When travelling as a passenger in a car or on public transport, there are all sorts of unusual landmarks and intriguing features to be spotted around the Lakes. Here are the stories behind them.
History
Explore 200 years of boating heritage at the NEW Windermere Jetty
If you’ve been following the blog for a while now, you may remember that I’ve written on a couple of occasions about a new visitor attraction due to open on the eastern shore of Windermere – the Windermere Jetty Museum of Boats, Steam and Stories. And after much anticipation, this […]
Kirkby Lonsdale: Independent shops, characterful buildings and a stunning river view
Whilst it may be tempting to explore only the towns and villages of the Central Lakes during your time in the Lake District, it’s also well worthwhile investigating those on the edge of, and just outside, the World Heritage Site itself. The small market town of Kirkby Lonsdale is situated […]
Explore historic Troutbeck on a self-guided walk
The peaceful and historic South Lakeland village of Troutbeck is a hidden gem bursting with character, traditional Lakeland buildings, and magnificent views – and one way to explore Troutbeck for yourself is with the help of the village’s very own ‘Discover Troutbeck Self-Guided Walk Map’. Situated along the side of […]
Transporting you to the past: the Lakeland Motor Museum
Situated at Backbarrow, at the southern tip of Windermere lake, the Lakeland Motor Museum is a must-see for car enthusiasts, and is equally as enjoyable for everyone else too.
A walk to Hampsfell Hospice, Grange-over-Sands
I’ve often been intrigued by photographs of Hampsfell Hospice, an imposing square stone shelter on the top of Hampsfell, above the seaside town of Grange-over-Sands, and had added it to my mental checklist of places to visit if I ever got the chance. As luck would have it, I recently […]
Things to do for free in the Lake District with National Trust membership
If you’re a National Trust member, there are a number of places in and around the Lake District you might consider visiting during your stay in the area. Most are included in the cost of annual membership, which could make membership worthwhile if you don’t have it already, and all […]
A historic gem in the North Lakes: Castlerigg Stone Circle
A Lake District gem I’ve been meaning to visit for ages is the Castlerigg Stone Circle near Keswick – and recently I finally ticked it off my list (albeit on a thoroughly miserable day when the sky became increasingly grey and eventually I got very wet – a complete contrast […]
A Victorian waterfall walk in Ambleside
There are many beautiful waterfalls across the Lake District, but few are as easy to reach as Stockghyll Force, which is just a short walk from the heart of Ambleside. Whilst some would regard the walk to Stockghyll Force as too well-known to be regarded a ‘hidden gem’, it would […]
A farming gem in Windermere: High Lickbarrow
High Lickbarrow Farm is a traditional Lakeland farmhouse set in a peaceful location just outside the village of Windermere. A relatively new addition to the National Trust’s collection of Lake District properties, it’s also a very unusual one. Although it isn’t open to the general public in the same way […]
10 reasons to visit Sizergh Castle near Kendal
I’ve visited Sizergh Castle many, many times over the years, but have stepped inside the castle itself just twice. That’s because there are a whole host of reasons to spend time at Sizergh that not everyone may be aware of (although visiting the castle itself is a good start!). Here […]
A gem-hunter’s guide to Shap Abbey
If you enjoy seeing the remains of once grand historic buildings and imagining what might once have been, you’ll definitely want to stop off at Shap Abbey by the side of the River Lowther near Shap, approximately 10 miles south of Penrith. Where else would you go on a gorgeous […]