Our Area & Hot Tub: Favourite Borrowdale Activities
Here are some of our favourite things to do in Borrowdale:
1. Picnic by the Lake: The rocky, picturesque South West shoreline of Derwentwater is just a 15 minute walk away from Manesty. Find your own little bay and eat with a backdrop of Skiddaw rising over the lake. A picnic basket is available in the laundry room.
2. Soak in the Hot Tub under the stars: After a day out on the fells, relax in Manesty’s log fired hot tub, watch dusk fall across the valley and listen to the owls. And it’s just as fun in the rain!
3. Climb Catbells: Everyone should climb Catbells at least once, and with the path starting just behind Manesty, what are you waiting for? Even at a slow pace you’ll be at the top in less than an hour and be rewarded with 360 degree views over the Lake District.
4. Explore Honister Slate Mines: A perfect place to hide on a rainy day, at the head of Borrowdale. Take a guided tour into underground chambers and learn about this ancient local industry.
5. Take the Launch to Keswick: The Edwardian launch runs to Keswick from Brandelhow and Lodore landing stages (both less than a mile away). Why not spend the day in Keswick and then take the 78 ‘Borrowdale Rambler’ bus back to Grange or the 77A ‘Honister Ramber’ back to your cottage door?
6. Have Afternoon Tea at the ‘Flock In’: This favourite haunt of Prince Charles is in Rosthwaite, a lovely walk along the River Derwent from Manesty. It serves home made goodies and tea in pint mugs. You can also buy a farm reared leg of lamb for dinner or ‘herdy-burgers’ to pop on the BBQ when you get back to your cottage.
7. Paddle, Sail or Row out to an Island: Play at ‘Swallows and Amazons’ and take a boat out on Derwentwater. You can hire your craft (and have a lesson if you need it!) from Lodore landing stage (less than a mile away, at Platty+), or at Portinscale or Keswick.
8. Drive over Honister Pass: Either take the ‘Honister Rambler’ minibus from the doorstep or drive yourself up Borrowdale, over the spectacular pass to pretty Buttermere and then back to Manesty via the valley of Newlands.
9. Swim or paddle in the River Derwent: On a hot day, what better way to cool off? We’ll tell you our secret swimming holes when you get here!
10. Breakfast or Brunch in Grange Cafe: Stroll the 3/4 mile into the pretty village of Grange and have a good hearty breakfast to set you up for a day’s walking or sight seeing.
11. Be Pampered: Treatments are available at the beauty spa at the Lodore Hotel, just a walk across the valley.
12. Go Fishing: The young or young at heart can catch minnows in Ellers Beck, which runs through the field in front of Manesty (nets can be found in the laundry room). The more serious can fish for Rainbow and Brown Trout at the beautiful Watendlath Tarn, a three mile hike or six mile drive away.
13. Dine Out in Style: The award-winning Leathes Head, the Borrowdale Gates, the Lodore and the Borrowdale Hotel are all within 2 miles of Manesty.
14. See Manesty from Surprise View: Just across the valley off the lane up to Ashness and Watendlath, from ‘Surprise View’ you can see a postcard panorama.
15. Visit The Theatre by the Lake or Keswick Cinema: The theatre’s professional company, its renowned Artistic Director and its 7 month seson of at least 6 plays on its 2 stages make it a ‘must visit’. The cinema often shows 3 films for 6 days giving Sunday over to the award winning film club; it’s a chance to catch up on the recent releases or the speciality films you meant to see.
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