IT was home to one of the greatest English poets and now breathtaking scenery in the Lake District is inspiring the next generation of writers.

Sixth-formers and senior school pupils at Bolton School enjoyed a creative writing retreat in the national park led by Dr Peter Sansom, a poet and author Chris Walking.

The girls spent the morning writing everything from short stories, modern sonnets and poetry inspired by their surroundings and in the afternoon they spent their leisure time walking or attending one-to-one tutorials.

They visited Dove Cottage and enjoyed the same walks as Wordsworth.

The retreat was at Patterdale Hall, the school's outdoor adventure learning centre.

Jane Kingsford, who co-ordinated the event, said: "The tutors, each eminent in their field, were superb mentors to the girls, both in the group workshops and the one-to-one sessions.

"They contributed to the calm and happy atmosphere which allowed the girls to feel comfortable enough to take risks and think creatively.

"The close prose editing provided by Chris would help any humanities student to improve the concision and precision of their writing.

"He commented the girls produced some of the best work he’s seen in such a context. The girls all enjoyed it immensely.

"Of course the setting is stunning and we were lucky enough to have fine weather on two days, when we enjoyed one of Wordsworth's favourite walks, with a guide from the Wordsworth Trust, and a short steamer trip on Ullswater with a walk to the waterfall at Aira Force.”