Dodds Lee Guidebook
Local walks
Gentle walk with spectacular scenery
A great family walk from the door - go down to the pub and take the path to the right of the house with the red door. Follow signs to Aira Force - 30 mins to the cafe at the bottom of the hill. For a longer walk loop, follow signs up the hill to Gowbarrow (20 mins) then turn left with the lake on your right and descend over Ullswater. Follow the loop round to the right (lake on your left) following the Ullswater Way signs to Aira Force. Picnic by the rapids and have a dip to cool off!
68 locals recommend
Aira Force Waterfall
A great family walk from the door - go down to the pub and take the path to the right of the house with the red door. Follow signs to Aira Force - 30 mins to the cafe at the bottom of the hill. For a longer walk loop, follow signs up the hill to Gowbarrow (20 mins) then turn left with the lake on your right and descend over Ullswater. Follow the loop round to the right (lake on your left) following the Ullswater Way signs to Aira Force. Picnic by the rapids and have a dip to cool off!
For experienced walkers - a whole day trip. Steep climbs and breathtaking views
39 locals recommend
Helvellyn
For experienced walkers - a whole day trip. Steep climbs and breathtaking views
Good walk for adult climbers - all day with dinner or drink at Mill Inn in Mingrisedale to recover!
18 locals recommend
Blencathra
Good walk for adult climbers - all day with dinner or drink at Mill Inn in Mingrisedale to recover!
Easy walk for children with great views. Start or finish at Lingholm Kitchen
41 locals recommend
Catbells
Easy walk for children with great views. Start or finish at Lingholm Kitchen
Beautiful mirror lake with stunning views. Accessible for young children and prams with choice of cafes and Sykes Farm for soup or hot choc or ice cream
58 locals recommend
Buttermere
Beautiful mirror lake with stunning views. Accessible for young children and prams with choice of cafes and Sykes Farm for soup or hot choc or ice cream
The house is a 15 minute walk from the new Ullswater Way - a 20 km walk around Ullswater that stretches from Glenridding to Pooley Bridge. There are additional loops to Lowther Castle.
You can do the walk in one day or split into sections and get a lift or bus/taxi back.
To access the route, walk down past the pub and follow signs to Aira Force/Gowbarrow. If you climb to the summit of Gobarrow then follow the daffodil 🌼 signs. T
You can downloads maps and find more information from https://www.ullswater.com/the-ullswater-way/
If you need a guide, please contact https://www.mountain-walks.co.uk
75 locals recommend
Ullswater
The house is a 15 minute walk from the new Ullswater Way - a 20 km walk around Ullswater that stretches from Glenridding to Pooley Bridge. There are additional loops to Lowther Castle.
You can do the walk in one day or split into sections and get a lift or bus/taxi back.
To access the route, walk down past the pub and follow signs to Aira Force/Gowbarrow. If you climb to the summit of Gobarrow then follow the daffodil 🌼 signs. T
You can downloads maps and find more information from https://www.ullswater.com/the-ullswater-way/
If you need a guide, please contact https://www.mountain-walks.co.uk
Sightseeing
Good family day out
A great day out around a Ullswater - set off from the new pier at Aira Force to How Town and take a picnic with you. You can walk around the lake and grab tea at the farm cafe near Patterdale to recover.
You can take dogs and mountain bikes too.
For younger children and elderly members, you can grab a cuppa at the HowTown Hotel and then get the ferry back or onto Pooley Bridge.
81 locals recommend
Ullswater Steamers
Grisedale BridgeA great day out around a Ullswater - set off from the new pier at Aira Force to How Town and take a picnic with you. You can walk around the lake and grab tea at the farm cafe near Patterdale to recover.
You can take dogs and mountain bikes too.
For younger children and elderly members, you can grab a cuppa at the HowTown Hotel and then get the ferry back or onto Pooley Bridge.
Beatrix Potter Gallery
Main StreetDalemain Mansion & Historic Gardens
Great walks
Lovely house and good walks to lakes and osprey centre. Adventure playground. Good cafe for lunch
17 locals recommend
Mirehouse & Gardens
A591Lovely house and good walks to lakes and osprey centre. Adventure playground. Good cafe for lunch
Lowther Castle & Gardens
Great walks, tree top trek and biking trails
Local restaurants
Great pub just 2 mins down the road - good range of meals including veggie options
6 locals recommend
The Royal Hotel
A5091Great pub just 2 mins down the road - good range of meals including veggie options
Aira Force Tea Rooms
Park BrowGreat place for coffee, lunch or icecreams after a long walk
Laid back lunch in the cafe bar or more formal dinner in the Rampsbeck Restaurant. We recommend booking the swim&dine option with use of spa before dinner!
