Cumbria, England is a beautiful place of vast contrasts. From sandy beaches to jagged peaks you really can see it all, or just get cosy in an idyllic cottage and read a book – the choice is yours! Here are some ideas for things to do and see during your holiday in Cumbria.
Bird Watching
Cumbria is a fantastic place for bird watching, particularly as it’s one of the best places in the UK to see a wide variety of birds of prey. There are various nature reserves and bird of prey centres from which to take your pick, you might even get very lucky and see the district’s famous Golden Eagle Pair!
Walking
This area is famous for its spectacular places to go walking. Depending on your fitness and skill levels you can decide whether you want to go on a long, short, hilly or flat walk. Keswick is a great base for embarking on some hillier walks, such as this route to Skiddaw via Jenkin Hill. For something a little flatter you could visit Talkin Tarn and walk around the lake. If you’re feeling really ambitious there are also water sports such as canoeing. If you prefer to keep it simple and keep your feet dry you could visit Cockermouth, as there are some beautiful walks and it’s also home to the Jennings brewery – so perhaps a post-walk pint!
Visit the Pencil Museum
Keswick is also home to the Pencil Museum, which is a great wet weather alternative – but also fantastic in its own right, and particularly good for the kids. It’s home to the world’s longest colour pencil, which is 26 feet long! They also have an art studio for kids to let their imagination run wild, and workshops for adults in a wide variety of crafts such as model making as well as the more traditional disciplines like watercolour painting. It really is a must see!
Horse Riding
Whether you’ve never ridden before or you are an experienced rider, it’s great fun to be at one with nature whilst taking in the beautiful scenery. Heavy horses were traditionally used throughout the UK for manual work, but now make great riding horses. Their size can be a little daunting at first, but they can be very steady and so are often ideally suited to novice riders. You can even go on a beach ride for something really special, horses love the water!
Enjoy!
Whatever you decide to do it’s sure to be memorable. Cumbria provides a spectacular backdrop for all of your adventures so matter what you do you’re sure to enjoy this beautiful place.
