'The loveliest spot': Wordsworth's Dove Cottage

Dove Cottage, the home of William Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy, was a place of 'plain living but high thinking'. Set within the beauty of the Lake District, a visit here shows how the stunning surroundings infused with the literary world.

Back of the cottage

'I wandered lonely as a cloud' is the quintessential poetic line of the Lake District. It is impossible to separate Romanticism from this landscape; the lakes, mountains and vales here have been a source of inspiration to numerous literary figures, and none more so than William Wordsworth, who wrote the above quote. 

Wordsworth described his beloved Grasmere, the village where the cottage is located, as ''the loveliest spot that man hath ever found'. Dove Cottage became the home of William Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy in 1799, returning to their native Lake District after years of restlessness and wandering elsewhere. 

View of the cottage from the garden

View of the cottage from the road

Before our small tour group entered the little garden gate to Dove Cottage, the guide paused to indicate the fell in the distance, emerging dramatically above the short line of old stone houses. She said it is called the Helm Crag, or the 'Lion and the Lamb' as it is known locally, reminding us that this view is the very one that Wordsworth would have gazed upon two centuries ago.

The front room

Inside the cottage itself, the wood-panelled rooms look as they would when the Wordsworths lived there, including some original furniture. Desks are equipped with paper and ink, bringing to mind the poetry produced there. Outside is a garden-orchard built on the side of a hill, providing stunning views down onto the cottage and then the lofty peaks beyond.

Window look out to the garden

Garden steps

At Dove Cottage Wordsworth wrote some of his most famous poems and his sister Dorothy wrote her intriguing Grasmere Journal. Speaking to staff in the cafe, they were quick to mention that next year marks 250 years since Dorothy's birth, which is when they are hoping to open the new museum being built adjacent to the property. At Dove Cottage, Dorothy's story is as central as her brothers.

When Wordsworth married, his wife Mary also came to live at the cottage. Three of their children followed, until they all moved to a larger house in 1808. The cottage always held a special place for the Wordsworths, and it seemed they never felt as settled in their later houses. 

Garden with back of cottage in the background

Need To Know

1. Covid-19 & Social Distancing

The Wordsworth Trust have put in place social distancing measures to make the visit safe, yet still enjoyable.

Visits are organised into small groups within a set timeslot and an accompanying tour guide. Masks must also be worn whilst indoors, social distancing maintained and there are handsanitiser stations set up. 

More Health & Safety information can be found here and tickets, which are preferably booked in advance, can be found here. 

2. Walks

Accompany your visit with a local walk or hike. There are so many beautiful trails in the area including the 'Lion and the Lamb' (as mentioned above), Loughrigg Fell and Rydal Cave. 

3. Grasmere

The village of Grasmere is an attraction in itself. There is a famous Gingerbread shop and you can visit the church yard where you can find the Wordsworth's graves. 

4. New Museum 

Next Spring, the Wordsworth Trust are planning to open a new museum next to the Dove Cottage site about 'Wordsworth’s radical and creative life'. Find out more about the project here.

* This visit was gifted.