Escape to the Great Outdoors
Activities
Equipment
Whatever the weather, whatever the time of year, the Lake District is a great place for a holiday. Whether you want the thrills and spills of snowboarding or karting, or the breath-taking beauty of the fells, Cumbria has it all. Cumbria not only provides the setting for these outdoor activities but also has facilities and equipment for your to rent or buy and experts to advise you.
Keswick is truly the walking capital of England with greater density of shops for outdoor pursuits than anywhere else in the country. The Lake District National Park covers over 800 square miles and if that's not enough there are plenty of places to visit just outside the designated park area. The Eden valley to the east and the Solway Coast to the west offer great opportunities to stay, away from the bustle of the central and southern lakes.
Activities for Everyone
Amongst the venues available for outside sports, there are two centres for skiing on snow, three paintballing centres and numerous fells for walking and trekking and lakes and rivers for sailing kayaking and fishing. Even if the weather isn't so great for outdoor Lake District activities, there are indoor climbing walls at Cockermouth and Keswick. At the end of the day there are plenty of pubs and restaurants catering for every taste with many serving local specialities such as Rum Nicky.
Food, Drink and Accommodation
The Lake District also has one of the highest densities of local and micro-breweries with many pubs selling Jennings Bitter brewed in Cockermouth (the brewery tour is well worth a visit). Other pubs such as The Bitter End in Cockermouth and The Kirkstile Inn sheltering beneath Melbreak at Loweswater, also serve a wide selection of guest beers. Accommodation varies from snug country pubs to the impressive Armathwaite Hall, recent venue for the Prime Minister's summer break.
Use our site to find all sorts of outdoor activities in the Lake District. From the ever popular fell walking to go karting at Maryport, skiing at Kendal and leisurely steamboat cruises at Windermere.
Outdoor Activity Centres and Cumbrian Hideaways