Little Parrock: The Surrounding Area

Grasmere, a charming village in the centre of the Lake District, beloved of Wordsworth who worte of its lake,

"the most loveliest spot that man hath found".

• Grasmere lake with its gentle rowing boats.
• Dove Cottage - Wordsworth home from 1799 to 1808. It was here where Wordsworth wrote much of his poetry: www.wordsworth.org.uk
• Rydal Mount - Wordsworth's home from 1813 to his death. Its extensive gardens were landscaped by the poet.
• Grasmere's famous gingerbread shop: www.grasmeregingerbread.co.uk
• Heaton Cooper studios: www.heatoncooper.co.uk
• Loughrigg Fell - with many many walks intertwining with each other and panoramic views of Grasmere, Rydal Water, Windermere and the rest of the Lakes
• Sour Milk Ghyll - a wonderous waterfall after heavy rain
• St Oswald's church - the final resting place of both William and Mary Wordsworth
• Many places to eat, drink and shop.
• Grasmere is the perfect starting point for hundreds of walks and bike rides

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:

• Lake Derwentwater, with launches, canoes, sailing dinghies and windsurfers for hire.
• Paragliding fundays or tandem flights
• The Theatre of the Lakes and Keswick Cinema: www.theatrebythelake.com
• 'Cars of the Stars' museum: www.carsofthestars.com
• 'Mirehouse', country house where Tennyson wrote the Morte d'Arthur:
  www.mirehouse.com
• 'Trotters and friends' pets farm: www.trottersworld.com
• Cycle and tandem hire
• Keswick climbing wall: www.keswickclimbingwall.co.uk
• Keswick pencil museum - where it all began: www.pencils.co.uk
• Quad biking and karting at Rookin House: www.rookinhouse.com
• Hundreds more walks
• Every kind of outdoor shop
• Dozens of pubs and restaurants serving good value meals

For further information, please visit www.dokeswick.co.uk.

Ambleside

is connected with many well known characters, including John Ruskin, Beatrix Potter and Harwicke Rawnsley.

• Armitt library and museum which brings to life famous people inspired by the Lake District: fp.armitt.plus.com
• Gift and outdoor shopping
• Zefferelli's cinema and pizzaria (including both blockbuster and arthouse films):
  www.zeffirellis.co.uk
• Stock Ghyll Force - a spectacular 70 foot waterfall with its carpet of daffodils in the Spring
• Bridge House - one of the most photographed scenes in the Lake District
• Superb cafes, pubs and restaurants serving high quality meals (no visit to Ambleside is complete without an hour spent at Lucy's on a Plate).
• Windermere Lake Cruises - ferries can be taken from Ambleside to Bowness and Lakeside: www.windermere-lakecruises.co.uk
• Numerous galleries and studios
• Hundreds more walks

Hawkshead

is still the same tiny village of higgledy-piggledy houses, archways, and squares beloved by William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter. Cars are banned from the village, but there is a large car park on the outskirts.

• Beatrix Potter Gallery
• Car ferry to Windermere and Bowness
• Nearby Grisedale forest with its woodland walks & bike trails and its forest sculptures
• Hundreds more walks

The Old Man of Coniston, rises dramatically behind the houses when seen from Coniston village. The village itself is a good centre for walkers and climbers, and those wanting to investigate the Tilberthwaite Slate quarries. Donald Campbell broke the water speed record on Coniston Water in 1955, and was killed attempting to regain it again in 1967.

• John Ruskin's home - Brantwood: www.brantwood.org.uk
• The Ruskin Museum Lakeside launches (a superb way to reach Brantwood)
• Cycling round the lake Rowing on the lake
• Tarn Hows - one the of the Lake District's most famous beauty spots
• Coniston Brewing Company, makers of 'Bluebird Bitter', CAMRA Supreme Champion Beer of Britain 1998: www.conistonbrewery.com
• Spoon Hall Pony Trekking Centre
• Summitreks Adventure Services - Licensed Adventure Activities including rock climbing, abseiling, aquasailing, canoeing, mountain biking: www.summitreks.co.uk
• Paragliding School
• Fishing (licence needed)
• Shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants
• Hundreds more walks

Bowness-on-Windermere

is a sprawling tourist town on the shore of Windermere, the Lake Districts longest lake (around 12 miles). The Victorian influence can be seen everywhere - with large residences built by wealthy businessmen in the late 19th Century, overlooking the lake.

• Windermere Steamboat Museum: www.steamboat.co.uk
• Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway: www.furnessrailwaytrust.org.uk
• Lakeside cruises: www.windermere-lakecruises.co.uk
• Lowside - a delightful web of narrow streets
• Orrest Head - an outstanding viewpoint and the first 'summit' in Lakeland visited by Wainwright, author of the famous guidebooks, in 1930
• Shops, pubs, cafes and restaurants

Hot Tub Hire

You can now hire hot tubs from Lakeland Spas - please click here for further details.