Another Place, The Lake
A592Laid back lunch in the cafe bar or more formal dinner in the Rampsbeck Restaurant. We recommend booking the swim&dine option with use of spa before dinner!
Horse & Farrier
Great choice and good quality food.
The Sally Inn
Great grub
Granny Dowbekins Tearooms
Amazing ginger bread and good lunches
Amazing organic kitchen garden and cafe. The inspiration for Beatrix Potter’s Mr McGregor’s garden. Great walks to lakes and Catbells
27 locals recommend
Lingholm Kitchen
Amazing organic kitchen garden and cafe. The inspiration for Beatrix Potter’s Mr McGregor’s garden. Great walks to lakes and Catbells
Spa and pool
A great family based hotel open to non guests and dogs. Great lunch and activities (Archery, SUP, kayaking) can be booked online. Spa and treatments with a swim&dine option for use of pool and sauna plus 3 course meal
Another Place, The Lake
A592A great family based hotel open to non guests and dogs. Great lunch and activities (Archery, SUP, kayaking) can be booked online. Spa and treatments with a swim&dine option for use of pool and sauna plus 3 course meal
Sports/activities
Great family activities - horseriding and quad biking
11 locals recommend
Rookin House Activity Centre
Great family activities - horseriding and quad biking
Great mountain biking, Go Ape and adventure playground plus sunny cafe
67 locals recommend
Whinlatter Forest Park
Whinlatter PassGreat mountain biking, Go Ape and adventure playground plus sunny cafe
Great trips down’t mine for kids and adults alike. Book in for Via Ferrata for age 10 plus
75 locals recommend
Honister Slate Mine
Honister PassGreat trips down’t mine for kids and adults alike. Book in for Via Ferrata for age 10 plus
Great family day out - loads of activities and arts and crafts. Cafe and icecreams. Book in for tree top trek and bouncy nets
67 locals recommend
Brockhole on Windermere
Great family day out - loads of activities and arts and crafts. Cafe and icecreams. Book in for tree top trek and bouncy nets
A good wet weather option - cinema, pottery cafe and exhibitions
32 locals recommend
Rheged Discovery Centre station
A good wet weather option - cinema, pottery cafe and exhibitions
Grizedale Forest
Great mountain biking
Lowther Castle & Gardens
Great kids activities and mountain biking
The house is 5 mins from the Coast to Coast cycle route from Cockermouth to Newcastle. Ok you don’t need to cycle that far! But you can easily access the Roman Road that stretches west to Keswick (mostly off-road) or east to Penrith. A great way to explore local villages, cafes and stunning views.
Simply head up the hill from the back door and when you get to the top of Douthwaitehead, cross over and follow the signs to the C2C route. Left to Threlkeld and Keswixk or right to Greystoke and Penrith.
For more info check https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-a-route-on-the-national-cycle-network/c2c-or-sea-to-sea/
You are welcome to store bikes in the garage
C2C Cycle Route
C2C Cycle RouteThe house is 5 mins from the Coast to Coast cycle route from Cockermouth to Newcastle. Ok you don’t need to cycle that far! But you can easily access the Roman Road that stretches west to Keswick (mostly off-road) or east to Penrith. A great way to explore local villages, cafes and stunning views.
Simply head up the hill from the back door and when you get to the top of Douthwaitehead, cross over and follow the signs to the C2C route. Left to Threlkeld and Keswixk or right to Greystoke and Penrith.
For more info check https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-a-route-on-the-national-cycle-network/c2c-or-sea-to-sea/
You are welcome to store bikes in the garage
Kids activities
Park Foot hire bikes and organise half day and full day activities such as gyll scrambling, cliff jumping and kayaking Book on https://parkfootullswater.co.uk/childrens-activity-club/
Park Foot Holiday Park
Park Foot hire bikes and organise half day and full day activities such as gyll scrambling, cliff jumping and kayaking Book on https://parkfootullswater.co.uk/childrens-activity-club/
Book online to rent bikes and use the trails at Lowther Castle https://www.arragonscyclehire.com/
Arragons Cycle Hire
Book online to rent bikes and use the trails at Lowther Castle https://www.arragonscyclehire.com/
Keswick to Threlkeld railway trail
FieldsideWet weather plan
Honister Slate Mine
Honister PassGood historic trip down the mine - engaged the whole family