Local Information, Eden Valley and the Lake District

The area surrounding Staffield Hall offers a wealth of attractions and activities, a sample of which are mentioned below. In your apartment you will find more comprehensive information of things to see and do.

Lazonby Bridge


Eating out & pubs
Just over a mile away there are two pubs in the picturesque village of Kirkoswald - the Crown Inn and the Featherstone Arms each serving meals and fine ales. Several other local villages offer cosy pubs and restaurants with excellent food and real ales. Try the excellent Highland Drove in the village of Great Salkeld, the Dukes Head or the Fox & Pheasant in nearby Armathwaite. Further afield the towns of Penrith and Carlisle have a variety of restaurants to satisfy all tastes.

Walking & Cycling
Around Staffield Hall a network of quiet lanes, footpaths and river walks await your exploration. Local walk leaflets are available from the village shop and from time to time guided walks are available locally. For more challenging walks there is the nearby North Pennines, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the thousands of miles of footpaths and mountain tracks of all grades in the Lake District.

Cyclists will love our quiet roads, three long distance routes pass near Staffield Hall. Mountain bikers are spoilt for choice regarding mountain routes, not forgetting forest tracks including the massive Kielder Forest, half an hours drive away. You can hire bikes in Penrith at;

Cycle Hire and Guided Cycle Tours, Penrith and Ambleside. Based at Brougham Hall Cycle Active are the cycling experts. Cycling is a great way to enjoy the Lake District's stunning scenery and clean, fresh air. Scenic tours and off road treks. Novices are well looked after. Experienced cyclists will be impressed.

Guided All Terrain Cycling, Penrith. Let your Adventure Cycling guide arrange your cycling adventure for you. Enjoy routes passing ancient stone circles, following Roman Roads and packhorse routes and even trips across lakes on passenger boats. Tel : 07736 816700.

Cycle Hire, Penrith. Arragon's Cycle Centre. A fleet of bikes for hire for the whole family. Hire by the day. All bikes are given a full service before they leave the shop. Helmets, locks and spares free of charge. Tel : 01768 890344.

Cycle Hire, Ullswater. St Patrick's Boat & Bike Hire Tel: 017684 82393

Cycle Hire, Staveley, Kendal. Tel : 01539 821443. www.wheelbase.co.uk

Cycle Hire, Keswick. Tel : 017687 72000. www.keswickclimbingwall.co.uk .

Cycle Hire, Windermere. Grizedale Mountain Bikes are situated at the heart of Lakeland's largest forest, which is also home to the county's biggest off road cycling facility. Canoe and Kayak hire also available with group and private lessons for novices. Tel : 015394 44451. www.grizdalemountainbikes.co.uk

Touring & site seeing

Staffield Hall is ideally situated as a base for exploring the Lake District, Hadrian's Wall, the North Pennines, England's Last Great Wilderness and the undiscovered and unspoilt Eden Valley.

Within half an hours drive are castles, stately homes, visitor centres, a steam railway and a working water mill, not to mention the many picturesque villages and churches. The nearby A686 road from Penrith to Hexham was voted one of the Top Ten Scenic Drives in the World and Lazonby railway station, 3 miles away, is on the Settle to Carlisle railway, considered the most scenic train ride in England. Or why not take an informative and entertaining trip down memory lane on a vintage coach tour operated by Cumbria Classic Coaches.

Take a dramatic walk to see Aira Force waterfall is just one of the highlights of the fells by lake Ullswater www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Abbot Hall Art Gallery, Kendal. One of Britain's finest independant galleries. A splendid Georgian villa in a beautiful position set amongst lawns and trees, beside the River Kent and overlooked by the romantic ruins of Kendal Castle. Abbot Hall has a reputation for showing some of the most important exhibitions outside London. www.abbothall.org.uk

