Things to do and see near Caldbeck-Ireby-Uldale

Local information

Uldale on the Internet . . . a unique guide to the picturesque village of Uldale in the English Lake District. With its very own fells, a fascinating history and enviable connections with historical and literary figures, Uldale is definitely worth exploring!

The Cumbria Directory A useful site with information on our local villages, and details of interesting walks. The site also contains details of all tourist attractions (historic homes, ancient sites, castles, etc) and countryside, mountain pictures.

The Local Pubs and Inns

The Old Crown in Hesket Newmarket serves beers from the tiny Hesket Newmarket Brewery. The Old Crown is a "Friendly little fell-side pub whose simple main bar has assorted tables, a little counter, lots of books and beam-hung mugs. Country café style dining room. Home-brewed beers. Worth a visit also for the delightful village."

The Oddfellows Arms in Caldbeck Enjoy a real Cumbrian welcome in a traditional Lakeland pub: a selection of really good wines at sensible prices, a choice of Jennings real ales, and a delicious home cooked food with real chips.

The Mill Inn at Mugrisedale has a lounge bar with snug, games room with pool table and dartboard, and a no-smoking dining room where we serve traditional cumbrian fair. In summer you can relax in our beer garden beside the river, and in winter you can warm yourself by the open log fire.

The Snooty Fox at Uldale, the inn, which dates from before 1700, offers their patrons an excellent choice of food served at lunchtime in the bar or non-smoking restaurant (don't miss the splendid Cumberland sausage!), and three real ales (one brewed locally specially for the Snooty Fox)

The Black Lion at Ireby, is a very traditional pub, with great ales and really nice food. Recommended!

The Pheasant at Bassenthwaite, The Pheasant is a charming old Coaching Inn situated close to Bassenthwaite Lake at the unspoilt, northern end of the Lake District. It is one of the last remaining traditional Cumbrian hostelries with its unique period atmosphere, sense of timelessness and peaceful location. The Pheasant enjoys a well deserved national reputation amongst those who are used to being well cared for in a traditional manner.

Things to do further afield

Penrith

Eden Ostrich World is a Farm Visitor Centre based at Langwathby Hall, a 500 acre working arable beef and sheep farm near Penrith in the beautiful Eden Valley. Within three months of opening, Eden Ostrich World won Cumbria Tourist Board's prestigious Best Visitor Attraction in Cumbria Award (under 50,000 visitors). To achieve this award in so little time is a tremendous accolade and one that they are particularly proud of.

Rheged, situated near Penrith - Named after Cumbria's Celtic Kingdom, Rheged is Europe's largest grass covered building and a winner of the global "BA Tourism for Tomorrow Awards".

Wetheriggs Pottery near Penrith, all around Wetheriggs there is a lot to experience and many ways for you to express your own individuality and creativity... all far away from the madding crowd... and in every season and for every month of the year. "Pots of fun" Choose from throwing a pot from a nice wet juicy ball of clay or paint a figurine or paint bowls, plates and mugs or create a mosaic or paint on glass - these and lots more things to do.

Abbots Lodge Farm Ice Cream, Cafe and Play Area. Abbott Lodge, near Penrith, Cumbria is a working dairy farm set in spectacular scenery midway between the Eden Valley and the Northern Lake District. The farm produces over 30 flavours of high quality homemade Jersey ice cream. The farm was restocked with Jersey cattle in February 2000 following foot and mouth in 2001.

The farm has now diversified and offers:
• A Tea Roomwith a range of Jersey Ice Cream, teas, coffees, soft drinks and cakes
• Indoor and Outdoor safe play areas for children
• Spacious function room for group education, visits, meetings and parties.
• See our gorgeous Jersey Cows in the nearby fields.
• Watch the adorable calves at their computerised feeding station.

Larch Cottage Garden Centre. A unique garden nursery located in the small hamlet of Melkinthorpe in the Eden Valley, a predominantly unspoilt agricultural area in the North Of England, within easy access of the MG motorway and the trans-pennine A66., where meandering paths lead the discerning plant lover over a wooden bridge, under rose covered pergolas and through avenues of Japanese maples to discover over 15,000 varieties of rare and unusual plants. A gardeners' paradise encased within Romanesque stone walls draped in greenery, and lit up by Dalle de Verre stained glass.

Ulswater steamers. Since 1859, Ullswater ‘Steamers’ have carried passengers the length of the eight mile lake. In recent times, ‘MY Lady of the Lake’, who celebrated her 125th birthday in the autumn of 2002 and ‘MY Raven’ dating from 1889, have been joined by ‘MV Lady Dorothy’ ensuring that the ‘Steamers’ can now present a timetable of sailings covering 363 days of the year. Panoramic views of the Lakeland fells, including England’s second highest mountain, Helvellyn, dominate each sailing, whether it be a family ‘around the lake’ day out, or a single journey from Glenridding to Howtown, the starting point for superb rambles, including the delightful lakeshore path to Patterdale

Keswick

'Cars of the Stars' motor museum in Keswick, each vehicle is displayed in its individual film set, with atmospheric lighting and sound playing a part. Houses and mountains were constructed, muddy battlefields and bomb sites were built, all giving a further dimension to the display. The result is a feat of nostalgia for the visitor and a glimpse into the fantasy world of television and film.

Trotters World of Animals near Bassenthwaite is home to hundreds of friendly animals including traditional favorites, endangered species, birds of prey and reptiles. A great deal is under cover so rain need not spoil your visit...

