Foxglove Cottage Holidays, Greystoke, Lake District, Cumbria
Cottage Rental in The Lake District World Heritage Site

About the Area

The Lake District has far too many tourist attractions for us to list on this website but we have included a few below that are really worth visiting when you come to stay at Foxglove Cottage.

Greystoke & Greystoke Castle

Foxglove Cottage is situated in the non-tourist Lake District village of Greystoke, which has a castle, not open to the public, but is a sought after venue for weddings and open air classical concerts. Greystoke Castle is actually in the village and just opposite Foxglove Cottage. Its extensive grounds are open to the public for walking on permitted paths throughout the estate. The castle is also closely associated with the legend of Tarzan of the Apes.

Greystoke has 18th century cottages, a village green and an ancient market cross that dates back to the early 1600s. There are nationally renowned horse racing stables [owned by Nicky, son of the late Sir Gordon W. Richards], a post office-cum-general store and pub which serves excellent food.

Hutton-in-the-Forest

Hutton-in-the-Forest is the home of Lord & Lady Inglewood. The estate is approx. 3 miles from Foxglove Cottage and the house contains beautiful furniture collections and includes ceramics, tapestry and portraits - well worth a visit! It is surrounded by the medieval forest of Inglewood and it is said that Hutton-in-the-Forest was the Arthurian Green Knight’s castle (Sir Gawain and the Green Knight).

Greystoke Pool - Heated Swimming Pool

A short walking distance from Foxglove Cottage there is a heated outdoor swimming pool which has a slide; children's pool; changing rooms, showers; café and a lifeguard who is always on duty.

The pool opens from May to September, and offers customers of all ages a safe, relaxing and enjoyable swimming facility in beautiful surroundings on the fringe of the Lake District National Park.

The Greystoke and District Sports Association is not a profit organisation, but is managed by a committee made up entirely of local volunteers. It offers not only the open-air swimming pool, but also a football playing field, two children's play areas, and an associated car park.

The pool is heated by "Air Source Heat Pumps" to around 27c depending on the air temperature. It is open daily between 3 pm and 6 pm on weekdays during School Term, then 1 pm to 6 pm during weekends and School Holidays. There's no limit to how long you spend in the water. Prices range from £1.50 for pre-school children to £12 for a family (do please check their website at www.greystokepool.org.uk as these prices are just a guide as at February 2019 and are subject to change). They even have a 'Silver Swimmers' session for over 60s!

The Village School

The village School was founded way back in 1838 by Lady Mabel Howard, who at the time resided in Greystoke castle. It is still well used today and achieves some excellent results.

St Andrew's Church Greystoke

There has been a Church at Greystoke since 1255. The Church at that time was richly endowed. The nobility took a personal interest in their Parish Church, and the 14th Baron Greystoke, who built the first Greystoke Castle, and whose grave is in the chancel, was keen to add chantries, where masses for the dead would be held. Three were built on each side of the nave, with painted oak screens. At the Reformation, the oak screens were removed, leaving a very large nave. The tower was used by villagers seeking refuge from marauding Scots (as a pele tower).

Various items in the Church remain from the Medieval Church. The rood beam bridging the chancel arch is oldest item in the Church, and carries floral emblems representing the wounds of Christ.

The ancient choir stalls in the chancel have some well preserved misericords (carved shelf underneath the seat). Some of these are good examples of Christian symbolism - the pelican who feeds her young on her own blood; the unicorm surrendering to the Virgin; St Michael and the Dragon. A board gives information about each of the carvings.

Walking & Cycling

There are Open Access Walks on the Greystoke Estate. Although the Castle is closed to the public, there are many permissive paths you may walk on the Greystoke Estate. Please note, dogs are not allowed on these routes. Details and a map of the permissive paths can be found on a noticeboard in the main car park in Greystoke [behind the village Hall]. Alternatively, you may read about the walks and download the 'Open Access Walks for Cumbria' map at www.cumbria.gov.uk/eLibrary/Content/Internet/544/932/4043194817.pdf

Greystoke is on national cycle route 71 which means that Foxglove Cottage is ideally located for two main national cycle routes; the Coast 2 Coast and the lengthy but fantastic John O Groats to Land's End or (JOGLE) route.

