Leisure & Tourism

Adventurous activity providers, innovative tourist attractions, the great outdoors and sporting, historical and cultural venues plus fantastic local food and drink provide an abundance of choice for visitors of all ages, abilities and interests.

Westmorland and Furness is a haven for outdoor adventure seekers.  The mountains, lakes, forests and beaches showcase Westmorland and Furness’ natural beauty and there is an extensive network of walking and cycling routes to suit a range of abilities. Options include the popular Hawkshead to Outgate Walk a medium-ability hiking trail in the heart of Westmorland and Furness.  A longer distance route is The Ullswater Way, a stunning 20 mile walking route around Ullswater which can be walked in either direction and from any starting point.  With 60km of coastline to explore, Barrow in Furness is a fantastic place to visit whilst the lush Eden Valley and North Pennines offer marvellous views and stunning scenery.

Several long distance cycle routes pass through the area including the Sea to Sea (C2C), Walney to Wear and Whitby (W2W) and Pennine Cycleway.

Alongside award winning cafe’s and restaurants, the area is home to many local producers including Penrith Toffee, Grasmere Gingerbread, Hawkshead Relish, Eden Yard rapeseed oils and Cartmel Sticky Toffee Pudding – to name just a few!

Westmorland and Furness is home to the UK’s biggest celebration of outdoor adventure – the Kendal Mountain Festival. The ultimate gathering for outdoor enthusiasts, each year Kendal hosts a world-class programme of outdoor culture, including films, speakers, literature, music and art, with the aim of inspiring more people to explore and enjoy mountains and the wilderness. The area is also home to the multi-award nominated Kendal Calling – located near Penrith since moving from Kendal in 2009, Kendal Calling is a four-day festival of music and arts.  Other events include agricultural shows, the World Marmalade Awards at Dalemain Mansion near Penrith, walking and cycling events, festivals, Farmers’ Markets and much more.

For those interested in history and heritage, Westmorland and Furness’ museums and visitor centres explore hundreds of years of life in the area. For fans of literature The World of Beatrix Potter in Bowness-on-Windermere, and Grasmere’s Dove Cottage and Wordsworth Museum, offer a fascinating insight into the lives and works of the area’s most prominent writers. For motor enthusiasts, Ulverston’s Lakeland Motor Museum houses an extensive car collection, including Donald Campbell’s restored Bluebird.  Ullswater known as one of “England’s most beautiful lakes” was where Sir Donald Campbell set the world water speed record in 1955.  If sailing is more your style, the Windermere Jetty Museum has an exciting programme of displays, activities, workshops, talks and events.If there between April and October you can enjoy a heritage boat trip on one the museum’s steam launches.  We can even claim an Island (Piel Island) with its very own King!

Kendal and Penrith are both home to Museums showcasing the local history and heritage of the area and both have their own castles. By exploring the local countryside you will find some wonderful Historic Houses and Gardens.

Barrow-in-Furness’ Dock Musuem focuses on the area’s shipbuilding heritage. Most of the Dock Museum’s exhibits focus on the town’s shipbuilding industry at Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering (now BAE), the steelworks industry (formerly the world’s largest), the Furness Railway and the bombings of the town during World War II. However, the museum also holds a fascinating collection of cave finds, Viking treasure, and Victorian artefacts.

Our world class hospitality offer caters for all tastes and budgets, offering accommodation ranging from cosy, family-run B&Bs to large modern hotels, as well as caravan, campsites, glamping, hostels or even in a castle. Cumbria Tourism is our official tourist board, offering support to an active membership of 3,000 businesses.

Our own Eden Tourism Network is made up of over 100 representatives from tourism businesses in Eden who meet on a quarterly basis to share information and discuss the latest tourism developments and issues at both a local and national level. Members of the Network inform and advise our team at Westmorland and Furness Council and stage an annual Tourism Summit with national, regional and local speakers. We will be looking to extend this type of work throughout the W&F area where there is a need.

For more information on the visitor economy email tourism@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk