Things to do, Places to go, Eating Out

Drive or walk to Ashness Bridge and see one of the best loved sights in the Lake District. Continue up the road andother mile and come to Surprise View. Probably the best view of Derwentwater.

Located off the B5289 Borrowdale road.

Visit Cockermouth and experience an old market town rejuvenated after the 2009 floods. Browse in the many independent shops and galleries or visit Wordsworth's Birth place.Have lunch in one of the numerous cafes, bars, pubs or tea shops.

Contrast this with a visit to bigger and brasher Keswick. Every other shop seems to cater for the walkers or climbers. Need new boots or a coat: Keswick is the place to go to.

Take an evening off and visit the famous Theatre by the Lake.

Home to Red Squirrels and the famous Ospreys. Walking trails and two different view points for the Ospreys. In summer there are local guides on hand to show you whats going on....many species of birds, otters and red squirrels can all be seen from the view points .............if you're lucky.

Located off the A591. Pay and display car park available. 

Situated in Keswick, the Pencil Museum is a great all weather attraction for the whole family with lots of things to see and do.

Be amazed at the world’s longest colour pencil, marvel at the James Bond style World War II pencil, follow the history of pencil making in words, pictures and lovingly restored machinery, find out exactly how we get a lead into a pencil today and let the kids imaginations run free in the Kids Art Studio.

Enjoy food demonstrations and workshops in the Garden Hall at Mirehouse. Set between mountains and the lake in this historic house. This is a really wonderful 'Pamper Day' experience in beautiful surroundings with a marvellous lunch cooked by 2 talented sisters.

Programs usually include lunch with wine. See website for more details. 

Award winning Mine Tours deep underground and now available the Via Ferrata climb.

Tel : 017687 77230

Jennings Brewery was founded in the village of Lorton (situated between Keswick and Cockermouth) in 1828 by John Jennings (1783 – 1876), son of William Jennings (1751 – 1848) who was a Malster by trade.

Over 175 years of brewing excellence, overflowing with history & well worth a visit! Tours and Tea Shop.

Tel : 0845 1297185

Home to many interesting animals including monkeys, gibbons, lemurs, otters, wallabies, buffalo and other exotic species.

Enjoy hands on experiences with the Birds of Prey, Lemurs, or Meerkats. Or try your hand at being a keeper. Wonderful experiences for all ages.

Tel : 017687 76239

England's newest award winning malt whiskey and spirit distillery. Within walking distance of Link House. A must for all whiskey lovers. 

The distillery has been built from the ruins of an old Victorian model farm. Take time to see how this was done as well as sampling the produce. 

Approx 4  miles from Link House on the eastern shores of the Lake. Opposite Dodd Wood on the A591.

Mirehouse is a family run historic house attraction open to visitors to enjoy its strong literary connections, live piano music and children's activities.

Its gardens stretch from Dodd Wood to Bassenthwaite Lake and include four woodland playgrounds, a heather maze, a rhododendron tunnel and poetry walk for children and grown ups alike to enjoy on a full day out in all weathers.

Museum Square Keswick

A fun place to visit on a wet day for all ages. (they do happen!).

The Puzzling Place’s ‘World of Illusion’ takes the theme of Illusion and runs with it. It is home to the ‘Anti-gravity Room’, ‘Ames Room’, ‘Hologram Gallery’ and ‘Eyelusions Exhibition’. It’s a fascinating, fun and social excursion into the wonderful world of optical illusion, which will leave you quite literally, not believing your eyes!

Join us as we journey from Ravenglass, the only coastal village in the Lake District National Park, across the estuary, through the hills, past seven request stops with a 1:40 gradient at times, en route to our final destination some seven miles up the line to Dalegarth for Boot Station. 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 (3,209ft) at their peak.

Tel: 01229 717171 

Experience where William Wordsworth spent his childhood and see life in the 1770's through the servants life and work.

 01900 820884

See the spectacular scenery of Derwentwater by launch! You can hop on and off at 7 lakeshore jetties or stay onboard for a 50 minute trip all round the lake

Tel : 017687 72263

A varied programme of guided walks for all ages. Routes include Wordsworth's Grassmere, Scafell Pike, Helvellyn and Striding edge. Also Ghyll Scrambling, Rock Climbing, Navigation Training and much more. Qualified and experienced instructors. Tel: 01900 822448/0780 5929132

Enjoy walks in the beautiful, unspoilt area of Bassenthwaite and discover the hidden gems of Lakeland away from the busy tourist routes.

If you are looking for the different – the unusual – the quiet beauty spots and the glorious, breathtaking vistas that the commercial tourist guides miss then let Brian show you his Cumbria. This Cumbria is his passion, so join him on a tour that is unique and tailored entirely to your taste. 

Tel: 017687 76083   Mobile: 07968599241

Just a few miles from Link House are the Whinlatter Forest  mountain bike trails.

With both blue and red graded trails with optional black features they are suitable for all abilities from novice to expert. Bike hire is available.

Around every turn and bend in all of the trails you'll discover the spectacular scenery of the English Lake District. On a clear day from the top of the Altura Trail's South Loop, you can see all the way to the sea, while in the other direction a mountain view including Skiddaw, Blencathra and Derwent Water takes the breath away.

Keswick's largest provider of outdoor activies. Available for families, groups and individuals. Fully qualified and experienced CRB checked instructors, AALA licensed and fully insured.

Tel : 017687 78463

A family run Italian style restaurant specialising in a range of freshly cooked pasta and pizza dishes.

Tel : 017687 75575

Imaginative vegetarian dishes to delight all food lovers. The only dedicated vegetarian restaurant in the area.

Tel: 01900 823579

Inviting and informal, Bistro at the Distillery is a place for coffee and slice of home-made cake, a leisurely three-course supper and everything else in between. We also offer light lunches, afternoon teas, quick snacks and thirst-quenching beers, so there is something to suit everyone’s taste.

The Bistro is within walking distance of Link House and comes highly recommended. 

Old coaching inn within walking distance of Link House. Fine dining and a new bistro give plenty of choice.

Tel: 017687 76234 

One of our favourite places to eat. Great specials menu which Mark (the chef) always has something a little unusual to choose from. The Snooty Fox comes highly recommended.

Tel: 016973 71479

A friendly, welcoming pub with a very good selection of food which is reasonably priced. Ensure you book your table at busy times of the year.

 www.suninnbassenthwaite.co.uk