The Museum of Lakeland Life, Abbot Hall, Kendal. Housed in the stable block of Abbot Hall Art Gallery. The story of how Lakeland people lived and worked 200 years ago. The Swallows and Amazons room displays some of Arthur Ransome's belongings. Tel : 01539 722464. www.lakelandmuseum.org.uk

Gretna Green, The Famous Old Blacksmith's Shop. Romance, scandel, intrigue and shopping! Food hall and restaurants. Renew your wedding vows over the legendary anvil.www.gretnagreen.com

Castlerigg Stone Circle, Keswick. This is one of the most visually impressive prehistoric monuments in Britain and is the most visited stone circle in Cumbria. Every year thousands of people visit it to look, photograph, draw and wonder why and when and by whom it was built. The stone circle is on the level top of a low hill with views across to Skiddaw, Blencathra and Lonscale Fell.
See the history page for more details on stone circles.

Croglin Toys Based in Lazonby’s original school with 28 years of experience using local hardwoods to make quality products. From Noah’s Arks and farm sets with wooden animals to hand painted whirly-gigs, and sophisticated sculpture sets. Other products include natural chopping boards, house signs and original gifts. Hours: The shop is open 10am – 4pm Wednesday to Friday, from May to October. For other times please ring to confirm or optimists are welcome to try their luck!

Hutton-In-The Forrest. The romantic and historic home of Lord and Lady Inglewood, featuring fine collections of furniture, tapestries,portraits and ceramics. Hutton in the Forest is surrounded by the magnificent woodland of the medieval Forest of Inglewood and is the legendary Green Knight's Castle in the Arthurian tale. Beautiful walled garden, topiary terraces and woodland walk.

Dalemain Historic House & Garden. A Mediaeval, Tudor and early Georgian house. Dalemain House is home to the Hasell family since 1679.

Larch Cottage Nurseries. An atmospheric and unique nursery set in Romanesque style ruined walls.The gardens include a Japanese garden, a Medieval courtyard and a Gothic plant house. A leading specialist in rare and unusual plants. A wonderful Mediterranean terrace restaurant overlooks the gardens and the Pennines. Tel : 01931 712404 www.larchcottagenurseries.com

Hayes Garden World. Attracting over a million visitors a year, exciting new ideas and imaginative displays to enthuse the keenest gardener and shopping enthusiast alike. A family run business for 200 years. www.hayesgardenworld.co.uk

Hazel Dene Garden Centre, Culgaith. Nestling alongside the Carlisle to Settle railway line. Inspiration for your garden, tearoom, gift and fine food shop.Tel : 01768 882520

Kennedys Fine Chocolates, Orton. This small chocolate factory in Orton makes wonderful handmade chocolates. There is a factory shop and coffee house. Home baking and homemade ice creams.

Acorn Bank Garden, Temple Sowerby, Penrith. A National Trust garden with an outstanding walled herb garden. Traditional orchards and mixed boarders, wooded riverside walks through the wild flowers to the watermill. Tel : 017683 61893 www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Weatheriggs Pottery. This famous pottery is the only remaining steam powered pottery in the U.K. You can watch craftsmen at work and have a go at making or decorating our own pottery. Museum and cafe serving homemade lunches on site. www.wetheriggs-pottery.co.uk

The Heaton Cooper Studio, Grasmere. The Lakes has always been a mecca for writers and artists including the landscape painters, father and son, Alfred and William Heaton Cooper and grandson Julian Cooper. The Studio stocks one of the finest selections of art materials in the North of England, including many specialist and unusual items, and advises on their application and use.
Tel : 015394 35280. www.heatoncooper.co.uk

Kirk Neuk Studio and Gallery, Lazonby. In the converted limestone barn next to the church. A showcase for some of Britain's best figurative ceramic artists. Tel : 01768 870492. www.kirkneukgallery.co.uk

The World Famous Motor Museum, Keswick.
Featuring vehicles from TV and Film - Fab 1, Batmobile, James Bond collection etc ...
Tel: 017687 73757
www.lakelandmotormuseum.co.uk

Nenthead Mines Heritage Centre. Features include a tour through this unique mine and an interactive exhibition area. www.npht.com

Killhope - The North Of England Lead Mining Museum. A visit to Killhope Museum is a unique and unforgettable experience. Killhope is a fully restored nineteenth century lead mine, where you experience for yourself the life and work of the lead mining families of the Pennine dales. www.durham.gov.uk/killhope

High Head Sculpture Valley Ivegill. Wander leisurely through the landscape and enjoy the magnificent life size sculptures imaginatively displayed in a natural wooded valley. Dogs on leads welcome. Gallery and farmhouse fayre in the tearoom.

