Fell Farm Holiday

Fell Farm #1

by Marjorie Lloyd

Fell Farm Holiday

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, British Literature, Middle Grade, 20th Century

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1971

About the author

British children's author Marjorie Lloyd was born in 1909 in Haydock, Lancashire. She was educated at Cowley Girls' School, St. Helen's, from 1920-27, and at Birmingham University, where she read Mathematics, and took a teaching diploma, from 1928-32. She also studied at the City of Liverpool College of Art. A teacher for a number of years, she was variously employed at Haydock, Macclefield, Wigton (in Cumbria), and at the Princess Mary High School in Halifax. She retired in 1948 in order to devote herself to writing, going to live with a younger sister.

Reviews

[Kailey (Luminous Libro) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am just delighted with this old-fashioned book about five siblings camping out and climbing the fells for their summer holidays. The simple charm of the story, the amusing dynamics between the Browne siblings, and the details of their little camping adventures, kept me absorbed and interested through every chapter.

The two eldest siblings are Pat and Kay, twins with a love for hiking and camping. Pat is the leader of the group, and prides himself on his knowledge of survival and mapping. Kay is the quartermaster of the group, taking special care of the meals and all the supplies.

The next set of twins are Jan and Hyacinth. Jan is obsessed with birds, and creates his own hiding spots where he can observe and sketch the birds of the fells. Hyacinth is more imaginative and dreamy, and loves to write stories of her own.
And the smallest sibling is Sally, who is only eight years old, and so is not allowed to stay out all night camping, but still manages to join in the fun whenever possible.

I adore this whole series!

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice, undemanding book about a group of siblings holidaying on a Lake District farm, this is a gentle read in which you will learn about bird-watching, pathfinding, and how to patronise your 8 year old sister. There is no plot - it's more of a holiday journal (which is indeed how it's presented, with different chapters supposedly written by different siblings). So it's not exactly Swallows and Amazons, but it has charm, and it's certainly one to read if you are familiar with the Lake District. Readers not so familiar with it might want to have a map handy.

[Paul Juniper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book for young readers, i know, but I read it because I thought it might catch the spirit of the Arthur Ransome Swallows and Amazons series. And it did! Great fun, nothing awful happens, no one dies, no zombies nor vampires. Delightful!!

[Kitty · Rating 5 out of 5]

täiesti imeline vanaaegne lasteraamat (esmailmunud 1951), kus parimas briti koloniaalperede vaimus on vanemad Indias ja lapsed Inglismaal internaatkoolis ja nad saadetakse koolivaheajaks mingisse tallu Lake Districtis, kus neil on täielik vabadus teha, mida tahavad, kuni on kindel, et neil on piisavalt süüa. lapsed on siis kaks paari kaksikuid vanuses 15 ja 13 ja noorim õde, 8-aastane Sally, kes suurema osa raamatust aitab majaperenaisel köögis küpsetada, sest vanemad õed-vennad peavad teda oma seikluste jaoks liiga pisikeseks.

seiklused on ühest küljest väga leebed, sest mitte ükski risk õieti ei realiseeru ja kõige hullemad asjad, mis juhtuvad, on see, kui ükskord eksitakse udus ära (aga väga mõistlikult orienteerutakse olemasoleva info põhjal turvalisse tsivilisatsiooni ja isegi leitakse taskupõhjast raha, et koju helistada ja teada anda, et ollakse elus ja jäädakse hiljaks) ja ükskord saadakse pasuvihmas läbimärjaks. teisest küljest, võtsin lugemise taustaks detailse Lake Districti kaardi ette ja ajasin näpuga järge ja ossa jutt, kus need noorukid ikka jaksavad vahemaid läbida ja Inglismaa kõrgeima mäe otsa üles-alla lipata! (no sõna otseses mõttes - pärast pikka ja tihedat matkapäeva otsustatakse lihtsalt toreduse pärast Scafell Pike'ile ööbima minna, võetakse magamiskotid kaasa, ronitakse tippu, hommikul jälle alla baaslaagrisse ja möll jätub. ja siis sama asi teist korda uuesti.)

mitte et sellele loole midagi ette heita poleks, mingid asjad jäävad siin ikka kriipima just sellesama vanaaegsuse tõttu - raamatu alguses vahetavad vanemad lapsed (kaks poissi ja kaks tüdrukut) oma internaatkoolimuljeid (osa neist küll nalja pärast välja mõeldud) ja ikka väga möödaminnes ja normaalse asjana mainitakse, et mingi asi juhtus sellal, kui direktor parajasti samas toas ühele poisile ihunuhtlust andis, ja tal läks veel laksude lugemine segi ja poiss sai kaks ülearu. ja nagu ikka, triivib pere vanim tüdruk laagrioludes kiirelt majapidaja rolli ja jääb laagrisse varusid korrastama ja nõusid pesema ja õhtusööki valmistama sellal, kui ülejäänud kamp tegeleb retke pealisülesande, uue raja kaardistamisega. ja siis muidugi see vaene väike kööki kinnipandud Sally. aga õigluse osas peab ütlema, et erinevalt nt "Swallows and Amazonsist" teeb selles loos vähemalt ühe korra ka üks poistest kogu seltskonnale õhtusöögi ja see õnnestub kenasti.

kogu see matkamise jutt on siin loos tõesti kohutavalt detailne ja ma ei oska öelda, kui palju kõnetab kedagi, kellel vähemalt pooled nimetatud mäetippudest, orgudest, kurudest ja küladest kohe endal silme ette ei kerki. aga minu jaoks täiuslik lugemine vihmasesse Londoni jaanuariõhtusse.

[Martine Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fabulous book that I read as a child. Inspiring, innocent.I will always remember it. I thoroughly recommend it. Do read it and enjoy x

[Wednesday · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a re-read from my childhood.

It tells the story of the five Browne children who spend their long school holiday in the Lake District of England while their parents are stationed/residing overseas. They go to stay at the same farm at which they have always holidayed, owned by the grandparently Mrs and Mr Jenks.
The book is largely descriptions of their daily rambling and hiking over the Lake District landscape, camping out, rock climbing etc. That is pretty much all that happens, no dramas or mysteries to be solved. It is almost like a walkers guide to the area, which is described in great detail.

I remember enjoying this when I read it as a tween - I think I was interested in the children's independence and resourcefulness. Now, it doesn't hold the same appeal for me and as I don't know the area well, it was a bit of a chore to read.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m an absolute sucker for a Christmas book, and I originally picked up Fell Farm Christmas in a charity shop, only to discover it was the second in a trilogy. I eventually tracked down a rather tatty copy of Fell Farm Holiday (book one) in mid-2024, though it’s been sitting on my ‘to read’ shelf ever since.

I thought it was great fun. It has a similar feel to some of Enid Blyton’s books – a group of children roaming freely with minimal adult supervision – but without the mystery elements. This lot even boil their stream water to make it drinkable… and there’s no ginger beer in sight! I loved the family dynamics and am looking forward to reading the next instalment nearer to Christmas.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

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