Cumbria, what a place to visit! South Lakes! Even better

A quick whistle stop tour of things to do can help them get so much more from their holiday and very quickly they realise they need a longer break – or another holiday in the Lakes – no bad thing!

But where to start…… incredible food? hills? clean air? magical walks? Dark skies?

The South Lakes have something for everyone. Are you a gastronome? Enjoy our Michelin Star restaurants - seven of them in Cumbria - Cartmel has two Michelin star restaurants – L’Enclume and Rogan and Co. - as well as being stuffed with other great eateries - The newest venture, Heft opened by Kevin Tickle, originally a Simon Rogan head Chef is less than five miles away.   HRiSHi Restaurant at The Gilpin in Windermere with chef Hrishikesh Desai was recently featured on Hairy Bikers Go North also has one Michelin star. Many Crumble Cottage guests choose to have meals delivered from Rogan’s at home and the renowned Punch Bowl.

Cartmel is home to Sticky Toffee pudding, Cartmel Cheese, Morecambe Bay prawns and fresh fish from Flookburgh – there is so much to choose from!

We love to walk ten minutes into Cartmel and grab a seat under the heated umbrellas of Unsworth Yard. Sit and enjoy a wine, a cheese board, a pint of beer brewed in their brewery at your elbow or enjoy their new international tapas at Oscars.  The Kings Arms do a cracking Guinness and The Royal Oak has an amazing selection of craft beers, The Cavendish and The Pig and Whistle complete the offer in medieval Cartmel.

A walk for the adventurous – Take the award-winning guided walk across Morecambe Bay Sands – a personal tour with the Queen’s Guide.

If you prefer to burn the calories the choices are endless – watersports on the lakes – try something new – kayaking, windsurfing, water skiing, wild swimming all only 20 minutes from Cartmel at Fell Foot. Try your nerves with a Go-Ape tree tops experience – traverse across a slate mine on ropes, dangle on a zip-wire – it’s all possible and all close by. 

Bring a bike – or hire one – electric mountain bikes are great fun and you still get the exercise in the fresh air. Grizedale mountain bike centre has tracks and MTB courses for all levels – including flat! Of course, Cartmel has its own Segway experience.

Walks in the South Lakes are amazing – so many straight from the door of Crumble Cottages – choose how long or easy a route you fancy and step out into the clean air. Join the Coastal Path - ten minutes’ walk up the road. Or nip into Cartmel for a packed lunch and head up Hamp’s Fell for amazing views – getting back just in time for a nice pint or G&T!

Nature lovers and bird watchers are spoiled for choice, Foulshaw and Meathop Moss, Walney Island and Leighton Moss – featured on BBC Springwatch. Muncaster Castle has a wonderful Raptor centre.

The South Lakes are known for their Dark Skies – excellent for a stroll at night to spot shooting stars and favourite constellations – Upper Crumble Hot Tub is the perfect location to lie back and stargaze. So many guests have excitedly recounted seeing their first shooting star whilst relaxing in luxury.

A fabulous day out from Crumble Cottages is the steam train from Haverthwaite to the bottom of Lake Winderemere, transfer onto one of the newly refurbished cruisers and swan around all day – hopping on and off around the lake – no hassle with parking, and of course a steam train home!

For lovers of BBC Antiques Road Trip visit Village Vintage in Cartmel and Yew Tree Barn architectural salvage which also has the fabulous Harry’s Café and is only three miles away.

Crumble Cottage is part of the NGS Open Garden Scheme to raise funds for charity – so many of our guests are keen or aspiring gardeners. Local gardens include Levens – said to be the oldest topiary in the world (with a fabulous restaurant), Sizergh and Holker Hall – all within ten miles of Crumble Cottages – further afield Holehird, and Lowther Castle – just a car ride away.

For those interested in The Arts and museums – where to start – Brantwood on Coniston, Blackwell on Windermere, The Rusland Movement in Newby Bridge, the Abbey in Kendal, The Lakeland Motor Museum, The Jetty on Windermere, The Ruskin Museum, Hilltop - Beatrix Potter’s house, The Quaker Tapestry museum,  Dove Cottage. And of course – The Laurel and hardy Museum in the nearby old market town of Ulverston!

So whatever time of year or type of holiday you want a trip to the quieter South Lakes has it all!