Brougham Castle. Impressive ruins of a 13th century fortress. www.english-heritage.org.uk

Brougham Hall. Craft workshops, cafe, museums. Brougham Hall is England's most ambitious country house restoration project. Home of the famous Old Smokehouse. Penrith Museum. A small museum set in a 300 hundred year old school. Tel: 01768 212228

Carlisle Castle. The mighty fortress of Carlisle Castle has watched over the City for 900 years. This English Heritage venue offers tours, exhibition and a regimental museum.

Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery, Carlisle. An interesting Museum and art gallery Tullie House offers a wide and rangeing offer of exhibitions talks and presentations.Tullie House Museum collects and preserves objects and information concerning the wildlife and geology of Cumbria. The museum holds large and important collections of zoological, botanical and geological material. Tullie House Museum also maintains a local biological records database with over 200,000 records of wildlife sightings in Cumbria.

Souvenir Antiques, opposite Carlisle Museum. Selling antiques including Roman rings, pottery, glass and oil lamps. Souvenir Antiques has a waide range of changing stock.

The Cumbrian Antiques Centre. Forty antique dealers selling quality furniture, clocks, china, glass, silver, jewellery, paintings and other works of art. The Cumbrian Antiques centre is set in a beautiful listed building. Tel : 01697 742515.

Carlisle Cathedral. Founded in 1122, with stained glass windows from the 14th-20th centuries, fine wood carving, painted wall panels and the Brougham Triptych alter piece. Carlisle Cathedral offers also an exhibition, gift shop with specialty foods and the Prior's Kitchen Restaurant.

Lanercost Priory. Explore the ruins of a magnificent 12th Century Augustinian priory. Standing close to Hadrian’s Wall, the Augustinian priory of Lanercost prioryt was much involved in the Anglo-Scottish warsAudio tours.

Hadrian's Wall & Birdoswald Roman Fort. Enjoy 2000 years of history. Hadrians Wall has a superb visitor centre and newly oped sections of the wall for walking..

Beckstones Art Gallery. Established in the 1970s, Beckstones Art Gallery has earned a reputation around the world for exhibiting high quality original paintings by a hand-picked selection of some of the finest contemporary artists in the United Kingdom.

Lilliput Lane Visitor Centre, Penrith. A life sized thatched cottage surrounded by colourful gardens. Take a tour of the studios to see how the world's favourite miniature cottages are made. Painting studio for paint your own sessions.

Wetheriggs Country Pottery. Steeped in history wetheriggs was established in 1855 and is the only remaining steam powered pottery in the U.K. Artists at work and pottery and painting workshop.

The Lakeland Motor Museum, Holker Hall and Gardens. For a full day of history, culture and scenery why not visit the Motor Museum which includes the Campbell Bluebird exhibition.

The Grasmere Gingerbread shop.
Sarah Nelson's Original Celebrated Grasmere Gingerbread. This fascinating little shop was built in 1630 as the village school and was where Wordsworth taught and is situated next to the graveyard where William Wordsworth lies. World famous for it's unique and wonderful gingerbread made from its secret recipe. The gingerbread has been baked everyday since 1854.

Dove Cottage, home of William Wordsworth, Grasmere. Guided tours, garden and the Wordsworth Museum.

Wordsworth House, Cockermouth. William Wordsworth's childhood home. In the centre of the bustling market town. Many tea rooms, pubs interesting shops and other places to visit.

