Geograph - photograph every grid square

SD2991 : Cruising on Coniston
This is the steam yacht "Gondola" restored and run by the National Trust. When Arthur Ransome was writing "Swallows and Amazons" and the ensuing books, he used this boat as the model for the houseboat lived in by the Amazon's Uncle Jim Turner or Captain Flint as he was called by the children.

Peel Island
As a number of the photos mention:
SD2991 : Peel Island ("Wild Cat Island") SD2991 : The secret harbour, Peel Island SD2991 : Peel Island AKA Wildcat Island
This island was 'adopted' by Arthur Ransome to become "Wild Cat Island" and then, with the 'Old Man of Coniston' (called 'Kanchenjunga' in the books) moved to a modified Windermere.

There are several good books written by people on Arthur Ransome and the bits of the lakes he used - see "Arthur Ransome and Captain Flint's Trunk" by Christina Hardyment, also her book "The World of Arthur Ransome" and "In search of Swallows & Amazons" by Roger Wardle.

I have a very soft spot for Arthur Ransome's books as they followed on from "Thomas the Tank Engine" in encouraging me to learn to read - so I didn't have to wait for one of my parents to be available to read to me; I could 'do it myself'!

John Webb