Staying in our luxury cabins at Near Howe puts you right in the heart of the Lake District National Park — with Blencathra on your doorstep and some of Cumbria’s best-loved attractions within easy reach. If you’re after a little inspiration for how to spend a day away from the cabin, here’s a mini itinerary that mixes adventure, scenery, history and relaxation, all within comfortable driving distance of Near Howe.
Start With the Treetops: Whinlatter Forest
Head west towards Keswick and over the A66 to Whinlatter Forest, England’s only true mountain forest. Rising to nearly 800 metres, Whinlatter has views across Bassenthwaite Lake, Derwentwater and the surrounding fells, along with miles of waymarked walking trails, purpose-built mountain bike routes and a family-friendly visitor centre with a café.
For a real adrenaline hit, book yourself onto Go Ape, right next to the visitor centre. Their treetop adventure course sends you across rope bridges, Tarzan swings and zip wires high above the forest floor — one of the highest Go Ape courses in the country. Prefer to keep both feet on solid ground? The forest’s gravel paths and surfaced trails are just as rewarding for a gentle walk or family cycle ride, and younger visitors will love spotting the Gruffalo sculptures dotted around the trails.
Chase a Waterfall: Aira Force
From Whinlatter, it’s a scenic drive south-east towards Ullswater to Aira Force, one of the Lake District’s most famous waterfalls. Cared for by the National Trust, Aira Beck thunders an impressive 65 feet down through a wooded gorge, with a network of trails winding from the lakeshore up to the summit of Gowbarrow Fell for panoramic views over Ullswater.
It takes around 20–30 minutes at a gentle pace to walk to the falls from the main car park, crossing two stone bridges over the gorge. Sturdy footwear is a good idea, as the paths can be steep and muddy in places — but the reward is one of the most photographed spots in Cumbria (keep an eye out for a rainbow in the spray on a sunny day). Round off your visit with a cream tea at the National Trust tea-room by the car park.
Take to the Water: Ullswater or Derwentwater
No trip to the Lakes is complete without getting out onto the water. Both Ullswater and Derwentwater offer relaxed lake cruises that let you sit back and soak up the fells from a completely different angle.
- Ullswater ‘Steamers’ run scenic cruises around the lake, and even offer a jetty right by Aira Force, so you could combine your waterfall walk with a boat ride back to Glenridding or Pooley Bridge.
- Keswick Launch operates leisurely cruises around Derwentwater, with the option to hop off at various points around the lake for a walk before catching a later boat back.
Either option makes for a lovely, low-effort way to see the scenery after a morning of walking or treetop adventures.
Step Back in Time: Lowther Castle or Hutton-in-the-Forest
To round off your day, choose between two very different slices of Cumbrian history.
Lowther Castle & Gardens, near Penrith, is a dramatic Gothic ruin set within 130 acres of gardens, from the Rose Garden to the Japanese Garden. Wander through the ruins and exhibition to learn the story of the Lowther family, then let the kids loose in The Lost Castle — one of the largest wooden adventure playgrounds in the country, complete with turrets, tunnels, zip wires and slides.
Alternatively, Hutton-in-the-Forest, a historic house with parts dating back to the 14th century, offers beautifully preserved interiors and peaceful walled and woodland gardens — a quieter, more contemplative way to finish the day if you fancy swapping playground energy for a gentler stroll.
Adventure, Scenery, History and Relaxation: All Within Easy Reach
That’s the beauty of staying at Near Howe: in a single day you can zip through the treetops at Whinlatter, chase waterfalls at Aira Force, cruise across Ullswater or Derwentwater, and wander through centuries of history at Lowther Castle or Hutton-in-the-Forest — all before heading back to unwind at your luxury cabin under some of Cumbria’s darkest skies.
So — which would be first on your list?
