Routen House: The Surrounding Area

ENNERDALE

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 feet deep. The water is exceptionally clear and contains a variety of fish. It is the only lake in the Lake District 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 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 or click here for our Ennerdale area guide.

COCKERMOUTH

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
• Many museums including the Mineral Museum and the Museum of Printing
• Sheep and Wool Centre - with its 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 or click here for our Cockermouth area guide. 

KESWICK

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 or click here for our Keswick area guide.

WHITEHAVEN

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 & Morrisons both offer two hours free parking.  Tesco also delivers to Far Moor End - the postcode is CA23 3AS.

For further information, please visit www.whitehaven.org.uk

ESKDALE

Eskdale is half an hour away and is a beautful village at one end of the famous laal ratty - a steam train 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 click here for our Eskdale area guide.  

ST BEES

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.