This is a listing of places from theSwallows and Amazons series of books byArthur Ransome. Arthur Ransome wrote detailed descriptions of the locations in his books and based many of them on real places that he knew personally or had read about.
The geography of the novels set in the Lake District is less faithful to the real world, but many locations have been identified, either by Ransome himself or by diligent readers.
The Lake: This appears to be a mix ofWindermere andConiston Water in the EnglishLake District. The topography of the lake is similar to Windermere, but the surrounding countryside more closely resembles the land around Coniston.
Holly Howe: The farm where the Walkers stay and the home port of theSwallow. This is modelled after Bank Ground Farm on the east side of Coniston Water.
Wild Cat Island: The island where the Swallows and Amazons camp is based on Blake Holme in Windermere, but the Secret Harbour at the south end comes fromPeel Island in Coniston Water.
Kanchenjunga: The mountain climbed inSwallowdale is based onConiston Old Man, namedKanchenjunga because of a well-known expedition to climb theHimalayan mountain while Ransome was writing the book. The Amazons' parents and Captain Flint had called it theMatterhorn when they climbed it thirty years earlier.
Strickland Junction where the Swallows transferred to the branch line to Rio isOxenholme. Roger releases a pigeon atOxenholme station at the start ofPigeon Post.
Beckfoot The home of the Amazons and their mother, Molly Blackett; on the Amazon River where it flows into the Lake. Appears inPigeon Post andThe Picts and the Martyrs.
Generally Ransome was much more faithful to real geography while writing the books set in this part of England. The towns, villages and waterways in the area are generally given their real names and the descriptions match, apart from changes brought about since the books were written.
The Chinese setting ofMissee Lee reflects a visitArthur Ransome made to China in 1926 & 1927 for theManchester Guardian. He supported theKuomintang rather than the British-backed warlords, and concluded that China was the most loathsome place he had ever visited.[3]
