rainy day ideas

County Square, Ulverston, Cumbria, LA12 7LZ, Tel: 01229 587140, Email, www.corohall.co.uk

A town theatre and hiring space for conferences, exhibitions, seminar, meetings etc.

Fellside Cottage, Witherslack, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria, LA11 6RW, Tel: 015395 52106, Email, www.lakedistricttours.co.uk

Exclusive quality tours of the Lake District. Japanese language commentary. Entance fees and cruise fares. Highest level of customer service. Small group tours. Excellent visibility from all seats.

Town End, Grasmere, Cumbria, LA22 9SH, Tel: 015394 35544, Email, www.wordsworth.org.uk

Wordsworth's most famous home where he lived from 1799 to 1808. This hub of art, literature and creativity has a programme of exhibitions and events from craft workshops, poetry readings and free children’s activities.

Coniston, Cumbria, LA21 8AD, Tel: 015394 41396, Email, www.brantwood.org.uk

Brantwood, the former home of eminent Victorian John Ruskin and a treasure house of art and memorabilia. The 250-acre estate comprises 8 unique gardens, ancient woodland, high moors and meadows.

Mawbray Hayrigg, Silloth, Wigton, Cumbria, CA7 4LL, Tel: 016973 32020, Email, www.gincase.co.uk

This has something for everyone. The Farm Park has lots of friendly farm animals in 16 paddocks, large Playbarn with huge indoor play area and more; a Cumbrian Craftbarn and Tearoom.

Lakeside, Newby Bridge, Ulverston, Cumbria, LA12 8AS, Tel: 015395 30153, Email, www.lakesaquarium.co.uk

Explore worlds of watery fun at Lakes Aquarium. Discover otters, pike, perch and char aswell as marmoset monkeys, caiman and British sharks and rays.

Carlisle, Cumbria, CA3 8UR, Tel: 01228 625600, Email, www.english-heritage.org.uk/carlislecastle

A massive medieval fortress founded to protect historic city of Carlisle in 1092. Hear about its role in sieges and stories about the ghastly prison.

Gilsland, Brampton, Cumbria, CA8 7DD, Tel: 016977 47602, Email, www.english-heritage.org.uk

Standing high above a meander in one of the most picturesque locations, Birdoswald was an important base for some 1000 roman soldiers.

Otley House, Otley Road, Keswick, CA12 5LE, Tel: 017687 80042, Email, www.keswickdino.com

A living museum with live birds of prey, along with fossils and life size dinosaur models.

Near Sawrey, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 0LF, Tel: 015394 36269, Email, www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hilltop

Beatrix Potter's small cottage, full of her personal possessions, with traditional cottage garden. Her paintings of the House and garden were used to illustrate many of her tales.

The Old Brewery, Brewery Lane, Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 5BY, Tel: 017687 80700, Email, www.keswickbrewery.co.uk

A small family-run brewery set up with quality and environmental issues at it's heart. Brewery tours and shop available.

The Old Bank, The Promenade, Arnside, Lancashire, LA5 0HA, Tel: 01524 761762, Email, www.gallery-h.co.uk

Leading international contemporary and traditional design collections of fine art, furniture and jewellery pieces. Exhibitions are held throughout the year. Online shopping at www.galleryh.co.uk

Walby, Crosby-on-Eden, Carlisle, CA6 4QL, Tel: 01228 573056, Email, www.walbyfarmpark.co.uk

Cumbria's multi-award winning all-weather attraction on our family farm, meet our friendly animals, try out our exciting indoor and outdoor play areas and explore our nature trail. Our Curly Tails Cafe is open from 10.00 until 17.00.

Redhills, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 0DQ, Tel: 01768 868000, Email, www.rheged.com

With 10 fantastic shops, 3 tasty cafes, pottery painting, indoor & outdoor play, a giant cinema screen, plus 5 exhibitions a year in our Gallery, 4 TIC pods and lots of family events in the school holidays, there is plenty to do at Rheged.

Castle Street, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA3 8TP, Tel: 01228 618718, Email, www.tulliehouse.co.uk

Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery is an excellent choice for a great day out for all of the family.

Low Sizergh Farm, Sizergh, Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 8AE, Tel: 015395 60426, Email, www.lowsizerghbarn.co.uk

National award-winning farm shop, tea room and craft gallery in a fabulous barn on a woking family dairy farm in the South Lakes.

Friends Meeting House, Stramongate, Kendal, Cumbria, LA9 4BH, Tel: 01539 722975, Email, www.quaker-tapestry.co.uk

Explore 350 years of social history beautifully illustrated within 77 inspiring, colourful, modern embroidered panels. Shop, Cafe, audio guides, film, interactive displays, children's activities.

Headless Cross, Gretna Green, Dumfries & Galloway, DG16 5EA, Tel: 01461 338441, Email, www.gretnagreen.com

Romantic history combines with a great shopping experience. Gretna Green Story unfolds in the historic building. Shopping features reveal a stylish collection of clothing, accessories and homestyle goods plus luxury food and whiskies.

Levens, Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 0PD, Tel: 015395 60321, Email, www.levenshall.co.uk

Elizabethan mansion and world famous topiary gardens designed by M Beaumont in 1694, fountain garden and buttery, licenced restaurant and gift shop.

Watermillock, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 0JS, Tel: 017684 82356, Email, www.nationaltrust.org.uk/aira-force-and-ullswater

The tumbling waterfall of Aira Force, drops an impressive 65 feet and can be reached by strolling through ancient woodland and landscaped glades. The perfect place for a family and picnic.

Unit 27, Lake District Business Park, Mint Bridge, Kendal, Cumbria, LA9 6NH, Tel: 01539 721766, Email, www.kendalwall.co.uk

Largest indoor climbing wall in Cumbria. From 3m to 20m high. Equipment and instruction available. Our Chamber is for quiet leading and top roping. Awsome 20m leading wall has roofs, grooves, belay cave, stalactites and auto-belays.

Unthank, Nr. Hutton-in-the -Forest, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 9TG, Tel: 017684 84538, Email, www.up-front.com

Beautifully converted 17thC farm buildings. Changing exhibitions, vegetarian restaurant, gift shop and puppet theatre.

Main Street, Hawkshead, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 0NS, Tel: 015394 36269, Email, www.nationaltrust.org.uk/beatrixpottergallery

This charming 17th century building, which served as the office of Beatrix Potter's solicitor husband, now houses an annually changing exhibition of Potter's original artwork.

Main Street, Cockermouth, Cumbria, CA13 9RX, Tel: 01900 824805, Email, www.wordsworthhouse.org.uk

Wordsworth House and Garden was the childhood home of William Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy.

Garsdale Road, Sedbergh, Cumbria, LA10 5LW, Tel: 015396 21958, Email, www.farfieldmill.org

Set in the inspirational Howgills, over 4 floors you'll find heritage displays and original working looms, resident artists whose work is for sale, regularly changing exhibitions, displays and sales of arts and crafts.

Crag Brow, Bowness-on-Windermere, Windermere, Cumbria, LA23 3BX, Tel: 0844 5040604, Email, www.oldlaundrytheatre.co.uk

The Old Laundry Theatre is situated in Bowness-on-Windermere in the heart of the Lake District. Our lively annual season of music, theatre, comedy and film starts in August and usually finishes in December.