There is plenty to do in the Lake District this Autumn
Here are just a few ideas of places to visit during your stay at Thornthwaite Farm. Get more ideas for things to do and where to eat and drink this Autumn on our website.
Blackwell, the Arts & Crafts House
Bowness Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria, LA23 3JT
http://www.blackwell.org.uk
Blackwell is one of Britain’s finest houses from the turn of the last century. Designed by M H Baillie Scott, as a holiday retreat for Sir Edward Holt, a wealthy Manchester brewery owner, Blackwell survives in a truly remarkable state of preservation, retaining many original decorative features.
Windermere Lake Cruises
Bowness-on-Windermere Bowness Pier, Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria, LA23 3HQ
http://www.windermere-lakecruises.co.uk
Windermere (‘mere’ meaning ‘lake’) is England’s largest natural lake and Windermere Lake Cruises currently operates 16 vessels, including 3 historic ‘steamers’, 4 traditional wooden launches and 9 waterbuses.
Services run every day except Christmas Day, linking Bowness, Ambleside and Lakeside during the winter months. A popular outing is the 45-minute circular Islands Cruise from Bowness, which takes in wooded islands and secluded bays.
Lakes Aquarium
Lakeside Lakeside, Newby Bridge, Cumbria, LA12 8AS
http://www.lakesaquarium.co.uk
The Lakes Aquarium allows you to visit creatures from the lakes of the world, along with those a little closer to home. Residents include Marmoset monkeys, British sharks, Rays, Otters and Diving Ducks, as well as a collection of Lake Windermere’s most iconic fish – the Arctic Char. This fish was one of the first to enter the lakes after the last ice age and has evolved and survived the test of time.
Lakeland Motor Museum
Backbarrow Old Blue Mill, Backbarrow, Ulverston, Cumbria, LA12 8TA
http://www.lakelandmotormuseum.co.uk
Head down memory lane to the Lakeland Motor Museum and enjoy a unique collection of 30,000 exhibits, including 150 classic cars and motorbikes, all carefully assembled over 50 years. Star exhibits include the Isle of Man TT Tribute Exhibition and the Campbell Bluebird Exhibition. Open 7 days a week, the Museum is a perfect attraction whatever the weather. There is also a riverside café.
Brantwood
Coniston Coniston, Cumbria, LA21 8AD (winter opening: Weds-Sun 10am – 4pm)
http://www.brantwood.org.uk
Brantwood offers a fascinating insight into the world of John Ruskin and the last 28 years of his life spent at Coniston. Filled with many fine paintings, beautiful furniture and Ruskin’s personal treasures, the house retains much character of the man himself. Famous as a writer, artist and social reformer, many great thinkers have been influenced by Ruskin’s ideas. Displays and activities in the house, gardens and estate reflect the wealth of cultural associations with Ruskin’s legacy – from the Pre Raphaelites and the Arts and Crafts Movement to the founding of the National Trust and the Welfare State.
Dove Cottage & the Wordsworth Museum
Grasmere Grasmere, Cumbria, LA22 9SH
http://www.wordsworth.org.uk
William Wordsworth lived in Dove Cottage from 1799 – 1808, and during this time wrote the most famous and best-loved of his poems including, “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” and his sister Dorothy Wordsworth wrote her, “Grasmere Journals”.
Come and see what inspired them, the beautiful landscape and their simple way of life.
Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Ravenglass
Cumbria, CA18 1SW
http://ravenglass-railway.co.uk/
Lakeland’s oldest, longest and most scenic railway. Travel from Ravenglass, the only coastal village in the Lake District, across the estuary, through the hills, with a 1:55 gradient at times. The journey itself was one of Wainwright’s favourites, crossing seven miles of spectacular scenery to the foot of England’s highest
mountains, the Scafell Range.
Lakes Distillery
Setmurthy, Near Bassenthwaite Lake, Cumbria, CA13 9SJ
http://www.lakesdistillery.com
Opened in 2014, The Lakes Distillery has expanded its portfolio of products and is now producing the awardwinning ‘The ONE’ blended whisky, The Lakes Gin and The Lakes Vodka, alongside interactive distillery tours and the highly acclaimed food and drink offering, Bistro at the Distillery. Opened with the vision of producing a world class single malt whisky, the very first batch of Lakes Malt will be available from 2018.
Hawk and Owl Centre at Muncaster Muncaster Castle
Ravenglass, Cumbria, CA18 1RQ
http://www.muncaster.co.uk
Set in the beautiful gardens of Muncaster Castle, the Hawk & Owl Centre offers exhilarating bird of prey flying displays daily plus the wild heron feed daily year-round. With conservation of wildlife at its heart, and working in partnership with the Hawk Conservancy Trust, the Centre aims to excite and educate visitors of all ages about these winged predators.
