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Local Towns in the English Lake District
The village itself is truly idyllic with a picturesque market square, quiet flower filled corners and charming specialist shops such as the Larch Tree, with one of the largest knitwear collections in the Lakes.
Nearby in the village of Cark-in-Cartmel is Cumbrias premier stately home, Holker Hall with award winning gardens highly acclaimed in the BBC's "An English Country Garden." The annual Holker Garden Festival has been hailed the "Chelsea of the North." Also in the Holker Estate is the Lakeland Motor Museum, one of the seven top Great Motor Museums with a nostalgic collection of classic cars and vintage vehicles. On the mile and a half journey to Flookburgh, look out for Southern Lakeland Nurseries where you will find a wealth of ideas for your garden. The ancient charter Borough of Flookburgh, close to Cartmel, is the principal fishing village on Morecambe Bay, and the roads from the square lead down to the shore where fishermen continue to harvest the bay in search of cockles and shrimps.
The artist George Romney was born in Dalton in 1734 and is buried in St Mary's church where, it is believed, churches have been since the eighth century. He was the last of the great eighteenth century portrait painters and close friend of Lady Hamilton, mistress of Nelson. An exhibition on George Romney can be seen in Dalton Castle. Dalton town centre with its many historic buildings, particularly along Market Street, Church Street, and Market Place, has an occasional street market on Tuesdays throughout the year and a number of interesting specialist shops. Contact 01229 466615. At Tudor Square, once the village green of Dalton, visitors can board a bus to the award-winning South Lakes Wild Animal Park, Europe's top Tiger Conservation Centre. This is the only place in Britain where you can see both the rare Amur and Sumatran tigers. At tiger feeding time, you can see them climbing a twenty foot vertical tree to "catch" their food. The North's leading zoo park is a unique safari on foot with many animals wandering free in natural surroundings. See Rhino, Zebra, Giraffes, Tigers, Cheetah, Red Pandas, Monkeys, Apes, Tamarins, Kangaroos, Wolves, Coatis and Tapir along with 1 50 other species including the cute Meerkats. Just over two miles from Dalton is Sandscale Hawes, a National Trust nature reserve where sand dunes shelter rare orchids and a colony of Natterjack Toads.
Barrow's modern history began in 1846 with the birth of the Furness Railway, built to transport local iron ore and slate out of the area. Barrow led the world in building ships and submarines and this enthralling story can be explored at the outstanding Dock Museum. This free attraction, which has undergone major improvements, is suspended in a Victorian Graving Dock. It offers spectacular audio-visual displays, an exhibition gallery, a fine art gallery, a new education room and a themed adventure playground. Barrow is the Lake District Peninsula's premier shopping town where major national stores such as Debenhams, Littlewoods and Marks and Spencer mingle amongst local specialist shops. Barrow's indoor market is the largest in the Lake District Peninsulas, open Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Hollywood Park offers superbowl, multiplex cinema, bingo club and leisure club, restaurants and much more. There is a vibrant public arts programme with an award winning arts and entertainment centre at Forum 28, coupled with high quality street entertainment and festivals in the town centre during the summer months. Barrow's coastal fringes boast two internationally renowned nature reserves including South Walney which is home to the largest mixed colony of herring gulls in Europe and North Walney Nature Reserve which protects the rare Natterjack Toad. Barrow and the neighbouring Walney Island offer a number of scenic walks. Channelside Haven is the gateway to the "Red Man Way" a new coastal footpath running along Walney Channel. The Cumbria Coastal Way and the Cistercian Way pass through the town, as does the Cumbria Cycleway.
Features of the Market Square include a commemorative obelisk erected to mark the Silver Jubilee of King George III in 1810, fish slabs and the Village Stocks. Every year on August 1st, the Lord of the Manor performs the reading of the Market Charter, granted by Elizabeth I, in the Market Square and Councillors throw pennies to the children. One of the famous short-term residents of Broughton was Branwell Brontë who was employed as a tutor, but still found time to enjoy the elegance and revelry of the town. The wild beauty of the Duddon Valley proved inspirational to both Norman Nicholson, one of Britain's finest twentieth century poets and William Wordsworth who immortalised this area by writing some 150 poems. Broughton is the ideal base for tranquil walking and climbing holidays. Walks from the town offer spectacular views and extensive wildlife. The Duddon Valley, Furness Fells, Great Gable and Scafell are within easy reach of the town as is the Duddon Iron Furnace, and the mysterious prehistoric Swinside Stone Circle, a Stonehenge in miniature.
