Explore the local area during your stay at Blaithwaite
We are within easy reach of both the Lake District National Park and the Solway Coast which makes Cumbria a fantastic place to bring your family on holiday!
During your stay at Blaithwaite, you’ll find that there is a whole host of family-friendly days out close by (and onsite). To give you a few ideas, we’ve put together a few of our favourite fun family-friendly days out within 30 minutes of The Estate. As the weather isn’t always guaranteed, we’ve made sure to include both indoor and outdoor options that the whole family can enjoy.
Allonby
Approx. a 15-minute drive
Allonby is a classic British seaside village and perfect for a family day out. The village and beach sit on the Solway Coast, a designated Outstanding Natural Beauty area. Allonby has a long, sandy beach with spectacular views across the Solway Firth to the mountains of Southern Scotland. The fantastic beach has lots of space for little ones to run around and if the weather is really warm, perhaps a little dip too. We love going down with some beach games and buckets and spades for sandcastle building. Time your trip at the right time of day and there are also some great spots for rock pooling. When visiting, make sure you get some legendary fish and chips from The Cod Father (children’s portions are available!) and a delicious homemade ice cream from Twentyman’s.
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The Lake District Wildlife Park, Bassenthwaite
Approx. a 20-minute drive
Got children who love animals? Then a trip to the Lake District Wildlife Park is a must! With the picturesque backdrop of Skiddaw, there are 24 acres of parkland to wander around and over 100 species of wild and domestic animals. They have everything from gibbons to zebras, tapirs to pythons, iguanas to bald eagles. The team at the park put on a range of ‘keeper talks’ every day where kids will have the opportunity to get closer to the animals, see them being fed and learn more about particular species such as meerkats and red pandas. There is also a fantastic daily bird of prey display (just remember to duck when they fly over you!).
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Mirehouse & Gardens, Bassenthwaite
Approx. a 20-minute drive
Mirehouse & Gardens is a great place to take the family and has both indoor and outdoor activities. Mirehouse offers relaxed tours of the house where children are actively welcomed. There is an owl hunt which is great for younger children and a history quiz for the slightly older ones along with many things for them to find and do. The nursery and schoolroom are always a favourite for children as they are allowed to ride the resident rocking horse, play with the dolls and try out some of the Victorian school games and write on a slate. Take a lunch break at The Old Sawmill Tearoom and if the weather permits, the gardens are well worth exploring with the family. There are lots of lovely walks and several adventure play areas including the ‘Forest Hazard’ mini assault course, The Steeplechase, The Forest Castle and Squirrel Island play park.
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Go-Karting, Maryport
Approx. a 25-minute drive
A thrilling, fun-filled activity for kids over the age of 8! West Coast Indoor Karting in Maryport is North-West England’s largest indoor go-karting track. They offer sessions for kids where they are taught how to use the beginner carts, and how to drive them safely. They’ll also have the opportunity to do a few laps! You never know, you may have a budding F1 driver on your hands by the end of the session.
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Whinlatter Forest, Keswick
Approx. a 30-minute drive
Whinlatter is an absolute family favourite and has a great range of family-friendly activities for children of all ages. There are lots of manageable walks as well as The Gruffalo orienteering course, the Superworm trail, forest segway tours, horse riding, wild play trails and more! For true adventurers, the Go-Ape Tree Top Challenge is worth giving a go. The course has intricate tree-to-tree crossings, wobbly bridges and brilliant zip wires for kids.
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Catbells, Keswick
Approx. a 30-minute drive
Fancy taking the family to conquer a Wainwright? Catbells is a short, sharp, steep climb that the whole family will be able to manage. It takes about two hours to complete and offers fantastic views across Derwentwater. As all parents know, sometimes a bit of bribery is necessary, so the promise of a slice of cake and a hot chocolate at Lingholm Kitchen after finishing should do the trick!
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Fusion Trampoline Park, Carlisle
Approx. a 30-minute drive
Weather isn’t always guaranteed in Cumbria but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of indoor family-friendly fun to be had. Fusion Trampoline Park is one of our favourite rainy day activities for children and is bound to tire them out! There is an impressive trampoline park, a soft play zone, inflatable assault courses, ninja courses and even a climbing wall. Parents end up loving it just as much as the kids! The site also has a cafe which serves delicious hot dogs, pizzas and paninis.
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Cumbria Moto Park
A firm favourite with the Blaithwaite Boys!
Providing children from the age of 3 up to adults the chance to experience the thrill of riding a MX bike in a safe and supervised arena all year round.
If it is your first time on a bike or you are a seasoned pro CMP can cater for all abilities. CMP provide you with everything you require, fully electric MX bike, safety clothing and advice from the instructor if required.