FROM books, bibs and bottles to towels and Christening plates, the hottest gifts to buy any new baby usually bear the watercolour images and stories of Peter Rabbit and friends.

So naturally, while enjoying the scenery of northern England’s famed Lake District, no itinerary was complete for Misses Five and Seven if it didn’t include a chance to follow in the footsteps of their cotton-tail hero and tip toe through the turnips, cabbages and radishes of Mr McGregor’s precious vegetable patch. Or as close as they could get without getting into trouble.

    While Peter Rabbit’s creator Beatrix Potter grew up in Kensington, London, it was the scenic, rolling English countryside here that inspired her to pen and illustrate many of her classic animal stories.

She wrote 23 in all, and all are vividly retold at Bowness-on-Windermere at the World of Beatrix Potter Attraction. A life-sized model of Potter and animal friends greets visitors at the entrance.  Following a four-minute film introduction to Potter’s life (she was not only a talented writer and artist but an avid naturalist and conservationist ) guests are then guided through a door and transported into her magical world and each classic tale.

 The attention to every detail  of Potter’s characters is what makes this indoor attraction so worthwhile.

We spot Jemima in her poke bonnet, flying high above the fox-gloves searching for a place in the woods to hatch her eggs, and the sly, gentleman fox Mr Tod who later attempts to make her his dinner.

We spot Mrs Tittlemouse, Peter’s cousin Benjamin and see how Squirrel Nutken and friends used their tails as sails on twig rafts to cross the water to Owl Island to gather nuts. There are the pigs of Pigling Bland and Mrs Tiggy-Winkle, her spikes peaking through her cap as she does her daily washing in her kitchen; Jeremy Fisher on his lily-pad boat angling for his minnow dinner and the mischievous Flopsy Bunnies, who fell asleep with bellies full of Mr McGregor’s ‘soporific’ lettuces.

To add to the attraction’s authenticity, the trail takes us outside to Mr McGregor’s actual garden, brimming with ripening vegetables. And it’s there, soaring above the garden beds strung over a wooden cross to scare away the blackbirds, we find Peter Rabbit’s new blue jacket with the brass buttons which the naughty bunny loses in a net in the gooseberry bush while trying to escape Mr McGregor’s clutches in Potter’s most famous first tale. The garden is also home to a bronze statue commissioned to honour Potter’s impressive contribution to children’s literature.

The attraction’s latest innovation is the virtual walk highlighting many of the places in the Cumbrian countryside that Potter used as story locations. Visitors take the journey via a HD multi-touch table displaying 360 degree panoramas. Running alongside this is the interactive timeline displaying archive film footage. Children can also pick up an activity booklet filled with quizzes, puzzles and games to help them discover more about stories she wrote and illustrated – as they make their way through. And near the end they can have their souvenir photo taken (for a fee). A green screen allows children to select their favourite characters to pose with. The attraction also houses a tea room where regular tea parties are held (bookings are essential). And just in case you haven’t got enough Peter Rabbit and friends memorabilia or want to buy a new gift for the next generation, there’s also a well stocked souvenir shop.

Going Potty

In the 30 years she lived in the Lake District Potter bought up a great deal of land, in a bid to preserve the region’s farming heritage. Hill Top, purchased in 1905 with the profits from her first book, was just one of 15 farms she bequeathed to the National Trust (she established) when she died in 1943.

Hill Top

The 17th century farmhouse, near Sawrey is opened to the public most days (just be sure to check opening times. It’s a long way to come to find the house closed for renovations!)

The house has been set up inside exactly as it would have been when Potter lived here.  As you wander through you can match the drawings with the rooms and furniture. The house inspired  The Tale of Tom Kitten (published in 1907),The Tale of Jemima Puddle-duck (1908) and The Tale of Samuel Whiskers (1908). Pigling Bland and his brothers also set off to market from here. Misses Five and Seven also enjoyed finding the clues to a Pigling Bland puzzle in the cottage garden. They even spotted Peter, without his coat, and friends hopping about the tall grasses.

Other places to visit include the Beatrix Potter Gallery in Hawkeshead where the author’s original artworks (drawings and watercolours) are on display. Incidentally, the house used to be her solicitor husband William Heelis’ office.

In 1882 when she was just 16, Potter holidayed at the neo-Gothic  Wray Castle, which sits on the shores of Lake Windermere, England’s largest lake. She later owned much of the surrounding land. Inside the castle you’ll find a brand new Peter Rabbit playroom where children can dress up like the characters, watch episodes of the new CBeebies show or try their hand at gardening.

Built in Victorian times, this mock medieval castle also has turrets with pretend arrow slits and a working portcullis. Children can dress up as knights, kings and queens and even build their own medieval castle inside.

For more information visit: www.hop-skip-jump.com/; http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk