Dove Cottage and Wordsworth Museum
Wordsworth's home during his most creative period. Cottage guided tours, original manuscripts in the museum and contemporary art in the 3°W art gallery.
Tel 015394 35544 www.wordsworth.org.uk

Grasmere Gingerbread Shop
Although the droves of locals and visitors alike, and the wonderful aroma of freshly baked gingerbread, is enough to lead you inside this tiny shop, for those of you who have never experienced a visit to this unique place before, it is a must see during any trip to Grasmere.
Tel 015394 35428 www.grasmeregingerbread.co.uk

Hayes Garden World
At the heart of English Lakeland, in the village of Ambleside, Hayes Garden World is the perfect all-weather attraction. Amble through the intriguing maze of paths past thousands upon thousands of flowers and plants and you'll realise why they have won the prestigious 'International Garden Centre Award'
Tel 015394 33434 www.hayesgardenworld.co.uk

Hill Top Farm
This delightful, small, 17th Century house is where Beatrix Potter wrote many of her famous children's stories and where you can still view her personal treasures. The Beatrix Potter Gallery in nearby Hawkshead displays some of her original artwork.
Tel 015394 36269 www.nationaltrust.org

Blackwell
Blackwell was designed by Arts and Crafts architect MH Baillie Scott as a holiday home for Sir Edward Holt, a brewer from Manchester who was twice Lord Mayor. Since 1998, £3.5 million has been raised in order to restore Blackwell and open it to the public as a gallery providing a national and international focus for high quality Arts and Crafts.
Tel 01539446139 www.blackwell.org.uk

World of Beatrix Potter
Following a major refurbishment, The World of Beatrix Potter as even more to see and do! Now all 23 of Beatrix Potter's tales are brought to life in three dimensions, so you can meet Cecily Parsley and the Amiable GuineaPig for the first time and say hello to old friends like Jemima Puddle-Duck and Peter Rabbit in brand new settings.
Tel 015394 88444 www.hop-skip-jump.com

Grizedale Forest and 'GO APE'
Grizedale Forest Park nestles in the heart of the Lake District between lakes Windermere and Coniston Activities range from gentle to more strenuous walks to swinging through the trees on Go Ape, enjoying a leisurely cappuccino in the cafe to exhilarating mountain bike rides. The forest is also home to over 80 sculptures.
Tel 01229 860010 www.forestry.gov.uk/northwestengland

Aquarium of the Lakes
Over 30 spectacular naturally-themed displays cleverly recreate the journey of a lakeland river from mountain top to the open sea and are home to an array of wildlife from diving ducks and mischievious otters to sharks and rays. Plasma screens, interactive displays and a spectacular cinema presentation provide an even deeper insight while the Aquarium's team of dedicated aquatic experts are on hand to answer all your questions.
Tel 015395 30153 www.aquariumofthelakes.co.uk

Levens Hall & Gardens
Levens Hall is an Elizabethan mansion built around a 13th century Pele tower. The much loved home of the Bagot family, visitors olten comment on the warm and friendly atmosphere. Fine panelling and plasterwork, period furniture, Cordova leather wall coverings, paintings by Rubens, Lely and Cuyp and the earliest English patchwork can all be found under one roof.
Tel 015395 60321 www.levenshall.co.uk

Muncaster Castle
Hisloric, haunted Castle, home to the Pennington family for over 800 years. Exptore the wild splendour of over 70 acres of plants and trees from all over the world with a dramatic backdrop of the glorious Lakeland fells and mountains. The World Owl Centre reveals a thrilling insight into these magical and mysterious creatures. Shrink to 2" tall in the MeadowVole Maze and try to reach the other side without being eaten. Darkest Muncaste -every winter weekend.
Tel 01229 717614 www.muncastercastle.co.uk


Walks from Ambleside include:

• Stock Ghyll Waterfall Round Hill 2.5 miles [4 km]
  This is a modest climb, but it makes a very pleasant walk. The best time to view any waterfall is after heavy rain. The walk goes by the well-known force (local-name for waterfall), climbs beyond it, and returns through farm fields. (If dogs are taken they should be kept firmly under control.)
  
• Wansfell Pike 6.75miles {11km}
  A very popular mid level walk with excellent views. A walk that can often cause confusion because Wansfell and Wansfell Pike are not the same. The Pike is slightly lower in height than the top of the Wansfell.
• Loughrigg Fell from Ambleside 5.25 miles {8.5km}
  A pleasant walk up Loughrigg Fell. Not one of the highest peaks in the Lake District but there are fantastic views around the Lakes from its summit.
• Todd Crag from Ambleside 3 miles [5 km]
  This is a very minor fell walk onto the south-eastern crags of Loughrigg. Given time, it can be managed by grannnies and children. It is however, not a bad-weather walk.. The walk offers airy views; so little satisfaction is gained if rain or mist restricts visibility. Completely smooth-soled footwear is dangerous on the damp rock that is found on the walk, or on dry sloping grass.
• The Fairfield Horseshoe from Ambleside 10.0m {16.1km}
  The Fairfield Horseshoe is probably the most famous of the Lake District rounds - this classic walk takes in all the peaks that surround Rydal. The views are good all round but are best of all from the summit plateau of Fairfield. For this reason and for the trickiness of locating the correct line of descent off the summit it's best doing this walk in clear conditions.