Activities & Things To Do

Cowan Bridge: is a small village with an excellent general store/newsagents and cafe Cowan Bridge Stores & Tearoom run by a very friendly team. We also have an outstanding restaurant: Hipping Hall whose food is Michelin standard; go there for a splurge!

Kirkby Lonsdale: is an absolute gem: a beautiful historic market town situated on the river Lune, home to numerous enticing cafés, bars, restaurants, a superb supermarket (Booths) and many small independent shops. Walk there or park (for free) at Devil’s Bridge (just before the turning for Kirkby Lonsdale) then walk along the river Lune or past the cricket ground into Kirkby Lonsdale.

Ingleton: is a charming village geared to everything outdoors, including even an open air swimming pool (summer only). The famous Ingleton Waterfalls Trail  offers some of the most spectacular waterfall and woodland scenery in the North of England. 

Walking: This whole area is a walkers paradise in all seasons. Walk straight from the doorstep into the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Or just a very short drive away is the Lake District National Park and the Silverdale & Arnside AONB. Go fellwalking: bag a Wainwright, climb the Three Peaks of Yorkshire, or take a gentle stroll along a river or lakeside. We really are spoilt for choice here! We have details of innumerable suggested walking routes in the cottage.

Explore Bronte Country: Haworth and the Bronte Parsonage are only an hour's drive away and you can take a walk to Top Withens whilst you're there.

Potholes & Caves: For experienced pot-holers the Lancaster Pot and Easegill Cave System, believed to be the longest and most complex cave system in Britain, is virtually on your doorstep. For the rest of us the spectacular Whitescar Caves and Ingleborough Cave can be easily explored or experience the thrill of stumbling across Yordas Cave in a walk up the very quiet dale of Kingsdale (don't forget your head torch though!). Or for sheer exhilaration try the 105 metre descent into Gaping Ghyll: Gaping Ghyll Winch/Craven Pothole Club!

Climbing/Abseiling: This area offers superb climbing at any standard. The limestone scars and grindstone crags of the Yorkshire Dales provide a challenge to climbers of all abilities; and the Lake District, where rock climbing formally began, offers everything from low level scrambles to extreme big crag routes. For indoor climbing try the Indoor Climbing Wall at Ingleton. 

Golf: We have not one but two golf clubs within two miles of here: Kirkby Lonsdale Golf Club and Casterton Golf Club both set in absolutely stunning locations. Both clubs are of a high standard and welcome visitors. 

Cycling: There are great cycle routes, both on and off road. For excellent traffic-free mountain bike trails try Grizedale Forest in the Lakes or Gisburn Forest in the Forest of Bowland. 

Canoeing/Kayaking: Go canoeing or kayaking on one of the lakes in the Lake District. 

Sailing: Enjoy sailing in the sublime setting of Lake Windermere only 22 miles away. 

Swimming: You can’t beat wild swimming in one of the lakes or tarns in the Lake District or how about by Devil’s Bridge, Kirkby Lonsdale. Or if you prefer your water heated! Kendal has an indoor heated swimming pool or Ingleton has a heated open-air swimming pool (summer only). 

Fishing: on the rivers Greta, Twiss & Doe with a valid Environment Agency rod licence (available from a post office). There’s 12kms of river bank fishing for trout, salmon and sea trout. 

Horse Riding: Witherslack Hall Equestrian Centre is a long established riding centre providing horse riding for all ages and abilities, they offer hacking & trekking in their 2500 Acre estate in the southern Lakes.

Coast/Beach: Morecambe is a 30 minute drive away and Silverdale, 25 minutes 

Settle – Carlisle Railway: One of England’s most scenic railway journeys takes you through the magnificent Yorkshire Dales and over the majestic Ribblehead Viaduct 

Historical Properties & Museums in the area include:

Lancaster Castle, Lancaster 

National Trust properties:

• Beatrix Potter Gallery and Hill Top, Hawkshead;
• Townend, Troutbeck and
• Sizergh Castle, nr Kendal
• Allan Bank, Grasmere

Dove Cottage, Grasmere, Wordsworth’s first family home 

Brantwood, east of Coniston Water, home to John Ruskin 

Levens Hall nr Kendal, of particular interest for their topiary. 

Leighton Hall nr Carnforth, ancestral home of the Gillow (furniture) family. 

Blackwell, the Arts & Crafts House, nr Windermere 

The Folly, Settle, built in the late 1670s. 

Bronte Parsonage, Haworth is only an hour’s drive away. 

Museum of Lakeland Life & Industry, Kendal 

Dales Countryside museum, Hawes: tells the fascinating story of the Yorkshire Dales and the people who have lived and worked here and shaped the landscape for thousands of years.

For more “What’s On” info go to:

• Yorkshire Dales whats-on
• Lake District things to do
• Arnside & Silverdale AONB what's-on

And for more info on places in the Yorkshire Dales go to: yorkshire-dales.com

And perhaps more for children:

• Greenlands open farm, Tewitfield 
• Lakeland Maze Farm Park has the mazes, animals, outdoor playground, indoor soft play area, climbing wall, tractors, go karts and sandpit. 
• Williamson Park in Lancaster has a tropical butterfly house and a great playground. 
• The World of Beatrix Potter, Bowness  is a good choice for a rainy day. It is very interactive as you wander through recreations of Beatrix Potter’s stories;
• Take a boat out on Lake Windermere 
• Take a steam train on the Lakeside and Haverthwaite railway 
• Ingleton: Great childrens playground. Paddling in the river with a picnic (and maybe an ice-cream!); Ingleton Waterfalls trail has a small adventure playground attached to a lovely café with newspapers and good coffee.
• Morecambe for the beach and playgrounds along the promenade, Happy Mount Park with train, splash park (seasonal, take change of clothes and/or swimwear) and adventure playground.
• Hawes: Dales Countryside museum, (the railway carriage section is very hands on, ideal for children)
• Wensleydale creamery  go and see the real thing being made and buy the Wallace and Gromit cheese!
• Go Ape: great for both adults and children (aged 10 and above) alike! 
• Fell Foot Park for picnics, take the ferry over the lake or hire a rowing boat, adventure playground,