First Time in South Cumbria for Families
Drinks & Nightlife
Amazing sunsets over Morecambe Bay, great pub food and drinks within an easy stroll of Rock Cottage.
Ship Inn, Sandside
Amazing sunsets over Morecambe Bay, great pub food and drinks within an easy stroll of Rock Cottage.
Essentials
This little supermarket is the north's answer to upmarket supermarket shopping. Jay Rayner actually describes Booths as a cross between Waitrose and a farmer's market, being stocked to the rafters with great local produce as well as high end brands.
Booths, Milnthorpe
Park RoadThis little supermarket is the north's answer to upmarket supermarket shopping. Jay Rayner actually describes Booths as a cross between Waitrose and a farmer's market, being stocked to the rafters with great local produce as well as high end brands.
Food Scene
The best fish and chips in Cumbria fried up by friendly owners. Best eaten on the picnic benches outside watching the most stunning sun set over Morecambe Bay - stunning!
20 locals recommend
Arnside Chip Shop & The Big Chip Cafe
1 The PromenadeThe best fish and chips in Cumbria fried up by friendly owners. Best eaten on the picnic benches outside watching the most stunning sun set over Morecambe Bay - stunning!
National Trust owned inn serving a delicious menu in a beautiful old house. A great pub garden too. £££
18 locals recommend
Strickland Arms
Nannypie LaneNational Trust owned inn serving a delicious menu in a beautiful old house. A great pub garden too. £££
Exclusively for afternoon tea in the restaurant overlooking the Bay. Combine with a walk along the prom and a visit to the Eric Morecambe statue. Also has a funky cocktail bar. Much more atmosphere during weekend daytimes.
26 locals recommend
The Midland
Marine Road WestExclusively for afternoon tea in the restaurant overlooking the Bay. Combine with a walk along the prom and a visit to the Eric Morecambe statue. Also has a funky cocktail bar. Much more atmosphere during weekend daytimes.
Delicious pies and cakes baked on the premises. Bit of an institution for our family!
The Old Bakehouse Arnside
40 The PromenadeDelicious pies and cakes baked on the premises. Bit of an institution for our family!
Wonderful Michelin star rated fine dining restaurant with stunning tasting menu using locally foraged ingredients. Booking well in advance is essential. £££££
71 locals recommend
L'Enclume
Cavendish StreetWonderful Michelin star rated fine dining restaurant with stunning tasting menu using locally foraged ingredients. Booking well in advance is essential. £££££
The New Inn, Yealand
40 Yealand RdDelicious food served in a recently modernised inn.
Fabulous British tapas served up by a friendly young couple who had the foresight to set up this unique little place. Great way to finish off a trip to the tiny but lovely market town of Kirkby Lonsdsdale after taking a stroll through the churchyard to Ruskins View and enjoying the independent shops.
Number Nine Bar & Restaurant
9 Market StFabulous British tapas served up by a friendly young couple who had the foresight to set up this unique little place. Great way to finish off a trip to the tiny but lovely market town of Kirkby Lonsdsdale after taking a stroll through the churchyard to Ruskins View and enjoying the independent shops.
Come for the famous Cartmel Sticky Toffee Pudding. A lovely deli in a cute old building, selling all sorts of deli offerings. ££££
17 locals recommend
Cartmel Village Shop
Come for the famous Cartmel Sticky Toffee Pudding. A lovely deli in a cute old building, selling all sorts of deli offerings. ££££
Parks & Nature
Rare reed bed birds, deer, otters, and those stunning murmurations of starlings before dusk. There are several hides on the reserve. Finishing off with a brew and at least one slice of delicious homemade cake in the reserve's cafe comes recommended by Chris Packham and the BBC Springwatch crew (and by me!).
42 locals recommend
RSPB Leighton Moss
Storrs LaneRare reed bed birds, deer, otters, and those stunning murmurations of starlings before dusk. There are several hides on the reserve. Finishing off with a brew and at least one slice of delicious homemade cake in the reserve's cafe comes recommended by Chris Packham and the BBC Springwatch crew (and by me!).
Hire a boat or canoe, feed the ducks, enjoy the children's playground, kick a ball, come for Parkrun at 9am every Saturday, or simply for more cake and coffee in the tea room!
96 locals recommend
National Trust - Fell Foot Park
Hire a boat or canoe, feed the ducks, enjoy the children's playground, kick a ball, come for Parkrun at 9am every Saturday, or simply for more cake and coffee in the tea room!
Large playing field and children's playground just behind the Village Hall just a short stroll from Rock Cottage.
Storth Village Hall
Large playing field and children's playground just behind the Village Hall just a short stroll from Rock Cottage.
Getting Around
Catch the train for a short but scenic ride over the bay to Grange-over-Sands or Cark and Cartmel.
Arnside station
Catch the train for a short but scenic ride over the bay to Grange-over-Sands or Cark and Cartmel.
Shopping
Beetham Nurseries
Pool Darkin LaneNice garden centre with gifts and tea room.
Sedbergh is the North-West of England's book town. Numerous second hand book places to lose yourself in.
30 locals recommend
Sedbergh
Sedbergh is the North-West of England's book town. Numerous second hand book places to lose yourself in.
If you forgot to bring any of your walking gear, bustling Ambleside is the place to go to replace it. As well a numerous outdoor shops it has a wooden toy shop, a superb place to buy a beautiful memento of your trip at the Old Courthouse Gallery, a shop selling beautiful sheepskin products, and, a personal favourite of mine, Detail, which sells graphic design and other quirky gifts and interiors.
145 locals recommend
Ambleside
If you forgot to bring any of your walking gear, bustling Ambleside is the place to go to replace it. As well a numerous outdoor shops it has a wooden toy shop, a superb place to buy a beautiful memento of your trip at the Old Courthouse Gallery, a shop selling beautiful sheepskin products, and, a personal favourite of mine, Detail, which sells graphic design and other quirky gifts and interiors.
Entertainment & Activities
Holgates Holiday Parks
Cove RoadSwimming pool for the children and a small soft play
For families with young children. A petting zoo, large soft play, plus a few shops.
31 locals recommend
Greenlands Farm Village
For families with young children. A petting zoo, large soft play, plus a few shops.
Tiny old cinema and vegetarian italian in one, sometimes with live jazz in the upstairs bar (Nice). A unique little spot.
64 locals recommend
Zeffirellis
2 Compston RdTiny old cinema and vegetarian italian in one, sometimes with live jazz in the upstairs bar (Nice). A unique little spot.
Varied arts facility with a cinema, theatre and a restaurant/bar.
90 locals recommend
Brewery Arts Centre
122A HighgateVaried arts facility with a cinema, theatre and a restaurant/bar.
The Dukes
Moor LaneA wonderful independent cinema and theatre with a bar.