Monthly Archives: August 2013
Arthur Ransome reading on BBC Radio Cumbria
Peter Walker has just written from Kendal to tell me that Arthur Ransome could be heard on BBC Radio Cumbria yesterday afternoon.
A newly cleaned up archive recording of the author reading from his classic book on fishing ‘Rod and Line’ in 1956 can be heard on BBC I-player for the next five days. Please go 25 minutes into Emma Borthwick’s programme for the item recorded by Jennie Dennett at Hill Top, the Ransome’s house above Haverthwaite, which the new owners, Stephen Sykes and his wife Janine, are opening for Bed and Breakfast.
BBC Radio Cumbria at 17.25 on 15th August 2013

Slate Quay below High Nibthwaite at southern end of Coniston Water where Arthur Ransome learnt about fish as a child on holiday in Cumbria.
Peter Walker’s excellent ‘Swallows and Amazons’ tour gives one an insight and understanding of Arthur Ransome’s life in the Lake District. For more information please click here.
Filed under Arthur Ransome, Cumbria, Lake District, Sophie Neville, Swallows and Amazons, Travel
Swallows & Amazons boathouse on Coniston Water is up for sale ~
I believe that the middle boathouse in this photograph I took last year is the one currently for sale.
If you visit the ITV News website, you can watch a story about the boathouse originally belonging to the Collingwood family of Lanehead which inspired Arthur Ransome when writing Swallows and Amazons. It includes a short clip of the fishing scene from our film.
The reporter from Border Television didn’t get all his facts right. We are not sure who Arthur J Ransome is. The author was called Arthur Mitchell Ransome.
Here we were, intrepid explorers, finding Swallow at Holly Howe in May 1973. The water was freezing. You can see the lovely view from the boathouses.
If you want to find out more about the property for sale, the details are here on the RightMove website.
For the latest news on the new film adaptation, please see The Westmorland Gazette. For their article about the boatshed please click here. There is also one in the Express.
Filed under Acting, Arthur Ransome, Cumbria, Dinghy sailing, Lake District, News, Swallows and Amazons