Swallows & Amazons: From Keswick to the big screen

The cast and director at the Swallows and Amazons premiere at the Theatre by the Lake in Keswick Credit: PA images

The red carpet glamour of London came to Keswick for the premiere of a new adaptation of Arthur Ransome's well loved children's series, "Swallows and Amazons".

Arthur Ransome learned to sail on Coniston and went to school in Windermere. He and his wife lived in the Winster valley and Haverthwaite, where he wrote many of the Swallows and Amazons series, the majority set in the Lake District.

The books follow the adventures of the Walker and Blackett children camping on islands, mining for gold, fighting fell fires and conquering mountains. Ransome based the characters on a real family, the Altounyans. The book is believed to be inspired by a summer spent by Ransome teaching the children of the Altounyans, to sail.

A new adaptation has been commissioned by BBC Films, and is set to be released on 19th August.

Actresses Kelly Macdonald and Jessica Hynes star in the adaptation in the Lake District, where actors from the movie were greeted by keen locals.

Jessica Haynes (left) and Kelly Macdonald at the Swallows and Amazons premiere Credit: PA images