Hill Top, Ambleside.
Beatrix Potter's home, exactly as she left it ! Farmhouse where Beatrix Potter wrote lots of her children's stories. Many of her beloved 'treasures' are on display

The Lakeland Limited Store, Windermere. The place for clever and useful kitchen items. The Lakeland store also has a cafe serving contemporary food.

The Aquarium of the Lakes, Windermere. A unique freshwater aquarium situated on the southern shore of Lake Windermere in Cumbria, the Lake District. The Aquarium of the Lakes has a fascinating array of creatures found in and around the Lake District, including pike, eel, char, otters, sharks and rays.

Kendal Museum. Founded in 1796 this is one of the oldest museums in the country. As well as a wide range of fascinating exhibitions the museum houses a wonderful and unusual collection of objects and aertefacts. www.kendalmuseum.org

Hawkshead Village. Hawkshead is still the same tiny village of higgledy-piggledy houses, archways and squares beloved by Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter. Home to the Hawkshead Quality Outdoor Clothing Store.

Hawkshead Relish Company. An award winning family run business with a range of top quality home made relishes, chutneys, mustards, sauces and preserves. Situated on a corner of the main village square. Tel : 015394 36614. www.hawksheadrelish.com

The Teapottery, Keswick. The largest collection of eccentric teapots in England.Tea pots, tea related items and unique gifts. www.teapottery.co.uk

The Keswick Holiday Arts Studio. A friendly atmosphere where no experience is needed, support given for all activities. Watercolour, mosaics, glass painting, potters wheel, silk painting, ceramic decoration. www.keswickstudio.co.uk

Low Sizergh Barn, Kendal. Farm retailer of the year 2005. The late 17th century stone barn has three floors of speciality foods,crafts and gifts. Organic dairy farm selling cheese and ice cream. Farm shop, tea room, craft gallery and farm trail. www.lowsizerghbarn.co.uk

RhegedCentre. This award winning visitor centre houses a cinema screen the size of six double decker buses,Rehged Centre has the National Mountaineering Exhibition, Cumbria Exhibition craft centre, shops, cafes and a restaurant.

The South Tynedale Railway. Buy your ticket in the restored Victorian station building in Alston for a leisurely ride through the beautiful scenery of the South Tyne valley.The trains are hauled by preserved steam and diesel engines. A return journey takes about 60 minutes.

Settle - Carlise Railway Steam on the famous Settle to Carlile Railway claimed to be the most beautiful railway journey in Britain.

The Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway, Windermere. This lovely Railway offer beautiful scenic views. Fares can include a cruise on Lake Windermere. Diesel, Victorian, steam and ghost train weekends.

Jennings Brewery, Cockermouth. Situated in the shadow of the castle in this historic market town. Find out how real ales are brewed on a guided tour of the brewery. Sample some of these superb Lakeland ales in the atmospheric bar.

Shopping
Penrith is a traditional market town with lots of individual and unusual shops.
Carlisle has a large pedestrianised and covered shopping centre with most of the main department stores and many specialist shops.
Scattered amongst the villages are many outlets for local arts, crafts and produce, including a blacksmith, the Organic Village Bakery, several galleries, Kennedy's hand made chocolates and many many more!
The excellent supermarket at Lazonby, 3 miles, caters for all your day-to-day needs.

K Village Outlet Sopping, Kendal. Up to 60% off recommended retail prices. Including The National Trust Gift Shop, Cotton Traders, Dartington Crystal, Crabtree& Evelyn, Price's Candlemakers, Van Heusen, Denby Pottery and K & Clarks. www.kvillage.co.uk



Outdoor Adventure
The area offers a wide range of adventure opportunities, but perhaps the best place to start is Rookin House Farm where you can drive a quad bike, go-kart, JCB and even a battle tank! Also there is archery, clay pigeon shooting and horse riding to name but a few activities.

