Details for Swallow's Nest Ref 4231

Location: The popular town of Penrith lies in a central position between the Lake District and North Pennines and is famous for its many specialist shops, sandstone buildings, and lovely cottages. The town also offers many pubs, restaurants, and a museum, meaning there is something for everyone in the town. Nearby is Rheged, a visitor centre, which offers shops, restaurants, exhibitions and a cinema screen that shows educational and informative films. All within a short drive are Brougham Castle, Long Meg and her daughters (the 3rd largest stone circle in England) and the city of Carlisle. The stunning Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Park are also nearby and are essential to visit. Penrith is an ideal base, at any time of the year.

Impressive mountains, open fells and clear-water lakes; the Lake District landscape has inspired several literary greats, including William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter. Walking is one of the best ways of exploring the Lake District. For the serious walker the mountains of Skiddaw, Scafell and Helvellyn provide enjoyable challenges, whilst at lower levels there are hundreds of routes wandering among the lakes and stone-walled fields. If bustling lakeside towns and exhilarating water sports take your fancy, then Windermere and Coniston Water, where you can cruise the lake on a steam-powered yacht soaking up the scenery in Victorian style, could be for you. If its peace and tranquillity you seek then the secluded lakes of Buttermere and Wastwater are not to be missed. Yet Cumbria offers much more than the lakes alone. Explore the National Nature Reserve on Walney Island or visit the picturesque Duddon Valley, where the heather clad moors peppered with birch trees inspired many of Wordsworth's poems. With its award-winning gardens and the Lakeland Motor Museum, Holker Hall is also a great day out, whilst in northern Cumbria the peaceful villages of Caldbeck and Ireby offer a haven of solitude and picturesque tranquillity. To the east lies the green and sheltered Eden Valley. Its dramatic landscape provides a range of activities including walking, cycling and water sports and is home to the Lakeland Bird of Prey Centre and Lowther Wildlife Park, perfect for a family day out.