AN actress who starred in the film version of Swallows and Amazons has visited the author’s final home in Haverthwaite.

Sophie Neville, who played Titty in the 1974 film, visited Hill Top, where Arthur Ransome lived from 1960.

In the summer of 1973, Theatre Projects adapted the story of Swallows and Amazons for the big screen and filmed throughout the Lake District.

Released by EMI in 1974 and directed by Claude Whatham, the budget was just £250,000.

Sophie was a guest of Stephen Sykes and his wife Janine who have restored Hill Top near Haverthwaite where the author lived until his death in 1967.

Mr Sykes said: “This was the first time she had ever visited the property. Along with fellow members of the Arthur Ransome Society, Sophie was shown around Hill Top.

“I think it was a great experience for them all to see his final home."

Sophie also spoke to members of the Arthur Ransome society, who met for a literary and walking weekend at Rydal Hall near Ambleside.

Ransome lived at Hill Top with his wife Evgenia, a former secretary to Leon Trotsky, who he met while working as a foreign correspondent in revolutionary Russia.

They first rented Hill Top for the summer in 1956 and bought the house in 1960.

Stephen Sykes and his wife Janine bought the property in 2010 and have been restoring the cottage to provide luxury self-catering accommodation.

Mr Sykes still wants to hear from anyone who has any old images of Hill Top or stories relating to Arthur Ransome’s time at the cottage to come forward. Contact him at stephen@hilltopvista.com