Activities from your doorstep

Kayaking

Paddle Board/SUP

Guests are welcome to bring their own kayaks and launch directly from the private jetty or lake shore at the bottom of the garden.

Paddle Board/SUP

Feel free to bring your paddle board—just step out into the garden and head straight onto the lake.

Wild Swimming

Paddle Board/SUP

Wild Swimming

Enjoy a refreshing swim in the lake from the private shoreline right at the end of the lawn.

Outdoor Games

Wild Swimming

A variety of outdoor games and equipment are available in the Games Box located in the porch area—perfect for sunny afternoons.

Cycling/MTB

Outdoor Games

Cycling/MTB

There are numerous country roads from New Lodge for stunning countryside road cycling, or ample MTB tracks for those wishing to go off road.

TV Room

Outdoor Games

Cycling/MTB

On chilly or rainy days, retreat to the cozy upstairs TV room, complete with Netflix for movie marathons or binge-worthy series. Or grab a book from the small library or play one of the many board games on offer.

Family Days out

Ullswater Steamers

A beautiful way to see Lake Ullswater. These heritage boats , connect Glenridding, Pooley Bridge, and Howtown, with optional stops at the famous Aira Force waterfalls.

Distance to Pooley Bridge: 5.5 miles

Website: Ullswater Steamer

Rheged

Ullswater Steamers

A vibrant indoor destination perfect for families looking to mix play, creativity, and culture. Highlights include an indoor play area, making space (hands-on craft sessions like decopatch and seasonal art activities), toyshop & café, giant-screen cinema, local artisan food and craft shops.

Distance: 6 miles

Location: Nr. Penrith

Website: Rheged

Rookin House

Lowther Castle & Gardens

A thrilling outdoor activity center offering action-packed experiences for all ages. Whether you're into horse riding, quad biking, archery, clay pigeon shooting, or even JCB driving, this family-run venue has something to get your adrenaline pumping.

Distance: 7 miles

Location: Nr. Lake Ullswater

Website: Rookin House

Lowther Castle & Gardens

A magical day out for families of all ages. With dramatic castle ruins, sprawling gardens, and one of the UK’s largest adventure playgrounds

Distance: 8 miles

Website: Lowther Castle

Pencil Museum

Lowther Castle & Gardens

Pencil Museum

A fascinating journey through the history of pencil-making. Visitors enter through a replica of the Seathwaite graphite mine, where graphite was first discovered in the 1550s. Inside, you’ll uncover quirky treasures, the world’s largest colour pencil, and miniature pencil sculptures. There is also an art shop, seasonal workshops, and a cafe.

Distance: 17 miles

Location: Keswick

Website: Pencil Museum

Brockhole

Lowther Castle & Gardens

Pencil Museum

The Lake District National Park’s official visitor center. With 30 acres of gardens, woodlands, and lakeside fun, it’s packed with activities for all ages. Top attractions are Treetop Trek & Nets, Zip World, Mini Golf & Archery, Boat & Kayak Hire, Indoor Soft Play & Woodland Faerie Trail, cafe treats, picnic spots and dog friendly.

Distance: 18 miles

Location: Windemere

Website: Brockhole

World of Beatrix Potter

This beautiful center brings all 23 of Potter’s enchanting stories to life, with 3D displays, themed gardens, and interactive exhibits. Visitors can wander through Peter Rabbit’s Garden, spot familiar scenes from Jemima Puddle-Duck and Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, and enjoy a themed dining experience at the Café.

Distance: 19 miles

Location: Windemere

Website: Beatrix Potter

Chocolate Factory

A hands-on, mouth-watering experience designed especially for children and families. In their interactive workshop, kids (and grown-ups!) get to create three delicious chocolate treats and take them home, along with their apron and hair net as souvenirs. There is also a factory shop selling over 100 varieties of handmade chocolates.

Distance: 25 miles

Location: Hawkshead

Website: Chocolate Factory

Hill Top - Home of Beatrix Potter

Now a charming National Trust visitor center, the house remains a time capsule of Potter’s life, filled with her personal belongings, furniture, and references to her famous stories. Visitors can explore the beautifully preserved rooms, stroll through the cottage garden and visit the gift shop.

Distance: 28 miles

Location: Nr. Hawkshead

Website: Hill Top

Walby Farm

An all-weather attraction perfect for families and animal lovers, it offers a mix of farmyard encounters, adventure play, and seasonal events. Visitors can meet friendly animals, enjoy tractor rides, and explore Cumbria’s largest indoor play barn. Outdoor play areas, nature trails, a cafe and electric mini quads.

