27 Forest Views Guidebook
Sightseeing
The Solway Firth on the west Cumbrian Coast is classed as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty- when you visit the area you will soon realise why! The England Coast Path is the “longest managed and waymarked coastal path in the world” and it crosses through the Solway Coast, within a short distance of Forest Views Caravan Park. You can visit the Solway Coast Discovery Centre in nearby Silloth, easily accessible from the north on the B5302 or the south along the B5300. Here you can learn all about the area and plan your activities from the many choices available. Many visitors flock to the area for the thousands of bird species that frequent this internationally important area. Birds of prey are common including peregrine, merlin, short-eared owl and hen harrier.
11 locals recommend
Solway Firth
The Solway Firth on the west Cumbrian Coast is classed as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty- when you visit the area you will soon realise why! The England Coast Path is the “longest managed and waymarked coastal path in the world” and it crosses through the Solway Coast, within a short distance of Forest Views Caravan Park. You can visit the Solway Coast Discovery Centre in nearby Silloth, easily accessible from the north on the B5302 or the south along the B5300. Here you can learn all about the area and plan your activities from the many choices available. Many visitors flock to the area for the thousands of bird species that frequent this internationally important area. Birds of prey are common including peregrine, merlin, short-eared owl and hen harrier.
Maryport has a long maritime history going back from the Roman’s, who used the shoreline as a defence in the building of Hadrian’s Wall, to the trade. The west-facing coast presents vast views and superb sunsets across the Irish Sea, which can be enjoyed from the promenade. To the north of Maryport is Crosscanonby, named after the Augustinian canons of Carlisle cathedral. To the east are the coal mining towns of Crosby, Dearham and Broughton Moor. To the south is the coastal village of Flimby. These smaller towns and villages offer a selection of shops, cafes and pubs serving local produce and fine ales. Perfect refreshment after a day of exploring!
18 locals recommend
Maryport
Maryport has a long maritime history going back from the Roman’s, who used the shoreline as a defence in the building of Hadrian’s Wall, to the trade. The west-facing coast presents vast views and superb sunsets across the Irish Sea, which can be enjoyed from the promenade. To the north of Maryport is Crosscanonby, named after the Augustinian canons of Carlisle cathedral. To the east are the coal mining towns of Crosby, Dearham and Broughton Moor. To the south is the coastal village of Flimby. These smaller towns and villages offer a selection of shops, cafes and pubs serving local produce and fine ales. Perfect refreshment after a day of exploring!
Ravenglass was known as an important Roman naval base in the 2nd century. Nowadays it is best known as a terminus for the Ravenglass & Eskdale steam railway also known as La’al Ratty. The line is seven miles long with a journey time of 40 minutes each way offering spectacular views over the estuaries and countryside. You will see England’s highest mountains in the distance. Ravenglass is the place where the rivers Esk, Irt, and Mite form an estuary and natural harbour. The scenery on the drive to Ravenglass from any direction is spectacular, with Muncaster Castle looming above as you enter the village. The Drigg Dunes are an essential nature reserve, home to a wide variety of rare wildflowers, insects and natterjack toads.
19 locals recommend
Ravenglass
Ravenglass was known as an important Roman naval base in the 2nd century. Nowadays it is best known as a terminus for the Ravenglass & Eskdale steam railway also known as La’al Ratty. The line is seven miles long with a journey time of 40 minutes each way offering spectacular views over the estuaries and countryside. You will see England’s highest mountains in the distance. Ravenglass is the place where the rivers Esk, Irt, and Mite form an estuary and natural harbour. The scenery on the drive to Ravenglass from any direction is spectacular, with Muncaster Castle looming above as you enter the village. The Drigg Dunes are an essential nature reserve, home to a wide variety of rare wildflowers, insects and natterjack toads.
Stanley Ghyll Force is a 60-foot-high waterfall set in an extraordinary deep, narrow gorge, where rhododendrons growing on craggy ledges and precipices provide an eastern backdrop. The force is accessed either from the car park at the Dalegarth Station of the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, or the National Trust car park. Extreme care is needed in places, as the path is steep and unfenced.
