Browsing local attractions within 8 miles of Link House by Bassenthwaite Lake 

Otley House, Otley Road, Keswick, CA12 5LE, (6 miles, 10kms), Tel: 017687 80042, Email, www.keswickdino.com

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

The Old Brewery, Brewery Lane, Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 5BY, (6 miles, 10kms), 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.

Whinlatter Pass, Braithwaite, Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 5TW, (5 miles, 8kms), Tel: 017687 78469, Email, www.visitlakelandforests.co.uk

Whinlatter Forest Park is England's only true mountain forest. Rising to 790 metres above sea level Whinlatter offers spectacular views of the Lake District and into Scotland.

Main Street, Cockermouth, Cumbria, CA13 9RX, (5 miles, 8kms), Tel: 01900 824805, Email, www.wordsworthhouse.org.uk

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

Lake Road, Keswick, CA12 5DJ, (7 miles, 11kms), Tel: 07944 735010, Email, www.keswickcanoeandbushcraft.co.uk

Keswick Canoe and Bushcraft is based in the heart of the Lake District National Park in the bustling town of Keswick. We are specialist providers of canoe tours, bush craft and wilderness skills, river trips and canoe expeditions.

Southey Works, Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 5NG, (6 miles, 10kms), Tel: 017687 73626, Email, www.pencilmuseum.co.uk

Enter the museum through a replica of the Seathwaite mine, journey through the history of pencil making at the worlds longest pencil and finally relax in our coffee shop, while the kids follow the quiz trails.

Coalbeck Farm, Bassenthwaite, Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 4RD, (1 miles, 2kms), Tel: 017687 76239, Email, www.lakedistrictwildlifepark.com

Go wild & experience a world of wildlife! There's over 100 species from Anaconda to Zebra. Rare and endangered species like Gibbons and Asian Fishing Cats, plus family favourites like lemurs and Meerkats. A great day out for all the family.

Lakeside, Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 5DJ, (7 miles, 11kms), Tel: 017687 74411, Email, www.theatrebythelake.com

Set on the shores of Derwentwater in Keswick, Theatre by the Lake is Cumbria's only year-round professional producing theatre. Hosting a wide range of visiting drama, music, dance, talks, comedy and film.

Thornthwaite Village, Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 5SA, (4 miles, 6kms), Tel: 017687 78248, Email, www.thornthwaitegalleries.co.uk

Art and craft gallery with teashop, exhibiting the work of over 130 mainly local exhibitors.

Whinlatter Forest Park, Whinlatter Pass, Braithwaite, Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 5TW, (5 miles, 8kms), Tel: 0845 6439215, Email, goape.co.uk/days-out/whinlatter

Take to the trees and tackle an exhilarating course of rope bridges, Tarzan swings and zip slides high above the forest floor. Go Ape is a great experience to share with friends and family, providing lots of thrills and laughs.

Underskiddaw, Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 4QE, (3 miles, 5kms), Tel: 017687 72287, Email, www.mirehouse.com

Family-run historic house with strong literary connections. Live piano music and children's quiz in the house. Woodland playgrounds, heather maze, lakeside and poetry walk in the grounds.Great tearoom specialising in Cumbrian food.

Eva Plain, Nr Smetmurphy Common, Embleton, Cockermouth, (1 miles, 2kms)

The 15 stones, of which the tallest is just under one metre, form an almost perfect circle some 40 metres in diameter. Only 15 stones of the original 30 remain.

Castlerigg, Keswick, Cumbria, CA10 2AA, (8 miles, 12kms), Tel: 0191 2691200, Email, www.english-heritage.org.uk

Raised in circa 3000BC, Castlerigg is perhaps the most atmospheric of all British stone circles with the mountain of Helvellyn as a dramatic backdrop.

4 Old Kings Arms Lane, Cockermouth, CA13 9LS, (5 miles, 8kms), Tel: 01900 822634, Email, www.cockermouth.org.uk

Set within a former Wesleyan Methodist Chapel the Tourist Information Centre is situated by the river Cocker, just minutes from the town centre and provides both local and national information.

Market Square, Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 5JR, (6 miles, 10kms), Tel: 017687 72645 - Calls

In the centre of Keswick and with a recently refurbished community room, the Moot Hall is the perfect choice for coffee mornings, training venue, slide shows, business meetings, charity and fundraising events and exhibitions.

38-42 Market Place, Cockermouth, Cumbria, CA13 9NG, (5 miles, 7kms), Tel: 01900 829667

Percy House dates from 1390 and extended in 1598 by The Percy's of Northumberland. The Gallery has work by over 80 Cumbrian artists from Jewellery and textiles to paintings and photos. Exhibitions change monthly.

Castlegate House, Cockermouth, Cumbria, CA13 9HA, (5 miles, 7kms), Tel: 01900 822149

A contemporary art gallery in a listed Georgian house, showing northern Scottish artists, Royal academicians and emerging young artists.

9 South Street, Cockermouth, Cumbria, CA13 9QP, (5 miles, 8kms), Tel: 01900 823521

A small artist-run gallery selling original etchings and pastels, plus a good selection of British-made crafts and fashion jewellery.