The Puzzling Place in Keswick, is a fixed location Tourist Attraction that opened to the public in Museum Square, Keswick on the 7th of July 2001. It is the product of two years work by local brothers Tim and Andrew. Our aim was to open a gallery style exhibition that was different to anything experienced before, both in content and the relaxed, informal ambience of the place that couples education with the elements of fun and surprise.

Whinlatter Visitor Centre near Keswick High on Whinlatter Pass the Visitor Centre staff will be pleased to help you discover the delights of England's only "mountain forest". Choose from an extensive network of waymarked trails for walkers and cyclists or experience the challenge of orienteering. Children will want to come back time and again after they have enjoyed the Rabbit Run and Fox Trot trails. In addition an outdoor adventure play area will keep children happy for hours. Finally complete the day with a visit to the Mountain Forest Tearoom to enjoy a meal and savour the panormic views.

Keswick Launch. Located on the lake shore of Derwentwater near to the Lakeland market town of Keswick, the launch company offers Lake District cruises around Derwentwater throughout the year. The launches start their journey from the Keswick boat landings and cruise around the lake stopping at seven lakeshore jetties where you may embark or join the various boats. Alternatively, stay on the boat and enjoy the 50 minute trip around Derwentwater.

The Theatre by the Lake, at Keswick, is Cumbria’s year-round theatre, situated in Keswick - the heart of the English Lake District. Purpose-built to house the best in arts and entertainment, it offers local residents and visitors a varied programme of events, throughout the year, in one of the most beautiful locations in Britain.

Cockermouth

The Lakeland Sheep and Wool Centre in Cockermouth, Here is a real hands-on opportunity to meet Cumbria’s most famous residents. Visitors are guaranteed a wonderfully woolly experience as we bring you face-to-face with 19 different breeds of live sheep during our indoor presentation (four times daily). In the theatre you will discover many surprising facts about each breed - and witness the skill of the sheep sheerer at work. This is especially popular and visitors are afterwards invited on stage for even closer encounter.

Lake District Coast

Lake District Coast Aquarium, is an award winning, privately owned medium-sized aquarium. We specialise in native British aquatic life and have 20 years’ experience of running public aquariums. We are also involved in the consultancy, design and theming of aquariums, and have worked on 7 such projects in the UK and Ireland to date. We are committed to constant improvement of customer service, fish diversity and life support systems.

The Rum Story the Dark Spirit of Whitehaven, is set in the original shop, courtyards, cellars and bonded warehouses of the Jefferson family business, in the Georgian town of Whitehaven. Here you can find out about the story of the UK rum trade, which originally centered on the port of Whitehaven.

The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, The Western Lake District is home to the most spectacular scenery not only in the Lake District, but also throughout England. from the cosiness of the carriages behind the small steam engines of the Railway, there are plentiful views of the country's highest mountains: the Scafell range. Eskdale has been described as 'the loveliest of Lakeland valleys', a place of charming hamlets, abundant wildlife from the native Roe Deer to Buzzards and herons, fast flowing and crystal clear streams, spectacular waterfalls and so much more.

Muncaster Castle, Explore the historic haunted castle. Thrill to wildlife on the wing at the World Owl Centre. Discover thousands of exotic plants in the Himalayan Gardens. Experience the dangers of meadowland in the MeadowVole Maze.

Haig Colliery Mining Mueseum Haig Colliery Mining Museum is situated high on the cliffs above Whitehaven with magnificent views across to the Scottish Hills and the Isle of Man. The museum is a twenty minute detour from the famous Coast to Coast Walk and within yards of the Cumbria Coastal Way. The Steam Winding Engine is operated every day, but please call the museum (01946 599949) to ensure that maintenance is not being carried out.

Alston

Nenthead Mines near Alston. Prepare to launch on a voyage of discovery at Nenthead Mines, learning more about the people, places, tools, lifestyle, and legacy of the mining industry that at one time completely dominated the landscape of the North Pennines!

South Tynedale Railway near Alston. The South Tynedale Railway operates narrow gauge passenger trains along a 2¼ mile line along the scenic South Tyne valley between Alston, in Cumbria and Kirkhaugh, in Northumberland. Train services operate on certain dates between Easter and October and “Santa Special” trains on certain dates in December each year.

Windermere

Brockhole Lake District Visitors Centre The Brockhole Visitors Centre provides interactive exhibitions about the English Lake District. One of the Lakes most popular visitor attractions, the centre is ideal for families with large open gardens, hands on exhibitions and Windermere Lake cruises.

The World of Beatrix Potter, at Windermere. In an indoor re-creation of the Lakeland countryside, complete with sights, sounds and even smells, discover Peter Rabbit™ eating radishes in Mr. McGregor's garden; see Jemima Puddle-duck™ amongst the foxgloves; and Mrs. Tiggy-winkle™, the washerwoman, bustling about in her kitchen - the Peter Rabbit™ tales of Beatrix Potter brought lovingly to life.

Carlisle

Tullie House Museum in Carlisle. Established by Carlisle Corporation in 1893, Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery houses considerable collections of fine and decorative art, human history and natural sciences. The museum underwent a major redevelopment in 1990, involving expansion within existing buildings and the construction of a new wing housing the new Border galleries, an Art Gallery, and shop, lecture theatre and restaurant spaces.

Other interesting sites

Chris Bonington is Caldbeck's most inspiring resident.

MC Scott writes wonderfully about our British ancestors and thier battles with Rome.

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