South Lakes, Cumbria

Creative Tourist

No trip to Cumbria is complete without a visit to its best-loved places, Coniston and Grizedale among them, but even here you can uncover some lesser-known cultural highs. Grizedale Arts, for instance, is an organisation that puts sculpture in forests, has helped revivify a local library and community centre and is behind the Lawson Park Farm Cottage, an award-winning eco-retreat at Parkamoor. William Wordsworth’s former home at Dove Cottage in Grasmere offers both a historic look at poetry and, via its workshops, tours and events, a route into new writing too.

Nearby, Allan Bank – a home a first described by Wordsworth as a “temple of abomination”; he later changed his mind and moved in – is a place where visitors are encouraged to “write on Wordsworth’s walls”, while Blackwell in Bowness-on-Windermere is one of the finest architectural examples of the Arts & Crafts Movement anywhere in the world. Time a visit to Ulverston to coincide with the annual Printfest, a celebration of artist-led printmaking, and don’t miss Cartmel’s ancient Priory – as well as Simon Rogan’s Michelen-starred restaurant L’Enclume.

Our top picks

The Armitt Museum

The Armitt Museum, Rydal Road, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 9BL - Visit now

 On Rydal Road, The Armitt Museum is full of interesting and unusual objects that shares the history and heritage of Ambleside . The Armitt’s regularly changing  exhibitions continue to  display,  the varied collections of objects, artworks, and books, and telling stories about the people, places, and passions of the Lake District.

The Armitt Museum
Image courtesy of Visit Lake District.

Blea Tarn in Little Langdale

Blea Tarn in Little Langdale, Blea Tarn Trail, Langdale, Coniston, Cumbria, LA22 9PG - Visit now

Situated high in a hanging valley above Great Langdale, this pool seems just as remote as any other mountain tarn, yet with easily accessible road routes and a nearby car park. The Blea Tarn is complete with the spectacular view across to Langdale pikes, and at certain times it’s not unusual to have the place to yourself

National Trust, Blea Tarn Trail

The Ruskin Museum

The Ruskin Museum, The Ruskin Museum, Coniston, Cumbria, LA21 8DU - Visit now

The Ruskin Museum tells the story of Coniston in Cumbria – a place of copper mines and slate quarries, Swallows and Amazons country where Beatrix Potter owned farms and Stone Age fell walkers once dwelled. It’s also home to the Ruskin Gallery, which offers a comprehensive overview of Victorian intellectual John Ruskin’s life and work.

The Ruskin Museum.

Grizedale Arts

Grizedale Arts, Lawson Park, East of Lake, Coniston, Cumbria, LA21 8AD - Visit now

A kind of artistic agitator or incubator, Grizedale Arts brings together artists and thinkers at its site at Lawson Park Farm developing projects, skills and ideas that respond to the complexities of the Lake District.  Former local resident John Ruskin’s ideas about art, society and community find a modern expression here, alongside an award wining eco-retreat and a programme for volunteers.

Blackwell, The Arts and Crafts House

Blackwell, The Arts and Crafts House, Blackwell, The Arts & Crafts House, Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria, LA23 3JT - Visit now

Blackwell, The Arts and Crafts house positioned on the banks of Lake Windermere and overlooking the Coniston Fells is a truly special place to visit. Realised in 1901 by the rising star architect, Mackay Hugh Baillie Scott, who was able to put his pioneering ideas regarding the use of space, light and texture into practice on a grand scale, this airy and tranquil icon of the Arts & Crafts movement

 

Courtesy of Lakeland Arts

L’Enclume

L’Enclume, Cavendish Street, Cartmel, Cumbria, LA11 6PZ - Visit now

L’Enclume provides and exquisite range of  culinary excellence from delightfully simple to awe inspiring.  L’Enclume has also served as the training ground for some of the country’s most remarkable young chefs such as Mark Birchall and Kevin Tickle, who now run the excellent Moor Hall and Forest Slide restaurants, respectively.

Photos by author

Hill Top

Hill Top, Near Sawrey, Hawkshead, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 0LF - Visit now

Beatrix Potter bought Hill Top in 1905 with the proceeds from her first book, The Tale of Peter Rabbit; the 17th century farmhouse has since been turned into a time-capsule of her life, surrounded by a lovely cottage garden.

Hill Top © National Trust Images / Stephen Robson.

