Literary Pilgrimages

I so want to do the Potter pilgrimage! And I am so jealous of the Laura Ingalls Wilder visitor. I LOVED her when I was a kid.
I live in Hardy/Austen country down here. I've been to her grave in Winchester and the house she died in (but it's privately owned you can only walk past) Also drug my husband and father in law through the Jane Austen Centre in Bath. I do want to see her house in Chawton.

Also drug my husband and father in law through the Jane Austen Centre in Bath.

Oooh, I've been there too! 

I've been to almost all the places where Laura Inglass Wilder lived.  The dugout house where they lived on Plum Creek was still there when I was a kid, but I am not sure if it is now.

I also got to help save her house in Missouri, I was on a team fighting forest fires near by.

cool!

I would love to go to Prince Edward Island in Canada and see where LM Mongomery (Anne of Green Gables etc) lived.

I've been to the Keats house in Hampstead but mainly for my husband's benefit. 

I went to Shakespeare's Birthplace, very interesting in Stratford Upon Avon.  My fiance was constantly saying a*se Shakespeare but then eneded up enjoying it when we saw The Tempest in the RSC.

Thanks everybody!  I'm enjoying reading all the stories.

I would love to see the Laura Ingalls places, and Anne of Green Gables.  I'd love to go to Great Missenden too.  I think Alnwick Castle is going to be a must.

There's a good book for tracking down some famous children's book locations.  It's called Once Upon a Time in Great Britain by Melanie Wentz.  I don't remember ever hearing about the Ripon Cathedral/Carroll connection though.  That's just the kind of obscure trivia I live for!

We live near the Slad Valley where Laurie Lee lived (which he wrote about in Cider with Rosie) and where he is buried.  We also live close to the home of the Rev. Awdry.  You might have heard of him if you have a son of a certain age.  There's a commemorative stained glass window of him and Thomas in the village church.

I would love to walk on "Wuthering Heights".  Ever since we found out we were moving over to England I've been dreaming about walking the last leg (day 7 for medieval pilgrims from London) of the Chaucer Canterbury journey.  Needless to say, my family haven't been eager to join me.  Now I'm thinking somebody who lives there will tell me it's along the side of a motorway, and is a favorite haunt of happy-slappers. 

Please keep those literary excursions coming!  It's helping to keep my homesickness at bay. 

We live near the Slad Valley where Laurie Lee lived (which he wrote about in Cider with Rosie) and where he is buried. 

I'd love to go there. It's one of my favourite books! 

I think Alnwick Castle is going to be a must.

Well if you go, make a weekend of it.  There's all sorts to do!  In Alnwick:  the castle, the HUGE gardens, the used bookstore.  It's also near to Seahouses (a lovely seaside town) from which short bird & seal watching cruises depart for the Farne Islands.  Lindis Farne Island is nearby.  You can walk along the coast to the Dunstanburgh Castle, and Bamburgh Castle is not much farther.  You can walk in the Cheviot Hills, & you can go see the Chillingham Wild Cattle (http://www.chillingham-wildcattle.org.uk/).  Granted, most of that is not particularly literary but makes for a nice varied family vacation.

You could also stop in Durham or Newcastle or York or Leeds on the way coming or going.

We live near the Slad Valley where Laurie Lee lived (which he wrote about in Cider with Rosie) and where he is buried. 

I have to admit I've never read any of his books but when I was visiting my friend who lives in Stroud she took me to the pub where he used to drink and where there is a VERY strong cider  named after him. Well worth a visit. (but if you are driving they only let you have a half!).

I don't remember ever hearing about the Ripon Cathedral/Carroll connection though.  That's just the kind of obscure trivia I live for!

To be honest, I had no clue about it either :-) I just so happened to be in Ripon visiting Ed's aunt and uncle and of course we had to make a visit to the cathedral (well, a few actually...gotta love cathedrals!!!) and they have an exhibit up and everything! There is some sort church affiliated building near the cathedral where he actually lived while he was in Ripon, and there is a sign outside of it...but I don't know if its ever open to the public.

