Things to do whilst staying in Penrith
Penrith is a charming traditional country town with many attractive historic buildings built of the local red sandstone. If you keep your eyes open as you explore its streets and market places you will find links with Richard III and William Wordsworth included among the town’s historic connections.
The town also has a fascinating range of small, family-run specialist shops offering everything from artist materials and local crafts to gourmet foods.
Many people are drawn to this area because it is such a convenient base for exploring the landscape and history of the north of England. In easy reach are the lakes and fells of the English Lake District (www.cumbria-the-lake-district.co.uk) , the valleys of the Yorkshire Dales (www.yorkshiredales.org) , the North Pennine moors (www.northpennines.org.uk) and Hadrian’s Wall (www.hadrians-wall.org) with its many historic sites.
Very close by is Ullswater, in our opinion the most beautiful of the lakes. Here you can enjoy a trip on one of the Ullswater Steamers (www.ullswater-steamers.co.uk), take a gentle walk along the shore or tackle a more challenging walk on the surrounding fells, offering fantastic views as recompense for the effort involved.
Most people are aware that the Lake District can occasionally have a little wet weather! Built for just such days and only 5 minutes away is the Rheged Discovery Centre. Here you can see one of a variety of large-format films in its IMAX cinema, shop for local produce, relax while the children enjoy the ball pool or visit the National Mountaineering Exhibition. Rheged (www.rheged.com) also hosts a programme of special events throughout the year.
For the young and energetic the area offers great choice, walking, climbing, ghyl scrambling, canoeing, parapenting, mountain biking – the list is almost endless. Check out www.golakes.co.uk for more on Cumbria’s sporting opportunities.
Finally, we have to mention the C2C cycle route. This crosses England from Whitehaven to Sunderland, offering some challenging cycling in the process. Penrith, and especially Eden Gate, is the place to break the journey, relax and recharge the batteries. www.c2c-guide.co.uk