Ulverston was granted a charter to hold markets in the thirteenth century and has been holding twice weekly colourful street markets on Thursdays and Saturdays ever since. The traditional Indoor Market is open 5 days a week. Speciality food fairs with organic produce and local delicacies are held once a month. Ulverston is one of the few towns still able to command the services of a Town Crier and he can be heard and seen in his colourful costume around the cobbled streets and yards of the town on market days.
Ulverston's appeal is also due to the unique selection of attractions available in the town, such as the worlds only Laurel and Hardy Museum with a wealth of memorabilia and a small 1920s style cinema showing classic Laurel and Hardy films - a fitting tribute to these Kings of Comedy. Ulverston is the headquarters of the newly opened Lakes Glass Centre, which combines Heron Glass and Cumbria Crystal under one roof offering the visitor a unique opportunity to see glassmakers at work producing glassware using only traditional methods. Also recently opened in Ulverston is the Lanternhouse, Welfare State International's centre for celebratory arts.
Wealthy merchants from Yorkshire and Lancashire chose the town for their splendid country homes many of which are now top quality hotels welcoming visitors to stroll along the traffic free promenade, visit the colourful Ornamental Gardens and patronise the plentiful supply of unique specialist shops and award winning cafes. The proximity of Grange-over-Sands to Morecambe Bay and the beautiful coastal fringes of the Lake District Peninsulas offer scenic vantage points for bird watching, walking, and identifying and observing many special wild flowers. Cedric Robinson, the Queen's official guide to the Sands of Morecambe Bay, takes pre-arranged groups across the Bay for a three-hour walk. Never attempt the crossing without a guide as the tide comes in with the merciless speed of a galloping horse. For information on dates of the Cross-Bay Walks visit Grange Tourist Information Centre at the Victoria Hall. Breaks in the Lakes |
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Cartmel Priory is one of the finest ecclesiastical buildings in the north of England. Originally encompassing just 22 acres of land, with access only through the still remaining gatehouse, Cartmel village became the hub of a large parish stretching from Ulverston to the west, Windermere to the north and Beetham to the east. The Priory is a place of worship, a concert venue and a visitor attraction with professional guided tours every Wednesday throughout the summer months.
The quiet roads, lanes and byways lead to many enticing footpaths through lush pastures and ancient woodland in the Vale of Cartmel.
The Abbot of Furness built Dalton Castle, a 'Pele Tower' in the 14th Century. The castle, which has walls six feet thick, has been touched by historical events throughout British history, from Robert the Bruce to the English Civil War. In recent history the Castle has functioned as a Court House and Prison. Now owned by the National Trust, the Castle can be viewed on Saturday afternoons in the summer.
Barrow-in-Furness is the historic maritime gateway to the Furness Peninsula. This ancient land has provided refuge and sanctuary to centuries of saints and sinners who have sought the peace of Furness Abbey, the second wealthiest Cistercian Abbey in England. Founded in 1123 the magnificent ruins are set in the Vale of Deadly Nightshade. Visitors can enjoy the fascinating story of the wealth, power and influence of the medieval monks. In the 14th century, the monks built Piel Castle as a defensive stronghold on remote Piel Island close to Barrow-in-Furness. Inspirational to Wordsworth and a safe haven for Lambert Simnel on his way to battle against Henry VII, this imposing site welcomes visitors by ferry from neighbouring Roa Island.
There is an excellent choice of cafés, restaurants and pubs and when darkness falls, the best nightlife in Cumbria.
The history of Broughton-in-Furness dates back to the eleventh century with the oldest building thought to be the church of St Mary Magdelene, first built in Saxon times. The town's heart centres around the attractive Market Square with tall Georgian houses on three sides. The original Market Hall on the fourth side dates back to 1766 and now houses the Tourist Information Centre. The town is a conservation area in the National Park and serves a large rural community.
Ulverston is South Lakelands friendly market town noted for its remarkable festivals.
The striking Sir John Barrow Monument on Hoad Hill, which resembles a lighthouse, towers above the bustling streets below. A wide range of traditional shops sit alongside new enterprises which reflect the work of Ulverston's thriving artistic community.
Grange-over-Sands derives its name from "Graunge"; a French word meaning granary, as the monks of Cartmel Priory stored their grain here. Only accessible by crossing the treacherous sands of Morecambe Bay from Lancaster until the coming of the Furness Railway line, Grange-over-Sands was transformed in Victorian and Edwardian times to a fashionable seaside resort.