There is also pony trekking available close by along the local bridleways and fell tracks. Parkfoot Trekking Centre This pony trekking centre is situated directly on the fell side overlooking lake Ullswater. Especially safe for children as no road work is involved. Sure footed, well mannered horses and ponies. Suitable for adults and children, beginners and experienced riders.Tel: 017684 86696.

Go Ape. A high wire forest adventure. Rural tourist attraction of the year 2003. Go Ape is a robust aerial assault course. Swing from tree to tree high above the forest floor ! Two hours or more of adrenalin fulled fun, laughter and adventure.

Boating & boat trips& Sailing
Rowing boats can be hired at Talkin Tarn and Ullswater, where lake steamers also operate all year round. Further afield both Derwentwater and Windermere offer boating and lake trips, together with the Windermere Steam Boat Museum where you can see boats made famous in such films as “Swallows and Amazons”. Sailing can enjoyed at Glenridding Sailing Centre, Ullswater. Sailing, Canoeing, windsurfing, kayaking and rowing boat hire can all be enjoyed drom , Derwentwater Marina. Dinghies and boats to hire by the hour, half day and full day. You can learn to sail using Two hour, one day an two day sailing courses.

Centre Parcs Day Pass, Penrith. Why not make unlimited use of the exhilarating World of Water, a swimming paradise incorporating the U.K's longest falling rapids ride. Pay as you go for any of the other activities you may wish to do. Book your pass with the Tourist Information office
Tel : 01768 867466

Climbing Wall , Keswick. Climbing Wall lessons for individuals, families and groups. Suitable for complete beginners. Once you have mastered the knot tying and ropework you can stay and climb unsupervised for as long as you like. Tel ; 017687 72000.

Cinemas & theatres
Penrith has a charming, small cinema with two screens that show films the same time as London! Carlisle has several multi-screen cinemas showing all the latest films. Penrith and Carlisle have a thriving amateur theatrical and musical scene of an exceptionally high standard. You may even see your host Alan in a performance! For the professional performing arts there is the famous Theatre by the Lake at Keswick and The Sands Centre at Carlisle.

Golf
There are excellent golf courses at Penrith and Brampton, which welcome visitors.

It is hard to imagine a more attractive setting to practice your golf in than here with the spectacular Pennine views and manicured driving range to hit across. On the Penrith Driving Range you can enjoy hitting full compression golf balls off high quality simulated " turf" mats to make all year round practice as realistic as possible. Other practice features include:

  • 16 Floodlit Bays to allow for all year round practice
  • Outdoor raised teeing area to practice tee shots
  • Practice Putting Green
  • Bunker & Pitching area
  • Grassed area to practice iron shots
  • 300 yard driving range with ponds & yardage targets

 

In the heart of the Lake District, is Keswick Golf Club. This golf club is renowned for its outstanding Lakeland views and superb facilities.The course has scenic panoramic views of Blencathra - one of England's highest mountains - Skiddaw, Clough Head and other North Lakeland fells.There is a superb bar and restaurant serving excellent local food and drink, which has an outstanding outlook across the fells. There are changing rooms and a comprehensive practice area.The club has its own professional, Gary Watson, who can provide you with lessons if need be and there is a fully equipped golf shop.They welcome visitors to the Lakes who want a great day of golf .

Swimming
Within three miles there is a heated public outdoor pool in the village of Lazonby, this is open between May and September and in another direction, in 3 miles, a lovely indoor pool with gym that can be hired privately for a very reasonable charge in the village of Armathwaite (tel 016974 72229). At Penrith and Carlisle there are full size public pools. At Penrith there is a fabulous newly refurbished leisure centre with 25 meter pool, luxury fitness suite, climbing wall, indoor bowls, sauna and solarium.

Fishing
Public fishing is available on the nearby beautiful river Eden, reckoned to be the best trout and salmon river in England. Day permits are available from the local pubs.

 

 

www.visitcumbria.com.This is a guide to the many attractions and places of interest in Cumbria.