Locally, there numerous cycle routes in and around Greystoke, from gentle climbs to strenuous trails which will test your skills. Greystoke Forrest is just a short ride away, where you can cycle with the family or challenge yourself with more testing trails. Further west, about a twenty minute drive, just past Keswick, is Whinlatter Forrest where, whether you have brought your own bike or need to hire one, the trails will test your skills and stamina to the full.

To hire a bike, or for advice, contact Whinlatter Mountain Bike Hire and Cyclewise at www.cyclewise.co.uk.

Lake Ullswater

The Steamers on Lake Ullswater are an ideal way to see some of the fantastic scenery of the Lake District. In Arthurian legend it is believed that monsters used to live beneath the dark water of the Lake, and it was referred to as the 'Dark Lake'. As you set sail on the Steamer you will see ancient woodlands and fells, including England's third highest mountain, Helvellyn which, at 3,117 ft [950m] crowns Ullswater at the south-western end of the valley.

Cruises connect to some of the most famous and iconic walking routes in the UNESCO World Heitage site, the Lake District National Park, with views of Wordsworth's Daffodils on the west shore in Spring. The 'Steamers' operate an all year service with varying timetable connections between Glenridding, Howtown, Pooley Bridge Piers and between Glenridding and National Trust Aira Force Pier. Cruise times vary from 20 - 120 minutes. Timetables are available on their website or you can telephone 01768 482229. Ullswater Steamers are wheelchair and pushchair friendly, have toilets on board, baby changing facilities, snacks are available and there is an onsite shop. Parking is available on site. Tickets may be bought online.

Visit the Lake Ullswater Steamers website at www.ullswater-steamers.co.uk.

Threlkeld Quarry and Mining Museum

The Threlkeld Quarry and Mining Museum is 3 miles east of Keswick, in the heart of the Lake District in Cumbria. Visit here to experience Lakelands industrial heritage. A 45 minute guided tour will let you experience coffin levels, candles and total darkness.

They have their own narrow gauge railway with a line that is currently half a mile in length and has some steep gradients including a section of 1/20. There is a selection of internal combustion and battery electric locomotives on display in the Top Shed. Ride on a Steam Locomotive 'Sir Tom' - a narrow gauge railway with breathtaking views of Blencathra and the surrounding fells. 'Sir Tom' hauls passengers daily in the summer holidays and on other weekends. In quiet periods one of their collection of vintage classic diesel locos is used. Dogs are welcome.

Threlkeld Quarry is also the home of the Vintage Excavator Trust. Contact 017687 79747 or view the website at www.threlkeldquarryandminingmuseum.co.uk

Aira Force Waterfall

Helvellyn Mountain Walk - The Lake District

Helvellyn, between the lakes of Thirlmere and Ullswater in The Lake District, is England's 3rd highest mountain at 3,118 feet and access to Helvellyn is easier than to the two higher peaks of Scafell Pike and Sca Fell.

For over two hundred years visitors have been drawn to the lake and mountain scenery of the Lake District, and many have made their way to the top of Helvellyn. Among the early visitors to Helvellyn were the poets Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth, both of whom lived nearby at one period.

In January 2018 Helvellyn was named 'Britain's Best Walk' in an ITV show presented by Julia Bradbury.

Visit www.helvellyn.com to find out more.

Penrith Golf Centre

Penrith Golf Centre has an executive 9 hole golf course and is ideal for all standards of golfer. With views of the Pennines and Lakeland Fells this golf course in Penrith, Cumbria offers an attractive setting to practice your golf. On the Penrith Driving Range you can enjoy hitting full compression golf balls off simulated 'turf' mats for all year round practice.

Find out more by viewing their website at: www.penrithgolf.co.uk

Ashness Bridge

Ashness Bridge is a very popular viewpoint looking over Derwent Water with amazing views of Bassenthwaite Lake and the River Derwent. It is possibly the most photographed packhorse bridge in the Lake District.