I have been dreaming about touring Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter country but with the recent flooding I am wondering if I should put this trip off? I have been unable to find out how far reaching the devastation really is and if it has destroyed many historical sites and gardens.
Using google maps, hone in on Lake District. Then click on "terrain" in upper right hand corner of the map. You can see contours and shading. Note roads, villages, etc are some distance vertically from the water features. Probably not much of a problem; since it's not like the place has never seen rain before. Water comes up, water goes down. Maybe some slight road damage, but they fix that sort of thing pretty fast.
Ed is apparently not well-informed about the severity of the flooding in the Lake District following what they are calling a "1 in 1000 years" rain. Bridges have been washed out and at least one person has died. Rather than going to Google Maps and making your own assumptions, google "flooding in Lake District of the UK" and you will get numerous articles with pictures of the devastation. The specific areas you are interested in are, no doubt, mentioned among them. There's a very informative map where you can get information and pictures of any town in the area here: http://tinyurl.com/ykdzozu
If you Google the sites you are interested in you will probably find specific details of any damage etc.
There is also a visitor enquiry helpline
I suggest that you post a query on tripadvisor. They have locals who will know the full story. Pam
Ed must not know how bad the flooding was in the Lake District. I would suggest that you email the tourist information center in the Lake District...they would be the best ones to tell you what you want to know.~~ [email protected]
It looks like there was severe flooding in Cockermouth, where there is Wordsworth's boyhood home (managed by the NT). I didn't see anything about the Grasemere/Windemere area, his adult homes.
Bearix Potter's home is on a ridge as is the town which has the museum(it is her husband's law office.
I would check with the BBC website and the National Trust website.
Tom
I just checked the Lake District Forum and there are several reassuring posts. Google tripadvisor forum lake district.
Further news: In this week's (11/27) "TLS" it was reported that there was damage to the basement and garden of the Wordsworth House in Cockermouth. However a spokesperson from the National Trust said that no significant damage to the historic part of the house.