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Two Unusual Lake District attractions

Posted by (Lake District, England) on

These are two less well known National Trust sites to see in the Lake District (opening dates don't tend to be announced months in advance, so you just have to keep an eye out and be lucky)-

Derwent Island (in Derwentwater, Keswick)- open 5 days a year, although not open at all in 2023 due to staff shortages. You have to canoe a short way from the shore to the Island- in times past the NT used to hire a Lake launch but those days are gone

Force Crag Mine, Braithwaite, near Keswick- opening days are only a few a year and are unpredictable- this year they are 16 July and 10 September. This year for the first time transport is to be provided from Braithwaite. In the past you have had to walk the 2 miles up the valley. This was the last working mineral mine in the Lake District being worked from 1578 to 1991.

Posted by
8131 posts

And another National Trust site which is well worthwhile visiting is Acorn Bank, near Temple Sowerby- only 30 minutes by car from Keswick, or 10 minutes from Penrith.

But it is hardly ever mentioned in the guide books. Best known for it's herb gardens and apple orchards, and there are various events there in the autumn (fall) for harvesting season. There is also a working watermill on site and an old gypsum mine. You may even be lucky enough to see red squirrels and otters.

Although the current house is Georgian the estate has a history dating all the way back to the Knights Templar in the 13th Century.

You can even get there easily by bus- ignore the National Trust directions. As so often those are wrong. The bus service does run on Saturday when it goes all the way to Kirkby Stephen for connections from Yorkshire.

Posted by
2320 posts

Do you know what they are doing with the house at Acorn Bank? I've not been since Covid and last time it was still empty while they thought about it...

The cafe also sells very good cakes!

Posted by
8131 posts

I don't. It is still 'under restoration'. I know you can get into the Grand Entrance Hall, and there is a 2nd hand bookshop in one of the rooms.
What actually prompted the thought today is that I was plotting a route to Skirwith Village Hall for next Tuesday. There is no easy way to get to Skirwith so I have decided to start at Temple Sowerby then cut through Acorn Bank estate (before opening time) on my way to Newbiggin then Skirwith.
This will be my 10th attempt to get to Skirwith since last September, as every 2nd Tuesday (the only time I can access the hall without being a nuisance) since then has been wet.
This time I have advance train tickets booked for half the journey, so may divert to Lockerbie if the weather conspires against me again.

Posted by
8131 posts

I've just been talking to someone who went here for their Birthday yesterday- the Larch Cottage Nurseries

If you were going to Shap Abbey Melkinthorpe is a tiny village off the A6 (not the M6) between Penrith and Shap.

As well as being a Garden Centre they have open gardens on a Wednesday and Sunday (with a private Chapel, where the owner married), an Italian Resturant (apparently very good)-using their own fruit and vegetables, and a contemporary art gallery.

I've only been to Melkinthorpe once, so this is a friends recommendation. Way off the normal tourist trail, but quite easy to get to by car- not much more than half an hour from Keswick.
Sounds very interesting.
On the way you pass the Neolithic Mayburgh Henge and King Arthur's Round Table at Eamont Bridge.
Very near to that, just off the A66, is Brougham Castle.

Together with Acorn Bank you have a very interesting day out by car.

Also at Penrith there is the indoor attraction of the Rheged Centre.

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