The Surrounding Area
Ennerdale is one of England's wildest valleys. It is one of the
most remote lakes, offering a place to escape even in the high season.
Yet it is only a 20 minute drive from a variety of towns and areas,
some of which are listed below. Ennerdale lake is a deep glacial
lake, 2.5 miles long, ¾ mile wide and 148 deep. The water
is exceptionally clear and contains a variety of fish. It is the
only lake that does not have a road running alongside it.
Around Ennerdale, there are plenty of activities to keep you occupied.
- Hundreds of walks - from gentle lakeside strolls to energetic
mountain hikes
- Rock climbing
- Mountain biking in Ennerdale Forest
- Fishing in the lake (permit required)
- Pony trekking
- Quad biking
The nearest village, Ennerdale Bridge, has a Post Office and General
Store, a church and two public houses (both serving good food and
a variety of beers, including real ale).
Visit
www.wildennerdale.co.uk for further information.
Nearby Cockermouth is perhaps best known as the birthplace
of William Wordsworth, one of the most famous poets England has
produced. At Cockermouth you can visit:
- Wordsworth House - the Georgian house where William Wordsworth
was born:
www.wordsworthlakes.co.uk/wordsworthhouse.htm
- The ruins of Cockermouth Castle - built in the 13th Century
and destroyed by Robert the Bruce
- Jennings Brewery - producing fine ales and stout, they also
offer tours of the brewery: www.jenningsbrewery.co.uk
- Merienda cafe:
Tuesday to Saturday during the day with Jazz evenings every other
Friday.
- Many museums including the Mineral Museum, the Toy and Model
Museum and the Museum of Printing
- Sheep and Wool Centre - with it's live sheep show: www.sheep-woolcentre.co.uk
- Sports centre and swimming pool
- Golf
- The Kirkgate Centre showing non-blockbuster films: www.thekirkgate.com
- Many Pubs and Restaurants, including The Bitter End - the only
pub in Cumbria to have its own working brewery.
Cockermouth also has a Sainsburys supermarket.
For further information please visit www.cockermouth.org.uk
Keswick is at the heart of the Lake District, with mountains
to climb, lakes to explore and scores of attractions. Here is a small
selection near at hand:
For further information, please visit www.dokeswick.co.uk.
In another direction, the harbour town of Whitehaven was one
of the first planned towns in England. The Georgian town was based
on the grid design of Sir Christopher Wren and built by the Lowther
family (with around 250 listed buildings). In the mid 18th Century,
Whitehaven was a larger port than Liverpool, being the third largest
in Britain and exporting coal and tobacco to America, and importing
rum and sugar from the West Indies.
Whitehaven offers the following:
- Strolls around the pleasant and extensive harbour
- The Rum Story Museum - the Dark Spirit of Whitehaven:
www.rumstory.co.uk
- The Beacon - an award winning attraction where the history of
John Paul Jones and the last attempt to invade the English mainland
during the American War of Independence is brought to life. It
all happened at Whitehaven!
- Haig Pit mining museum: www.haig1.freeserve.co.uk
- Visit the 40m Crow's Nest on the harbour to take in the breathtaking
views
- The Park - for those of you who like dancing the night away
until 2am.
There are also supermarkets at Whitehaven - Tesco & Safeway
both offer two hours free parking.
For further information, please visit www.whitehaven.org.uk
Eskdale is half an hour away and is a beautful
village at one end of the famous laal ratty - a steam trail running
from Eskdale to the Ravenglass coast.
Eskdale offers the following:
- Scafell Pike - England's highest mountain
- Wastwater in Wasdale - England's deepest lake
- Hundreds of riverside, valley and mountain walks and climbs
- Ravenglass & Eskdale Miniature Railway: www.ravenglass-railway.co.uk
- Muncaster Castle in Ravenglass, with its azaleas, rhododendrons
and Owl Sanctuary:
www.muncaster.co.uk
& www.owls.org
- Hardknott Roman Fort & Ravenglass Roman Bath House
- Eskdale
Corn Mill - still working with its waterwheel
- Ravenglass fishing village
- Fold End Art Gallery
- Stanley Ghyll waterfall
For further information, please visit www.eskdale.info
or www.gosforthandwasdale.info
The historic village of St Bees is also close at hand with
a long pebble and sand beach and its famous cliffs with thousands
of nesting sea birds.
See www.stbees.org.uk
for further information.
Ennerdale is also an ideal starting point to visit much of the rest
of the Lake District and surrounding area. We provide leaflets in
the house to help you get the most from your holiday.
Please click here for links to other
sites that may be of interest
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