Things To Do in North Cumbria
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Download our map showing lots of Cumbria attractions within the vicinity of Hall Hills on a printable PDF.
Cumbrian Hidden Gems
Hall Hills is situated in the Eden Valley, which is dotted with picturesque Cumbrian villages such as the historic village of Caldbeck (pictured left) which once had the largest water wheel in England and is also the resting place of the Cumbrian legend, John Peel.
An award-winning centre housed in an unusual grass-covered building offers a wide range of activities for all the family. Five different films are shown on large screens throughout the day, and as well as a restaurant, shops and a children's play area there is a national mountaineering exhibition and a multi-media look through the eyes of the native Celts at the invading Romans. There is also a helpful tourist information centre for more info about the Lakes and Cumbria. It's on the A66 close to the junction with the M6 at Penrith.
An award-winning museum, gallery, restaurant and gift shop selling, amongst many other things, a specially commissioned range of replica jewellery based on the Museum's own Roman collection. Opposite Carlisle Castle and close to the town centre, Tullie House has a range of interesting and educational exhibitions, including the intriguing Talking Wall and a full range of activities during the school holidays.
Go Ape is an award-winning high-wire forest adventure course with rope bridges, tarzan swings and zip slides sometimes as high as 40 feet up in the trees. Go Ape Whinlatter is about four miles west of Keswick along the A66 between Derwentwater and Bassenthwaite Lake.
Cycling
The area around Hall Hills is ideal for cycling, with its quiet winding roads running through beautiful rolling countryside. Take a leisurely ride to High Head Sculpture Valley or over to Caldbeck, or alternatively set off on a challenging round trip to Honnister Pass at the far end of Derwentwater - the Reivers Route and the Coast to Coast are on our doorstep. Want to make it easier? Hire an electric bicycle from Keswick.
This is the legendary Green Knight's Castle in the Arthurian tale of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. It is a beautiful historic house set in magnificent grounds and situated midway between Hall Hills and Penrith.
Hadrian's Wall
One of the highlights of the 150-mile-long World Heritage Site that stretches from South Shields to Ravenglass is the Roman Army Museum close to the ancient Roman fort of Vindolanda. The museum has real-life treasures plus fantastic replicas and an Eagle's Eye film giving a virtual tour of this part of Hadrian's Wall. It is situated between Brampton and Haltwhistle on the A69.
Rookin House Farm Equestrian Centre
Why not experience the beauty of the Eden Valley on horseback? Rookin House organises a wide range of treks and lessons. Other activities organised include: archery, rock climbing, ghyll scrambling, canoeing, clay pigeon shooting, go-karting, quad-biking, team-building activities and paintballing.
Hall Hills guests get a discounted entry to the racecourse at Carlisle, which boasts the state of the art Jubilee Grandstand with private boxes for race goers to enjoy superb horse racing. Alternatively, the racing can also be enjoyed from the luxury of the Swifts Restaurant. The racecourse is only a ten-minute drive from Hall Hills along the road into Carlisle.
The busy Lake District town of Keswick with its attractive market square is only a 20-minute drive away heading west along a scenic route through picturesque Cumbrian hamlets. On the way you could visit the Neolithic Castlerigg Stone Circle which dates back to 3,000BC. Coming along the A66 from Hall Hills you need to turn left along the old road that passes the stones before continuing into Keswick. The town is right next to inspiring Derwentwater, on the shore of which is also the excellent Theatre by the Lake.
Ullswater
The closest lake to Hall Hills is Ullswater, and the one that Wordsworth said was "the happiest combination of beauty and grandeur which any of the lakes affords". Take a ride on one of the Ullswater Steamers from Glenridding to Howtown and then walk back along the especially scenic lakeside path; visit Dalemain House; have a 5-star pot of tea at the Sharrow Bay; or make a brisk ascent of Helvellyn. More energetic ramblers will be keen to do the new Ullswater Way - a 20-mile circumnavigation of the lake on foot that the less energetic can shorten by using local buses and boats for parts of the way.
Fun for all the family come rain or shine! Walby Farm Park, just 4 miles from Carlisle and the M6 motorway (J44), is a great day out for the whole family. Exciting outdoor play areas, lots of animal friends, including many rare breeds, plus Cumbria’s biggest indoor play area, safe quad-bike and mini-tractor-training for children - there really is something for everyone! Families, groups and birthday parties can all ‘Meet the Animals’, take a stroll along the farm’s nature trail or just relax in our Curly Tails Cafe, open daily serving delicious hot and cold home-cooked food.
Hall Hills has links with The Eden Angler who can arrange guided fishing trips and tuition at the excellent fishing grounds of the Rivers Eden, Eamont and Lowther. The Eden, famed for its salmon fishing, holds very good stocks of fish and lends itself to all the different fly fishing techniques, the Eamont is a very good nymph and dry fly water, and the Lowther, in the beautiful Lowther valley, is often the main destination for dry fly fishing.
Paddleboarding (SUP) on Ullswater
The experienced can hire boards, wetsuits and PFDs, while the inexperienced can take their first ventures into the delicate world of stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) on the picturesque lake of Ullswater - the closest lake to Hall Hills.
Other Lake District and Cumbria attractions include
The World of Beatrix Potter at Windermere
Honister Slate Mine in Borrowdale at the south end of Derwentwater with escorted trips into a preserved mine deep underground
Whinlatter Visitor Centre to the west of Derwentwater - choose from waymarked forest trails for walkers or cyclists, or try orienteering and let the kids enjoy the outdoor adventure play area,
llama trekking (believe it or not) at Foxgloves near Penrith
The Sands Centre Carlisle - a premier Cumbria venue for the arts, entertainment and recreation in Carlisle
Shopping at The Lanes indoor shopping centre in Carlisle
Castlerigg Stone Circle (pictured below) Stop off at this impressive Neolithic monument close to the A66 on the way into Keswick.