Where to go in Cumbria

Cumbria
Hotel
Gilpin Lake House

Gilpin Lake House is a stunning Lake District getaway, hosting just 16 guests on 100 acres of private grounds, with its own lake.

The Armitt Museum
Cumbria
Gallery
The Armitt Museum

Full of interesting and unusual objects, The Armitt is a museum that shares the history and heritage of Ambleside and its people.

Cumbria
Museum
Wordsworth Grasmere

From book launches to writing groups to poetry nights, there’s always something going on at Wordsworth Grasmere.

Windermere
Tourist Attraction
Brockhole on Windermere

Attempt to hit a clay flying at 65mph or navigate the obstacles along a wood chip track on a Krazy Kart, all within the grounds of a 19th century Arts and Crafts style house in Cumbria

Cumbria
Hadrian’s Wall

No other World Heritage Site in Europe provides the public with as much access to so many archaeological ruins as Hadrian’s Wall.

Holker Hall & Gardens
Cumbria
Event venue
Holker Hall & Gardens

One of Cumbria’s finest historical sites, Holker Hall and Garden offers a gloriously asymmetrical pile of rambling galleries and green spaces.

Morecambe
Morecambe Bay

A significant natural landmark along the west coast, Morecambe Bay is home to an open-water swimming group who have over 2000 members.

Cumbria
Tourist Attraction
Hell Gill

There’s plenty of wild swimming to be done at Hell Gill, but there’s more to explore in this 500m long slot canyon.

Cumbria
Wastwater

Wastwater is the deepest lake in England at 258 feet and one of the most dramatic spots in the country to swim.

Windermere
Tourist Attraction
Windermere

Perhaps no water in England is more storied than Windermere, where swimmers who enjoy a challenge have naturally flocked here for centuries.

Cumbria Visitor Guides

Walks in Penrith
Walks in Penrith

A selection of some of most rewarding and beautiful walks in Penrith, full of chances to catch open air and natural attraction.

Walks in Kendal

A round-up of the best walks in Kendal, including the town centre, official tours and the surrounding area by Creative Tourist.

Museums in Cumbria

Cumbria is studded with fantastic museums - read our picks of the best here.

Literary places in Cumbria
Literary places in Cumbria

If it was good enough for Wordsworth and Wainwright, then Cumbria surely has much to offer the literature lover who strayed off the M6. From Kendal in the south to Carlisle in the north, we sniff out the best bookish shenanigans.

Art Galleries in Cumbria

Ranging from impressive, nationally-significant collections in Grade listed buildings, to historic houses that now have a particular focus on local, contemporary artists, here's our guide to Cumbria's collection of art galleries.

Restaurants in Cumbria

Cumbria is far from short of good places to eat – here’s our guide to restaurants to put on your map of the area.

Music Venues in Cumbria

When the sun goes down and you've had your fair share of Cumbria's great outdoors, head to the area's music venues to catch folk and jazz sessions, as well as regular performances by touring musicians.

Theatres in Cumbria
Theatres in Cumbria

For striking performances in the truly beautiful setting of the Lake District - check out our pick of theatres in Cumbria.

Tasting Menus in The North

Looking for the finest luxury multi-course restaurants in Manchester? Look no further. We've picked out the very best tasting menus in the city - just make sure you have deep pockets.

Things to Do in Liverpool
Spotlight on

Things to Do in Liverpool

Our guide to the thriving city of Liverpool, where new creative futures are written against the backdrop of a unique history.

Take me there

Culture Guides

Exhibitions

There's no rest for the art lover - this month brings outdoor sculpture, musings on water, political drawings and Liverpool Biennial 2023!

Music

We look towards a summer filled with quality festivals, from cultural behemoths to grassroots gems.

Winnie the Pooh at Manchester Opera House
Families

The sun has finally got his hat on! Enjoy our top picks of family-friendly events and activities, both indoors and outdoors.

Classical Music

Summer's classical music calendar is filling up nicely! Read our top picks of concerts happening in Manchester and the North.

Gerry Potter (credit Lee Baxter)
Literature

Books are big this summer, with festival readings, poetry slams, creative writing activities and famous faces all putting in an appearance.

Food and Drink

All signs point toward June being a scorcher of a month, so let’s take a look at all things summery food and drink.

Tours and Activities

From literary activities to brilliant independent shops, keep your minds and homes filled with the good stuff this month.

Theatre in Manchester
Theatre

Check out our updated guide for lively theatre festivals, rip-roaring rooftop circus and dreamy outdoor shows.