Days Out

There are so many things to see and do in the area we could fill a book, so here are just some of our own favourites. To see Derwentwater from the lake, take the Keswick Launch on a round trip. Or, to see the lake and its islands “under your own steam” Nichol End Marine has paddle boards, kayaks, canoes, rowing boats and dinghies. Derwent Water Marina, in Portinscale, can add pedalos to that list.

Threlkeld Quarry and Mining Museum offers taste of the industry that was so important to the area in days gone by and also has miniature railway to ride on.

Lake District Wildlife Park, near Armathwaite Hall, Bassenthwaite, is lovely little zoo with quite big animals, including lemurs. The regular birds of prey displays are well worth attending. Nearby is the Lakes Distillery, which makes whisky, gin and vodka and has a very good visitor attraction and shop.

Do visit Wordsworth’s House, in Cockermouth, the Wordsworth Musuem, at Grasmere and Rydal Mount, where the poet also lived. The Ruskin Museum, at Coniston, is also worth a visit, as is Blackwell, a fine arts and crafts house, on Windermere. Also in the area are Beatrix Potter’s House at Hill Top, and Windermere Jetty, the steamboat museum.

For real adventure, try the via ferrata, which traverses the cliff face at Honister Mine, above Buttermere, or Go Ape, at Whinlatter Forest – or if chilling out is more your bag, there are excellent spas at Armathwaite Hall and the Lodore Falls hotel.

Take a long drive to the coast to the historic conservation village of Ravenglass, from where you can catch L’aal Ratty, the miniature steam train, all the way up the valley to Boot.

For more things to do and see, visit both the Visit Lake District and National Park websites.