Distance: 33 miles

Location: Nr. Carlisle

Website: Walby Farm

The Puzzling Place

Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway (La'al Ratty)

A quirky and entertaining attraction that plays with perception and challenges your senses. This interactive museum features optical illusions, holograms, a gravity-defying room, and the ever-popular Ames Room, where visitors appear to shrink or grow depending on where they stand.

Distance: 17 miles

Location: Keswick

Website: The Puzzling Place

Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway (La'al Ratty)

The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, affectionately known as the La'al Ratty, is a narrow-gauge steam railway running for 7 miles through the stunning western Lake District. Originally built in 1875, the railway, with open and covered carriages, is perfect for a family-friendly experience with cafés, gift shops, and walking trails at both ends.

Distance: 54 miles

Location: Ravenglass

Website: Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway

Outdoor Activites & Adrenline

Ullswater Outdoor Adventures

A family-run company offering kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, ghyll scrambling, or mountain walking. Their expert-led sessions are tailored for small groups, with half-day outings to multi-day expeditions. Highlights include the adrenaline-pumping Hell Water Challenge and scenic Paddle & Steamer experiences.

Distance: 5.5 miles

Location: Glenridding

Website: Ullswater Outdoor Adventure

Whinlatter

Ullswater Outdoor Adventures

A haven for outdoor enthusiasts, offering walking trails, mountain biking, wildlife spotting, and family-friendly adventures. The forest has the longest purpose-built mountain bike trails in the region, Go Ape, nature events, and panoramic views. At the visitor center, you’ll find a café, gift shop, and live osprey footage in nesting season.

Distance: 21 miles

Location: Nr Keswick

Website: Whinlatter

Grizedale

Ullswater Outdoor Adventures

White Water Rafting

Offers eight waymarked walking trails, mountain biking routes, and a Go Ape course, all set within forest with over 50 unique artworks scattered among the trees. Families can enjoy themed trails, and a visitor center with a cafe and gift shop.

Distance: 28 miles

Location: Grizedale

Website: Grizedale

White Water Rafting

Rafting in the Lake District offers an exhilarating way to experience the region’s natural beauty and wild waterways. With trips available in both the North Lakes (Eden Valley) and South Lakes (near Kendal), adventurers can paddle through scenic landscapes, tackle natural rapids, and enjoy swims and games.

Suitable for ages 8 and up with qualified instructors.

Distance: Various

Location: Penrith or Kendal meeting points

Website: Lake District White Water Rafting

Honister Slate Mine

White Water Rafting

Honister Slate Mine

England's last working slate mine as well as an exciting outdoor adventure center.

Visitors can delve into the mine’s history with guided underground tours, or take on adrenaline-fueled experiences like the Via Ferrata, Climb the Mine, and Canyoning.

Distance: 26 miles

Location: Nr. Borrowdale

Website: Honister

Adventure Vertical

White Water Rafting

Honister Slate Mine

A dynamic outdoor activity provider offering tailor-made adventures across the Lake District. Activities include rock climbing, abseiling, canyoning, caving, or mountain walking.

Distance: Various

Location: Lake District Various

Website: Adventure Vertical

Keswick Canoe & Bushcraft

Canoe and bushcraft experiences combine paddling with hands-on wilderness skills. Guided by expert instructors, you’ll explore Ullswater or Derwentwater, then head ashore to learn fire lighting, shelter building, wild cooking, and natural navigation.

Distance: 18 miles

Location: Keswick

Website: Keswick Canoe & Bushcraft

Green Man Survival Course

Offers immersive bushcraft and survival experiences. Led by expert instructors, activities include fire lighting, shelter building, wild food foraging, knife skills, and navigation. Courses range from half-day tasters to multi-day survival challenges,

Distance: 25 miles

Location: Windermere

Website: Green Man Survival

Esk Gorge - Mountain Journeys

Esk Gorge, offered by Mountain Journeys, is one of the Lake District’s most thrilling and remote gorge scrambling experiences. Located in Upper Eskdale, this adventure involves a 45-minute hike before plunging into crystal-clear pools, scrambling over rocks, and leaping from waterfalls.

Distance: 21 miles

Location: Ambleside

Website: Esk Gorge Mountain Journeys

Navigation Courses

Newlands Adventure - Ghyll Scrambling

This is a one-day, hands-on map reading and navigation course designed for beginners who want to confidently explore the outdoors. It’s run by More Than Mountains, a trusted local provider in the Lake District.

Distance: Various

Location: Windermere/Keswick

Website: More Than Mountains

Newlands Adventure - Ghyll Scrambling

If you're up for a wet and wild adventure, ghyll scrambling with Newlands Adventure Centre near Keswick is a must-try! It’s like nature’s waterpark—climbing, sliding, and jumping your way down a mountain stream.

