The pretty village of Cartmel lies just south of the Lake District and around two miles north-west of the coastal town of Grange-over-Sands, near to the Furness Peninsula. If you love quaint old buildings then you’ll adore the centre of the village, and there are a number of things you might like to see and…
Tag: lunch
Travelling on the M6 north? Lunch at Barton Grange
The subject of today’s blog post is a true gem, but also an unusual one in that it isn’t actually in the Lake District at all! When I last visited this place for myself, I thought what a wonderful stopping point it would make for those of you travelling north on the M6 motorway to…
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 are 10: 1. A tour…
A house for all seasons: Blackwell, The Arts and Crafts House
At the end of the season, a number of the Lake District’s historic houses shut for the winter, however, Blackwell, just outside Bowness-on-Windermere, is an exception that is well worth visiting at any time of year. Blackwell is a famous example of a house from the Arts and Crafts movement, and was built in 1900…
In Beatrix Potter’s footsteps at The Lingholm Kitchen and Walled Garden
If, like me, you’re interested in all things Beatrix Potter, the Lingholm Kitchen and Walled Garden at Portinscale – which is on the north-western shore of Derwentwater, near Keswick – should be high on your list of places to visit next time you’re exploring the Lake District. The main house at Lingholm was built in…
A visit to: Staveley near Kendal
Staveley is a village tucked away just a couple of minutes off the A591 between Windermere and Kendal, and is one of those delightful little places that could be easily missed. Staveley and nearby Kentmere are lovely areas in which to go walking and although they are less busy than some of the popular Lake…
No longer a secret garden: Larch Cottage Nurseries, Melkinthorpe
I love seeing a project that is someone’s obvious passion, and this is certainly what I saw on a visit to Larch Cottage Nurseries in Melkinthorpe, near Penrith. The nursery is a real hidden delight for gardeners and anyone else who just fancies a peaceful escape for an hour or two in a fascinating and…
Some tasty discoveries on a day out at Rheged
The Rheged Centre, which can be found just off the A66 outside Penrith, is an impressive and unusual building, designed to blend in with the grass landscape that surrounds it. The main entrance is vast and surrounded by stone – appearing to be set in a hillside, I would describe it as rather ‘castlesque’, with…
10 things to do on a rainy day in the Lake District and surrounding area
It’s been one of those cold, wet days with sleet and snow today, and so I’ve spent a snug Sunday working away in the office. It’s got me thinking though – where are the best places to go when the sun won’t come out to play? Here are my top 10 suggestions: 1. Lakeland, Windermere…
Chips in a flowerpot? It must be lunch at Beetham Nurseries
It’s been quite a while since I last went out for lunch, and Sunday presented the perfect opportunity. Because we were already in the area, my lunching ‘partner in crime’ and I decided to treat ourselves to a light bite to eat at Beetham Nurseries, which lies just south of Milnthorpe. The café was a…