8 locals recommend
Stanley Ghyll Force Waterfall
Stanley Ghyll Force is a 60-foot-high waterfall set in an extraordinary deep, narrow gorge, where rhododendrons growing on craggy ledges and precipices provide an eastern backdrop. The force is accessed either from the car park at the Dalegarth Station of the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, or the National Trust car park. Extreme care is needed in places, as the path is steep and unfenced.
Situated on Whitehaven’s historic Georgian harbour. The Beacon Museum follows the social, industrial and maritime heritage of the area. From Romans to Russian Samovars, Viking raiders to Victorian traders. There is also a viewing gallery that offers unrivalled views of Whitehaven and the Solway Coast. Visitors can learn about the west Cumbrian nuclear industry and the Sellafield Story.
14 locals recommend
The Beacon Museum
West StrandSituated on Whitehaven’s historic Georgian harbour. The Beacon Museum follows the social, industrial and maritime heritage of the area. From Romans to Russian Samovars, Viking raiders to Victorian traders. There is also a viewing gallery that offers unrivalled views of Whitehaven and the Solway Coast. Visitors can learn about the west Cumbrian nuclear industry and the Sellafield Story.
Food scene
The Lakes Distillery is located next to the River Derwent. Visitors can experience a distillery tour or simply enjoy the surroundings, including the friendly herd of alpacas. You can book an ‘alpaca package’ and walk an alpaca; perfect for family days out. Visitors can also enjoy a walk along the River Derwent and use the grounds for picnics in the summer months.
75 locals recommend
The Lakes Distillery
The Lakes Distillery is located next to the River Derwent. Visitors can experience a distillery tour or simply enjoy the surroundings, including the friendly herd of alpacas. You can book an ‘alpaca package’ and walk an alpaca; perfect for family days out. Visitors can also enjoy a walk along the River Derwent and use the grounds for picnics in the summer months.
Keswick, situated between the huge bulk of Skiddaw and the gentle beauty of Derwentwater, has become the major centre for tourism in the northern Lake District. This pretty market town offers a wide range of attractions for visitors, from shops and restaurants to museums with a difference, and boating trips around lake Derwentwater.
205 locals recommend
Keswick
Keswick, situated between the huge bulk of Skiddaw and the gentle beauty of Derwentwater, has become the major centre for tourism in the northern Lake District. This pretty market town offers a wide range of attractions for visitors, from shops and restaurants to museums with a difference, and boating trips around lake Derwentwater.
Mountain Hike
There is a wealth of adventure activities to enjoy in the Western Lake District from walking and running to water sports and extreme off road to climbing and abseiling. You will also come across more unusual activities such as husky sledding, hot air balloon flights and for the sturdier, a journey to the 978m Scafell Pike summit -the highest point in England.
69 locals recommend
Scafell Pike
There is a wealth of adventure activities to enjoy in the Western Lake District from walking and running to water sports and extreme off road to climbing and abseiling. You will also come across more unusual activities such as husky sledding, hot air balloon flights and for the sturdier, a journey to the 978m Scafell Pike summit -the highest point in England.
Skiddaw is a mountain in the Lake District National Park in England. Its 931-metre (3,054 ft) summit is the sixth-highest in England. It lies just north of the town of Keswick, Cumbria, and dominates the skyline in this part of the northern lakes. It is the simplest of the Lake District mountains of this height to ascend (as there is a well-trodden tourist track from a car park to the north-east of Keswick, near the summit of Latrigg) and, as such, many walking guides recommend it to the occasional walker wishing to climb a mountain. There are views of Skiddaw from our balcony.
