Dog Days

Because they do enjoy an outing ...

From chasing hens to feeding otters, canoeing to swinging through the trees, finding sculptures to making chocolate there is a huge range of things to do in and around Lands End Cottage.

Fell Walking

“Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.” – Roger Caras (photographer/writer)

If your dog is even remotely like ours they will absolutely love having a day out on the fells. Mind he does get a bit impatient when we stop to look at the view! There are many walks both straight from the door, such as up to High Dam or over Bethecar Moor, or just a short drive away into the heart of lakes takes you to the Langdales, Fairfield Horseshoe or Tarn Hows.

A walk in the forest

“Some of my best leading men have been dogs and horses.” – Elizabeth Taylor (actress)

Grizedale Forest is right on our doorstep and has miles of forest trails all of which are dog friendly. You can walk there direct from the cottage or drive a few minutes up the valley for free parking at Blind Lane or High Dale. Unless you are in the immediate viscinity of the visitor centre, it is all off lead too.

If you just head towards Graythwaite there are also many permissable paths through that forest as well, less well tread and very beautiful.

Houses and gardens

“The better I get to know men, the more I find myself loving dogs.” – Charles De Gaulle (French general/statesman)

Many of the local grand houses are dog friendly. Holker Hall, Allan Bank and Furness Abbey all allow dogs throughout mostof the houses and garden whilst Conishead with its Buddhist temple and John Ruskin's Brantwood allow dogs in the grounds and gardens.

Go for a ride

“Dogs do speak, but only to those who know how to listen.” – Orhan Pamuk (author, “My Name Is Red”)

The Hatherthwaite and Lakeside railway cleverly ties in well with the Windermere boat cruises, and it's definitely worth doing both.

The train , and station for that matter, are so amazingly vintage they truly are out of another era.

The Station offers free dog biscuits when booking your ticket, and provide water near the outside seating around the cafe.

Just like the boat trips dogs go free and get their own ticket which we just love.

Dogs are allowed anywhere on the train , but they ask that you do not allow dogs on the seats , so either on the floor , or bring a blanket for them to sit on.

Go for a cruise ..

“Scratch a dog and you’ll find a permanent job.” – Franklin P. Jones (humorist)

Both Windermere and Coniston offer wonderful cruises, with dogs allowed.

Windermere Lake Cruises have trips from 45 minutes to 3 hours - or you can even spend all day on and around the lake.

At Coniston you can you can see the landscape that inspired Arthur Ransome to write his popular Swallows and Amazons series of novels! Coniston is also the famous stretch of water on which Donald Campbell sadly lost his life during his ill-fated world water speed record attempt in 1967.

You can choose from a number of short or longer cruise options on board a Coniston Launch or the National Trust's Steam Yacht Gondola (dogs are allowed on the outer decks but not inside the saloons) and Coniston Launch offers special 'Swallows and Amazons' and 'Campbells on Coniston' cruises, too. Dogs go free with well-behaved owners!

Spot a classic or two

“My dog is half pit bull, half poodle. Not much of a watchdog, but a vicious gossip.” – Craig Shoemaker (comedian)

The Lakeland Motor Museum is a museum now located at Backbarrow, Cumbria, England which houses a collection of classic cars, motorcycles, bicycles, pedal cars and motoring related items and memorabilia

Dogs are allowed throughout the museum , on both floors and into the exhibit - Though please , keep them off the exhibits... as tempting as it may be !

Dogs are also allowed in the onsite Cafe Ambio , where there is a bowl of water down for thirsty dogs.

The cafe can be accessed without entering the museum , so you can visit the cafe without paying to get into the museum.

Trouble 't Mill?

“A dog is the only thing on Earth that loves you more than he loves himself.” – Josh Billings (humorist)

Nestled on the shores of Lake Windermere in Cumbria, Stott Park Bobbin Mill produced literally millions of wooden bobbins vital to the Lancashire spinning and weaving industries. It is the only working bobbin mill left in the Lake District today.

The story of the Bobbin Mill is brought to life with tours and an exhibition. Visitors can also see the journey from tree to bobbin first hand during production on the original belt driven machinery. A hands-on family trail with dressing up for children helps visitors to imagine what it was like to work at the mill.

Although small compared to other mills, some 250 men and boys (some drafted in from workhouses) worked here over the years in often arduous conditions to produce a quarter of a million bobbins a week.