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As
a general guide, why not visit the following web sites.
Cumbria tourist board.
Cumbria on-line.
Lake District let's
go.
and also the Cumbria
and Lake
District links on Matt Phillips' excellent website
"withnature"
Local walks
Walk straight out
of the house to enjoy a wide variety of walks, including the famous
"Newlands Round" (aka "Catbells Horseshoe",
comprising Catbells, Maiden Moor, High Spy, Dale Head
and Hindscarth). Easier, but still with great
views, is the fine ridge of Ard Crags. Nearby
is the "Coledale Round" comprising Grisedale
Pike, Hopegill Head, Crag Hill (Eel Crag) and Causey
Pike. For
a wide selection of walks in the Lake District,
the best thing is to buy the famous and excellent set of books
by A. Wainwright. Also, take a look at the Lake
District Outdoors website.
Energetic types may wish to attempt the Bob
Graham Round. This comprises 42 Lake District
fells traversed within 24 hours. One of the original pacers for Bob Graham when
he completed this in 1932 was Phil Davidson - architect
of the current Bawd Hall.
Local cycling
Bring a bike - this
is great cycling country and the house has lockable bike storage
in the garage.
There are a number of excellent quiet roads towards Derwent Water
and Borrowdale, and along the Newlands valley.
The coast-to-coast cycle path runs nearby. For more routes
and ideas, see Holiday
Lakeland Cycling.
If you can't bring your own bike, try hiring one from The Keswick
Mountain Bike Centre (017687 75202).
The mountains
The North-Western
and Buttermere fells are within easy reach. Blencathra, Hopegill
Head, Grisedale Pike, Causey Pike and Mellbreak are personal favourites.
All have setting-off points within 15-20 minutes drive.
Buttermere is about 10 minutes drive away. A further 15 minutes
or so leads over Honister pass to Borrowdale Head and the big climbs
up Scafell etc.
Being on the western side of the Lake District, Wasdale is
also easily reachable and offers the best climb up Great Gable.
The lakes
The lakes are ideal
for sailing, canoeing or just cruising about. See "Sports"
below for sailing/canoeing. Derwent Water and Ullswater both
have launch services with various landing points. Rowing boats
can be hired on nearby Derwent Water.
Keswick launch serves
7 stops on Derwent Water.
Ullswater steamers
provides excellent views of the delightful shore of Ullswater.
Further afield is Windermere
Lake Cruises.
The seaside
The
Solway Coast.
The history and houses
The whole area is
steeped in history. Below are just a few of the interesting
places to visit.
Castlerigg
stone circle
Wordsworth House, Cockermouth.
Cumberland toy & model museum, Cockermouth.
Senhouse Roman Museum, Maryport.
Haig Colliery mining museum, Whitehaven.
Cumberland pencil museum,
Keswick.
Dalemain historic house &
gardens (nr Ullswater).
Hutton-in-the-forest
historic house & gardens.
Muncaster
Castle is well worth a visit (especially in spring)
for the Sino-Himalayan gardens alone. Even better
is to go when the house is open: the family still live
there and provide a very personalised audio tour.
Blackwell,
near Windermere is a fascinating arts & crafts house.
Sports
Sailing or canoeing on Derwent Water - try Nichol
End Marine or Derwentwater
Marina (also does climbing and abseiling).
Rookin House Farm
(Troutbeck, south off the A66 near Penrith) provides a variety of
equestrian, off-roading and other activities.
Paragliding - Air Ventures.
Keswick climbing
wall & activity centre.
West Coast Indoor Karting, Maryport (Tel 01900 816472).
Eating and drinking
Keswick is particularly
well-supplied with pubs, which serve a variety of mostly traditional
food; of these, the Dog and Gun is our favourite. The
beer from the newly established Keswick brewery is usually
excellent. The Kirkstile Inn at Loweswater is also excellent.
If you like beer, or are just interested in how it is made, then
the Jennings Brewery
Tour, Cockermouth is strongly recommended.
Entertainment &
wet days
Kids can be difficult
to persuade out onto the fells if the weather is bad and need to
be kept amused. Try the following:
Trotters World of Animals,
Cockermouth.
Lake District
Coast Aquarium, Maryport.
Cars of the Stars Motor
Museum, Keswick
Lakeland Sheep &
Wool Centre, Cockermouth.
Ravenglass and Eskdale
railway.
Rheged - Lake District discovery
centre.
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