Anyhow, Ripon itself is *well* worth visiting just on its own, since its a lovely little city very close to Fountain's Abbey and the studley royal! (also well worth a day trip in my opinion).

And I second your desire to walk the "wuthering heights"...during my visits to Ed's aunt/uncle's place in Ripon I always make a point to visit the yorkshire moors...its some of the most lovely countryside I've ever seen in my life, desolate and windswept and even a long the motorway its just breathtaking!!! Yorkshire really is "Gods own county" I think :-D Anyway, its where I go in my dreams!!!

...very close to Fountain's Abbey and the studley royal! (also well worth a day trip in my opinion). 

I love Fountains Abbey!  That's one of the first places that Steve took me -- on a lovely, sunny day in May.  High recommended!

And I second your desire to walk the "wuthering heights"...during my visits to Ed's aunt/uncle's place in Ripon I always make a point to visit the yorkshire moors...its some of the most lovely countryside I've ever seen in my life, desolate and windswept and even a long the motorway its just breathtaking!!! Yorkshire really is "Gods own county" I think :-D Anyway, its where I go in my dreams!!!

The North York Moors (national park) are wonderful, as are the Yorkshire Dales (another national park).  Haworth & 'Wuthering Heights' (although in west Yorkshire) are located on the high Pennine moors.  And Haworth is a really cool town to visit -- plus it's close to Hebden Bridge, which has its own special vibe.   Now I need to go to Ripon because although we may have driven through it, I don't remember ever stopping there.

I've stayed at the B&B (St. Tudno Hotel) in Llandudno where Alice Liddell once stayed (the inspiration for Alice in Wonderland); the Moors, Stratford-on-Avon... can't remember where else in the UK - have to ask dad, as he's the bigtime literary fan and plans trips around things like that...
One of my favorite trips was around the East Coast, particularly Concord, Mass. (Walden Pond, the homes of Emerson, the Alcotts, and the loveliest cemetery I've ever visited, Sleepy Hollow Cemetery (where there is a designated area called "Author's Ridge")... and Salem, where The House of the Seven Gables is... and the town itself, which I absolutely fell in love with.  I actually toyed with the idea of moving there...

One of my favorite trips was around the East Coast, particularly Concord, Mass. (Walden Pond, the homes of Emerson, the Alcotts, and the loveliest cemetery I've ever visited, Sleepy Hollow Cemetery (where there is a designated area called "Author's Ridge")... and Salem, where The House of the Seven Gables is... and the town itself, which I absolutely fell in love with.  I actually toyed with the idea of moving there...

I used to do that trip every autumn!!! Sleepy Hollow Cemetery is great!

What lovely people, all of you. 

I'd love to go there. It's one of my favourite books! 

If you're ever in the area I'd be happy to show you Laurie Lee's headstone.  It says "buried in the valley that he loved" or something like that.  There is also an exhibit of his things, and recordings of him reading, at the museum in Stroud.

I have to admit I've never read any of his books but when I was visiting my friend who lives in Stroud she took me to the pub where he used to drink and where there is a VERY strong cider  named after him. Well worth a visit. (but if you are driving they only let you have a half!).

And I'll join you in a half pint of cider as well! 

  *d'oh*
Let's not forget Hampstead Heath, right in my old backyard!
Keats' stomping ground as well as others, along with his other home aside the Spanish Steps in Rome!

And, perhaps not officially classified as a 'writer', but definitely an icon for literary folks, I absolutely fell in love with Thomas Jefferson when we visited Monticello... 
I always think of that place when I think that I don't have time to do things!  Talk about a busy guy...

I used to do that trip every autumn!!! Sleepy Hollow Cemetery is great!

My cousin used to live in Tarrytown!  Lovely place to visit.