Local Charm
SILVERDALE & ARNSIDE
Considered an internationally important wildlife area, Silverdale & Arnside offer some truly stunning views. From the historical site of The Pepperpot, to the vistas seen from Jack Scout and the tidal phenomenon of the Arnside Bore, nature reserves its best for this protected area. Furthermore, the promenade is home to an extensive selection of shops offering quirky and unique gifts and art pieces. While walking along, take in the stunning landscape before you. Visit Wolfhouse Galleries for a unique experience!
KIRKBY LONSDALE
Kirkby Lonsdale is an enchantingly historic market town, featuring charming 18th century buildings and stone cottages huddled around cobbled courtyards and narrow alleyways, offering picturesque views of the pastoral landscape juxtaposed with the town’s beautiful architecture. Despite its quaint appearance, the town is a hive of activity, hosting a great calendar of local events, a weekly market held on Thursdays and a monthly farmers’ market offering delicious locally-grown and sourced produce. Traditional bakers and coffee shops sit alongside designer jewellery, fashion and home décor retailers; award-winning bars and restaurants intertwined with tempting delis – all within the breath-taking landscape of the Lune Valley.
Close by, you might also enjoy a visit to the nearby picturesque villages of Casterton, Barbon and Ingleton, which has connections with Arthur Conan Doyle’s fictional character Sherlock Holmes!
GARSTANG
Garstang has maintained its natural charm by supporting its contemporary independent retailers.
The market dates back to the early 1300’s and the days of Edward II and the Market Cross at the top of the high street, one of the most familiar landmarks in the area.
Combining its distinct character, historic location and traditional roads that veer off the high street, your shopping experience in Garstang will be varied and unique.
The traditional weekly outdoor market is held every Thursday. This popular market stretches the length of the high street offering a variety of stalls with everything you need from children’s clothes to plants and household goods.
GRANGE-OVER-SANDS
Grange-over-Sands is a peaceful seaside retreat with an Edwardian feel, located between the mountains and the coast of the Southern face of the Cartmel peninsula. With the estuary, nearby countryside, nature reserves and ornamental gardens, it’s the ideal location for nature enthusiasts and offers stunning walks and views looking out across the bay. A trip through the centre offers lots of delightful shops to browse, from trendy outfitters to butchers offering bespoke artisan produce. There are some excellent restaurants and cafes to enjoy, including Clare House whose menus have been inspired by the area’s fresh, local and seasonal produce.
ULVERSTON
The birthplace of Stan Laurel, Ulverston is one of those unique traditional market towns that has retained its original charm, so that the vast majority of retailers are very much local and independent.
Booth’s is the only real significant sized chain store and they have been welcomed, as they are renowned for specialising in high-quality local produce. Here you will find a variety of specialist independent shops and market traders selling almost everything imaginable and, with it being quite a compact town centre, shopping in Ulverston is remarkably easy and good fun too!
CARTMEL
The Medieval village of Cartmel has an extremely rich heritage; ancient streets wind their way out of the square waiting to be explored, emanating from the 12th century priory itself at the heart of the village. Steeped in history and tradition, this beautiful location showcases the best of what Cumbria has to offer, alongside giving a
true taste of English village life. Browsers will delight in finding all kinds of Lakeland products – from gifts and clothing to fine art and antiques.
Unsworth Yard can be found near the centre, with a brewery, artisan shops that include, Cartmel Cheeses, the Drinkshop & Wine Snug and The Mallard Tea Rooms. There are several unusual gift shops in Cartmel, each selling their own blend
of unique gifts and on the 3rd Friday of every month the village hosts an excellent food market, where you’ll no doubt find their famous Sticky Toffee Pudding – a purchase you should certainly make if you choose to visit this wonderful place. Cartmel is
also home to the 3 Michelin star L’Enclume Restaurant, owned by renowned chef Simon Rogan.
THE VILLAGES OF WYRE
Take a trip to one of these many beautiful villages scattered around the River Wyre, connected by a historical network of rural country lanes – the ideal location to escape city life and unwind.
Enjoy browsing the unique shops in Hambleton, enjoy a delicious afternoon tea in one of Scorton’s quirky cafés or try out the freshest local produce available at the regular farmers markets in Great Eccleston and Poulton-le-Fylde.
Have afternoon tea in one of the cafes in Scorton, picnic on Harris End Fell and enjoy some of the most spectacular views in the country, amble round the charming Over Wyre villages or buy fresh local produce at the regular markets in Great Eccleston and Poulton-le-Fylde.
Join the River Wyre as it passes through pretty St. Michaels on Wyre and visit Over Wyre, a large expanse of land between the river and Morecambe Bay where you will find more lovely villages such as Out Rawcliffe, Hambleton, Stalmine and Preesall; and also the stunning village of Pilling.
Churchtown is one of the oldest villages in Wyre. It has a cobbled square and market cross leading to the church of St. Helen, which is known as the Cathedral of the Fylde.
The Wyre Countryside Service leads regular Heritage Trails around Wyre.
Visit in summer, with bees and butterflies, lilac scented gardens and lakes scintillating in the sunshine. Winter offers white clad landscapes and crisp, fresh mornings and of course spring
is perfect for seeing the lambs and the swathes of spring flowers as the landscape burst into life once again.
INGLETON & DISTRICT
The picturesque village of Ingleton in North Yorkshire has always punched above its weight when it comes to attracting tourists. At the base of Ingleborough is one of the Yorkshire Three Peaks, its Waterfalls Trail and White Scar Caves bring in thousands of visitors a year. Groups can hire Ingleton’s outdoor swimming pool – once named one of the best lidos in the UK offering a great place to enjoy the summer sun. With lots of caravan parks nearby, walking and cycling in the beautiful countryside is a huge attraction with options for canyoning, caving and ghyll scrambling.
In the village is Ingleton Pottery – the oldest established working pottery in the Yorkshire Dales. Themed festivals throughout the year include folk music, a popular 1940’s weekend and food events at Country Harvest.
Ingleborough Cave is a must-see destination on a visit to Ingleton and the surrounding area. Set in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, Ingleborough Cave was first discovered in 1837 by brave Victorian explorers who drained away a lake and went on to discover 1/2km of previously unexplored passages delving deep beneath Ingleborough mountain with only candles to guide them! Today, the cave is well lit, and you can follow in the footsteps of those pioneers on an awe-inspiring voyage of discovery!
The area’s hidden literary history is another lure. It’s suggested that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle may have got the inspiration and name for his famous detective Sherlock Holmes from the then vicar of Ingleton, a certain Rev Sherlock. It’s not the only literary connection – in nearby Cowan Bridge Charlotte Bronte was educated at the school and it’s said she used her painful experiences as the inspiration for her famous novel Jane Eyre. You can also visit Tunstall Church and climb up to the first floor where Charlotte whiled away (unhappily) many a Sunday afternoon.