Wayside holiday cottage - self-catering in Borrowdale, Keswick

Borrowdale is one of the most stunning valleys in the Lake District - with plenty of walking, climbing, cycling and any other outdoor activities

Nearby Keswick is at the heart of the Lake District with scores of attractions. Here is a small selection near at hand:

Castlerigg Stone Circle

Lake Derwentwater, with launches, canoes, sailing dinghies and windsurfers for hire.
Paragliding fundays or tandem flights
The Theatre of the Lakes and Keswick Cinema: www.theatrebythelake.com
'Cars of the Stars' museum: www.carsofthestars.com
'Mirehouse', country house where Tennyson wrote the Morte d'Arthur:
www.mirehouse.com
'Trotters and friends' pets farm: www.trottersworld.com
Cycle and tandem hire
Keswick climbing wall: www.keswickclimbingwall.co.uk
Keswick pencil museum - where it all began: www.pencils.co.uk
Quad biking and karting at Rookin House: www.rookinhouse.com
Hundreds more walks
Every kind of outdoor shop
Dozens of pubs and restaurants serving good value meals

For further information, please visit www.dokeswick.co.uk.

Ambleside

Ambleside is connected with many well known characters, including John Ruskin, Beatrix Potter and Harwicke Rawnsley.

Armitt library and museum which brings to life famous people inspired by the Lake District: fp.armitt.plus.com
Gift and outdoor shopping
Zefferelli's cinema and pizzaria (including both blockbuster and arthouse films):
www.zeffirellis.co.uk
Stock Ghyll Force - a spectacular 70 foot waterfall with its carpet of daffodils in the Spring
Bridge House - one of the most photographed scenes in the Lake District
Superb cafes, pubs and restaurants serving high quality meals (no visit to Ambleside is complete without an hour spent at Lucy's on a Plate).
Windermere Lake Cruises - ferries can be taken from Ambleside to Bowness and Lakeside: www.windermere-lakecruises.co.uk
Numerous galleries and studios
Hundreds more walks

Waterfall at Rydal, Grasmere

Grasmere, a charming village in the centre of the Lake District, beloved of Wordsworth who worte of its lake, "the most loveliest spot that man hath found".

Grasmere lake with its gentle rowing boats.
Dove Cottage - Wordsworth home from 1799 to 1808. It was here where Wordsworth wrote much of his poetry: www.wordsworth.org.uk
Rydal Mount - Wordsworth's home from 1813 to his death. Its extensive gardens were landscaped by the poet.
Grasmere's famous gingerbread shop: www.grasmeregingerbread.co.uk
Heaton Cooper studios: www.heatoncooper.co.uk
Loughrigg Fell - with many many walks intertwining with each other and panoramic views of Grasmere, Rydal Water, Windermere and the rest of the Lakes
Sour Milk Ghyll - a wonderous waterfall after heavy rain
St Oswald's church - the final resting place of both William and Mary Wordsworth
Many places to eat, drink and shop.
Grasmere is the perfect starting point for hundreds of walks and bike rides

Hawkshead

Hawkshead is still the same tiny village of higgledy-piggledy houses, archways, and squares beloved by William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter. Cars are banned from the village, but there is a large car park on the outskirts.

Beatrix Potter Gallery
Car ferry to Windermere and Bowness
Nearby Grisedale forest with its woodland walks & bike trails and its forest sculptures
Hundreds more walks

Coniston Water

The Old Man of Coniston, rises dramatically behind the houses when seen from Coniston village. The village itself is a good centre for walkers and climbers, and those wanting to investigate the Tilberthwaite Slate quarries. Donald Campbell broke the water speed record on Coniston Water in 1955, and was killed attempting to regain it again in 1967.

John Ruskin's home - Brantwood: www.brantwood.org.uk
The Ruskin Museum Lakeside launches (a superb way to reach Brantwood)
Cycling round the lake Rowing on the lake
Tarn Hows - one the of the Lake District's most famous beauty spots
Coniston Brewing Company, makers of 'Bluebird Bitter', CAMRA Supreme Champion Beer of Britain 1998: www.conistonbrewery.com
Spoon Hall Pony Trekking Centre
Summitreks Adventure Services - Licensed Adventure Activities including rock climbing, abseiling, aquasailing, canoeing, mountain biking: www.summitreks.co.uk
Paragliding School
Fishing (licence needed)
Shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants
Hundreds more walks