Distance: 20 miles

Location: Stair

Website: Newlands Adventure

Lakeland Ascents

Newlands Adventure - Ghyll Scrambling

An adventure company offering guided mountain experiences and outdoor skills training across Cumbria and beyond. They specialize in activities like hiking, rock climbing, ghyll scrambling, and navigation courses.

Distance: 20 miles

Location: Stair

Website: Lakeland Ascents

Animal Experiences

Walk with Alpacas

Dedicated to rehoming alpacas and llamas from across the UK and giving them a loving new life in the Lake District. Visitors can enjoy guided alpaca walks, meet-and-greets, and llama trekking,

Distance: 7 miles

Location: Troutbeck

Website: Alpacaly Ever After

Badger Watching

Walk with Alpacas

Wild Haweswater (RSPB) offers exclusive evening sessions in a custom-built hide. The hide is fully enclosed and equipped with lighting for after-dark viewing, ideal for families & photographers. Available April to October, pre-booking is essential.

Distance: 12 miles

Location: Haweswater, Nr Penrith

Website: Badger Watching

Horse-riding

Walk with Alpacas

Lakeland Llama Treks

Ullswater Saddleback Horse Trails offers guided horse-riding experiences through some of the region’s most breathtaking landscapes. Based at Hole House Farm, riders can enjoy treks across open fells, wooded paths, and riverside trails, with views of Ullswater and the fells.

Distance: 4 miles

Location: Pooley Bridge

Website: Ullswater Saddleback Horse Trails

Lakeland Llama Treks

Lake District Wildlife Park

Lakeland Llama Treks

Offers lovely, guided walks with llamas & alpacas through the Eden Valley. Perfect for all ages. Visitors can also meet pygmy goats, giant rabbits, Bengal cats, and more. The center also offers a Keeper Experience, where guests help feed and care for the animals.

Distance: 17 miles

Location: Melmerby

Website: Lakeland Llama Treks

Lakes Aquarium

Lake District Wildlife Park

Showcasing local freshwater habitats to exotic global waters, including pike, sturgeon, otters, seahorses, piranhas, and even clownfish. Highlights include a walk-through underwater tunnel, daily otter feeding talks, and interactive exhibits that explore the water cycle and lake ecology.

Distance: 28 miles

Location: Windermere

Website: Lakes Aquarium

Lake District Wildlife Park

Offering a mix of nature, adventure, and education in 24 acres of parkland. Home to over 100 species—from zebras and red pandas to gibbons, otters, and birds of prey. Other activities include Daily Keeper Talks, Flying Displays, Animal Encounters, Adventure Playgroun and indoor play zones.

Distance: 24 miles

Website: Wildlife Park

For the history lovers

Dalemain Manson & Gardens

This stately home has been lived in by the same family for over 300 years and offers a fascinating glimpse into centuries of English heritage. Activities include guided mansion tours and award-winning gardens as well as a teashop, gift shop and the chance to taste their Marmalade Magic, winning the famous World Marmalade Awards.

Distance: 5 miles

Website: Dalemain

Hutton in the Forest

Dalemain Manson & Gardens

A captivating country house surrounded by enchanting gardens and ancient woodland. Dating back to the 14th century, this lived-in stately home offers architecture, art, and legend—including ties to the tale of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Activities include house tours, gardens & woodland walks, a tearoom and seasonal events from plant fairs to classic car shows and Apple Day celebrations.

Distance: 13 miles

Website: Hutton in the Forest

Greystoke Castle

A hidden gem bursting with history, mystery, and adventure. Dating back to the 12th century, this majestic estate has ties to royal intrigue, medieval battles, and even the legend of Tarzan. Activities include guided tours, Tarzan trails, the Butler's Pantry Cafe and seasonal events such as artisan markets, medieval re-enactments, and live music.

Distance: 7 miles

Website: Greystoke Castle

Hadrians Wall

Muncaster Castle

Stretching across northern England, Hadrian’s Wall, a UNESCO site is dotted with engaging visitor centers with interactive exhibits, scenic walks, and family-friendly facilities. Sites include:

Housesteads Roman Fort, The Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre, Birdoswald Roman Fort, Lanercost Gateway Centre and the Roman Army Museum

Distance: Various

Website: Hadrian's Wall

Muncaster Castle

Home to the Pennington family for over 800 years, the castle is rich in stories, legends, and architecture. Activities include castle tours, gardens & trails including the Enchanted Trail for little explorers within the 77 acres of woodland, the hawk & owl centre, a tearoom, play areas, the meadowvole maze and seasonal events like Halloween Week and Christmas festivities.

Distance: 57 miles

Website: Muncaster Castle