhomes. Reviewers note the rooms are tiny, so allow about an hour, and that dogs on leads are welcome in the garden but not the house. One tip from regulars: cross Windermere by ferry and walk the two miles up from the shore.