29 locals recommend
Skiddaw
Skiddaw is a mountain in the Lake District National Park in England. Its 931-metre (3,054 ft) summit is the sixth-highest in England. It lies just north of the town of Keswick, Cumbria, and dominates the skyline in this part of the northern lakes. It is the simplest of the Lake District mountains of this height to ascend (as there is a well-trodden tourist track from a car park to the north-east of Keswick, near the summit of Latrigg) and, as such, many walking guides recommend it to the occasional walker wishing to climb a mountain. There are views of Skiddaw from our balcony.
water activities
When you walk down to the lakeside it is not difficult to see why Derwentwater is one Keswick's main assets. Derwentwater is about 15 minutes leisurely stroll via Lake Road and the beautiful gardens of Hope Park from the Market Square in Keswick town centre. The lake is three miles long and is fed by the River Derwent catchment area in the high fells at the head of Borrowdale. Derwentwater Foreshore has a rich and prestigious history. In the 16th century the site was used as a landing spot for the local mining industry and in the 18th and 19th century it became the inspiration for Romantic Poets such as William Wordsworth. In Victorian times the Foreshore became a focal point for the newly developing tourist industry which brought tourists to Keswick by railway.
A little further on from the boat landings is Friars Crag with its stunning views of Derwentwater and the Borrowdale valley. The viewpoint is one of the most popular places for photographs. The view was described by Ruskin as one of the three or four most beautiful views in Europe. There is a memorial to Ruskin on the crag, a slab of rock with a bronze portrait medallion. It is called Friar's Crag because it is said to be the departure point for monks sailing to St Herbert's Island on pilgrimmage to where the Saint was said to live. The fictionary Old Brown from Squirrel Nutkin in the Beatrix Potter tale was also supposed to have sailed to the island, known as Owl Island in the book. The Lingholm Woods on the opposite side of Derwentwater were used as a background for many of Beatrix Potter's woodland and nature sketches.
The Derwentwater Walk is a scenic 10 mile waymarked walk around Derwentwater. On flat and easy paths, the walk passes through ancient woodlands and along the shores of the lake. The scenery is stunning, with perfect picnic stops, cafes and restaurants along the way. Look out for the sculpture of the hands which commemmorated the 100 year anniversary of the National Trust's care of Brandelhowe.
Tens of thousands of walkers will have looked at and wondered at the modern sculpture set in Calf Close Bay, placed there to commemorate the Centenary of the National Trust in the Lake District. carved out of a boulder of volcanic rock from the Borrowdale Valley, the unusual design represents ten segments across ten rings, a century. The hige range of lake levels means a variation from total submergence to standing marooned high on the share. A memorial plaque is set beside the path.
There are four islands in total on Derwentwater, all owned by the National Trust, as is much of the shoreline, Derwent isle, St Herbert's Island. Lord's Island and Rampsholme Island.
One of the popular ways to enjoy the beauty of the lake, besides walking the lakeshore paths, is to take one of the Keswick launches. This operate on a regular timetable around the lake. Not only is it possible to take a cruise and enjoy the complete circuit of Derwentwater, lasting about 50 minutes, you can also use the lake tickets to hop on and off the launch at any of the 7 landing stages around the lake. You can enjoy a walk and a picnic and then catch another launch at the same or different jetty.
Watersports are a very popular pastime on the lake. Derwentwater Marina offers tuition in watersports aswell as hiring out canoes, kayaks, stand up paddle boards, rowing boats, dinghys and windsurfers. Keswick Launch Co. hire rowing boats and self drive motor boats from the Keswick boat landings. There are several launching spots around the lake. Powered craft on the lake must not exceed 10mph.
45 locals recommend
Derwentwater
When you walk down to the lakeside it is not difficult to see why Derwentwater is one Keswick's main assets. Derwentwater is about 15 minutes leisurely stroll via Lake Road and the beautiful gardens of Hope Park from the Market Square in Keswick town centre. The lake is three miles long and is fed by the River Derwent catchment area in the high fells at the head of Borrowdale. Derwentwater Foreshore has a rich and prestigious history. In the 16th century the site was used as a landing spot for the local mining industry and in the 18th and 19th century it became the inspiration for Romantic Poets such as William Wordsworth. In Victorian times the Foreshore became a focal point for the newly developing tourist industry which brought tourists to Keswick by railway.
