We preserve the Nancy Blackett, the favourite yacht of "Swallows and Amazons" author Arthur Ransome, and celebrate Arthur Ransome's East Coast stories.

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Nancy Blackett in London, and Peggy Blackett at Arnside

One original Arthur Ransome boat, and one replica, will be viewable at opposite ends of the country today and this weekend respectively. The Nancy Blackett, Arthur Ransome favourite yacht, is expected to be in St Katherine’s Dock in London this afternoon (10th August), with limited viewing by arrangement, having spent this week sailing down from […]

Swallows and Amazons at Keswick roundup

Here’s a roundup of last Saturday’s (28th July) special screening of the 1974 “Swallows and Amazons” film in Keswick, with special guest Sophie Neville . Sophie played ‘Titty Walker’ in the film and held a Q&A session at the screening. The Swallow dinghy from the film was also on display on the foreshore of nearby […]

In photos: Nancy Blackett on the Orwell

Arthur Ransome’s Nancy Blackett was in her element yesterday, beating up the River Orwell, as photographed by Mandy Durham. Check out her photos below, and some bonus ones of “Secret Water”, and do come and visit Nancy Blackett in person this Sunday (29th) at the Harwich Sea Festival. Pictures from the Walton Backwaters AKA Secret […]

Sophie Neville at Peel Island on Coniston Water, 4th Sep 2017. Photo by Sophie Neville.

On the radio: Sophie Neville talks Swallows and Amazons on BBC Radio Cumbria

Sophie Neville spoke yesterday (24th July) on BBC Radio Cumbria to Adam Powell about the special screening of the 1974 “Swallows and Amazons” film that will be shown in Keswick this Saturday (28th July). Sophie, who played Titty Walker in the film, will introduce it and host a Q&A session afterwards, while the dinghy Swallow that appeared in the […]

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Arthur Ransome’s East Coast

  • Download the Arthur Ransome Walking Trail Map (pdf)
  • See the Selina King Exhibition at Pin Mill

    • Get involved

  • Donate to our 20th Anniversary Appeal
  • Join the Nancy Blackett Trust
  • Sail on Nancy Blackett
  • Volunteer with the Nancy Blackett Trust

    • Welcome

    You can visit and sail the Nancy Blackett, once owned by “Swallows and Amazons” author Arthur Ransome and the star of his novel “We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea”, the seventh book of his “Swallows and Amazons” series, and probably his best sailing novel.

    Nancy Blackett, lightly disguised in the book as the Goblin, was named after the “Amazon” pirate girl character who featured in “Swallows and Amazons”.

    Nancy Blackett was Arthur Ransome’s favourite yacht and is now owned by the Nancy Blackett Trust, preserving her as a living part of the Arthur Ransome heritage. Each year many Ransome fans enjoy the experience of sailing her, and many more visit her at maritime events.

    Explore our website to find out more about Nancy Blackett’s history, how you can sail her, how you can help support her, and the mission and work of the Nancy Blackett Trust.

    You can keep updated with e-mail alerts by clicking here.

    Nancy Blackett passes Pin Mill, June 2017.
    Photo: Bill Wallace-King.

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