THINGS TO SEE AND DO

SUMMERHOW HOUSE is ideally placed for both town and country life. Two miles away is the busy market town of Kendal with it's excellent shopping, cinemas, galleries, and museums including the award winning Quaker Tapestry Exhibition and Kendal Castle. There are peaceful riverside walks and a large variety of restaurants, gourmet pubs and coffee bars. We are within easy reach of Levens Hall , Holker Hall Sizergh Castle and Blackwell The Arts and Crafts House. All have excellent gardens, tearooms and shops. Close to Sizergh Castle is the award winning Low Sizergh Barn Farm Shop and Tea Room. The shop is stocked with superb quality organic food and sells splendid, unusual gifts. Visitors can watch the cows being milked from the tea room viewing gallery and walk the organic farm trail.

Locally, there is a large outdoor multi-activity centre which offers Fun Family Adventure Days, Multi-Activity Days and Team Building Days. The activity packages can include Secret Agent Days, Clay Shooting, Archery, Paintballing, Quad Bike Trails, Target Golf, Abseiling and even Tank Driving….. There is a Horse Riding Centre next to it. The area around Summerhow House is great for cycling with excellent routes and bicycle hire.

Drive or take the train eight miles on and you will arrive at Windermere and Bowness with it's stunning Lake Walks and Steamboat Cruises. There are a huge variety of water sports on offer here including Sailing, Water Ski-ing, Wake-Surfing, Canoeing, rowing and Kayaking.

On for another four miles and you arrive in Ambleside which is one of the main centres for Walkers and Climbers. Fell Walking, Rock Climbing and Mountain Biking are all popular activities with Abseiling and Gorge Scrambling for the more adventurous….

For those wanting a more tranquil break visit Wordsworth House and Garden, Dove Cottage and Brantwood, The home of John Ruskin with it's magnificent views of Coniston Water.

For a rainy day, there are plenty of activities for children close at hand including the Indoor Rock Climbing Centre, Ceramic Painting, Children's Cookery Courses, Craft and Card Making Workshops, The Lakes Aquarium, The World of Beatrix Potter,The Rheged Centre with it's massive screen 3D film cinema, shops, cafes, indoor play area and pottery painting workshop ( this is a 40 minute drive but well worth it) and The Lake District Visitor Centre at Brockhole.

Approximately a 40 minute drive from Summerhow House is Grizedale Forest which has wonderful woodland walks, a tearoom, Visitor's Centre and there is a GO APE Centre. Ten miles from there is The South Lakes Wild Animal Park which is well worth a visit.