A little further on from the boat landings is Friars Crag with its stunning views of Derwentwater and the Borrowdale valley. The viewpoint is one of the most popular places for photographs. The view was described by Ruskin as one of the three or four most beautiful views in Europe. There is a memorial to Ruskin on the crag, a slab of rock with a bronze portrait medallion. It is called Friar's Crag because it is said to be the departure point for monks sailing to St Herbert's Island on pilgrimmage to where the Saint was said to live. The fictionary Old Brown from Squirrel Nutkin in the Beatrix Potter tale was also supposed to have sailed to the island, known as Owl Island in the book. The Lingholm Woods on the opposite side of Derwentwater were used as a background for many of Beatrix Potter's woodland and nature sketches.
The Derwentwater Walk is a scenic 10 mile waymarked walk around Derwentwater. On flat and easy paths, the walk passes through ancient woodlands and along the shores of the lake. The scenery is stunning, with perfect picnic stops, cafes and restaurants along the way. Look out for the sculpture of the hands which commemmorated the 100 year anniversary of the National Trust's care of Brandelhowe.
Tens of thousands of walkers will have looked at and wondered at the modern sculpture set in Calf Close Bay, placed there to commemorate the Centenary of the National Trust in the Lake District. carved out of a boulder of volcanic rock from the Borrowdale Valley, the unusual design represents ten segments across ten rings, a century. The hige range of lake levels means a variation from total submergence to standing marooned high on the share. A memorial plaque is set beside the path.
There are four islands in total on Derwentwater, all owned by the National Trust, as is much of the shoreline, Derwent isle, St Herbert's Island. Lord's Island and Rampsholme Island.
One of the popular ways to enjoy the beauty of the lake, besides walking the lakeshore paths, is to take one of the Keswick launches. This operate on a regular timetable around the lake. Not only is it possible to take a cruise and enjoy the complete circuit of Derwentwater, lasting about 50 minutes, you can also use the lake tickets to hop on and off the launch at any of the 7 landing stages around the lake. You can enjoy a walk and a picnic and then catch another launch at the same or different jetty.
Watersports are a very popular pastime on the lake. Derwentwater Marina offers tuition in watersports aswell as hiring out canoes, kayaks, stand up paddle boards, rowing boats, dinghys and windsurfers. Keswick Launch Co. hire rowing boats and self drive motor boats from the Keswick boat landings. There are several launching spots around the lake. Powered craft on the lake must not exceed 10mph.
Bassenthwaite Lake, owned by the National Park Authority, is one of the largest at 4 miles long and 3/4 mile wide, but also one of the shallowest (70 ft). It is the most northerly of the lakes, and has no major settlements on its shores. Its is often full of sailing boats from Bassenthwaite Sailing Club.
There is a shore path which runs the length of the west shore, but there is no access to the east side except at Mirehouse. Here there is a small open-air theatre, built in 1974 for the reading of ‘Morte d’Arthur’ to the Tennyson society at the place where it is thought that Tennyson, who often stayed at Mirehouse, composed much of the poem.
Bassenthwaite is home to the vendace, a rare and endangered fish species found only here and in Derwentwater
12 locals recommend
Bassenthwaite Lake
Bassenthwaite Lake, owned by the National Park Authority, is one of the largest at 4 miles long and 3/4 mile wide, but also one of the shallowest (70 ft). It is the most northerly of the lakes, and has no major settlements on its shores. Its is often full of sailing boats from Bassenthwaite Sailing Club.
There is a shore path which runs the length of the west shore, but there is no access to the east side except at Mirehouse. Here there is a small open-air theatre, built in 1974 for the reading of ‘Morte d’Arthur’ to the Tennyson society at the place where it is thought that Tennyson, who often stayed at Mirehouse, composed much of the poem.
Bassenthwaite is home to the vendace, a rare and endangered fish species found only here and in Derwentwater