Appleby Castle

[Bugsy73]

Hi,
Staying at Appleby Castle with DH and 3 DC (teenagers) first weekend in October. I was excited when I booked it but now wondering how near it is to an actual lake and whether there is much to do in the area?
Does anyone know what Appleby is like?
Thanks

Appleby is a pretty little town. The Royal Oak is good for food and a new Italian called Angelo's has just opened. The castle is in private ownership. It has opened up to the public with the Norman keep this summer. I'd love to hear what you think of it.
In terms of lakes your nearest is Ullswater. It will be about a half hour drive to Pooley Bridge. You could leave the car there and take the boat to Howtown then walk to the top of the lake at Glenridding and get the boat back. Or drive to Aira Force and do a circular walk around the waterfall and Gowbarrow. Both of the walks I've mentioned have fantastic views.
If you want to visit Keswick, which is more of a touristy town again with a gorgeous lake, it would be nearer a 45 minute drive.
Lowther Castle is about 20 minutes from Appleby..that's really lovely for a visit too...it's a shell of a castle with wonderful gardens to explore.
The Eden Valley is lovely in itself. If you like a good walk look up High Cup NIck. It's Eden's version of the grand canyon, right on your doorstep.

It's not in the ' Lake District ' . You will need a car to get to places , especially the lakes if that is your plan to see . As previous poster said Ullswater is your nearest one of size. Haweswater is much smaller and is also reasonably near. Lowther Castle is worth a visit , not a castle you go in as it is a ruin ( but in a good state i.e roofless ) it has a nice cafe in the stable block and in October the grounds are a good place for a walk.
Happy to answer any questions you might have.

Thank you both!! We've visited Windermere and Keswick previously and loved both. How long are the walks near Ullswater? And is there much to do if the weather is awful?

The walk around Ullswater is called the ullswater way and is about 20 miles. You could park in glenridding and follow the lake to aira force about 4 ish miles. Not sure about the gowbarrow walk but it's about maybe 7 miles. If the weather is awful just wear rainproof jacket and plough on. The views are still lovely even in the rain. You could take the boat from pooley bridge to glenridding and back. If it's raining you could go below decks

It won't be awful. Its a really nice time of the year.
We had an afternoon at Appleby Castle yesterday. We booked lunch, the keep and the castle tour. It was all very entertaining. It's slightly faulty towers but also amazing historically.The views from the keep are wonderful. I'd definitely recommend doing that bit with the kids.
This is the aira force/gowbarrow walk I recommended
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/aira-force-and-ullswater/trails/aira-force-and-gowbarrow-trail
And this is the howtown to glenridding walk
www.countryfile.com/go-outdoors/walks/walk-howtown-to-glenridding-ullswater-cumbria/

On the off chance the weather is bad you could look at what films are on at rheged, or go to the puzzling place at Keswick. Or like the PP said just get your waterproofs on and carry on regardless.

Thanks. I'm looking forward to it again

Its my DH birthday whilst we're away. Is there somewhere really lovely we could book for a meal?

On a dry day I would maybe try a walk around Lowther Castle grounds, as said its a ruined castle but a fabulous backdrop for photos and adults and kids are encouraged to try the various rope swings dotted about.

Not far from Lowther Castle is the pretty little village of Askham lots of nice walks there and they do woodfired pizza in Askham Hall grounds. I haven’t tried it but its meant to be nice.

Another nice walk fairly short walk with fantastic views near Ullswater is a walk up Hallin Fell. Call in to Pooleybridge for lunch at the Secret Garden or Granny D’s and enjoy the views.

Call into Keswick for a mooch around the shops a walk round the lake and a spot of lunch. If the teens and you and DH are adventurous maybe try paddle boarding or organised Ghyll Scrambling or Quad biking.

Do u want to stay in Appleby for your meal? If u don't mind driving have a look at the dome dining at the Tan Hill Inn for something totally different...

That does look nice Stillgoings, but would rather not drive. Think will book the Italian in Appleby.

if you're going to Appleby Castle far better to explore the Dales and the Eden valley without trekking into the lakes

This place is nice but a short drive www.thebridgebistro.co.uk/

I haven't tried the Italian. The Royal Oak is ok.

Kids want to go on a boat. If we drive to Pooley Bridge, get the boat to Glenridding, will we be able to walk to Aira Falls from there easily enough? We are not a family of experienced walkers.......Is Glenridding itself nice? Apologies if all of the above has already been addressed.

I think the road from Glenridding to Aira force is not going to be that fun to walk along, and a long way and once you get to Aira Force the walk around it is very pleasant but would take about 45 to 60 minutes also. But you can rent little motor boats and canoes at Glenridding or Pooley Bridge by the hour I think (check they are open as might be end of their season and weather dependent) and then you could drive on to Aira force. Take car park money in case needed.

Sending you a link to the Glenridding to Aira Force section of the Ullswater Way. It is a 3 mile section. Have done it a couple of times this year and it's not my favourite part of the walk because you are right by the road (not actually on it except at one bit). its nice enough but like the PP said you will have a long walk if you plan to walk there and back, though the steamers do have another boat route that shuttles between glenridding and Aira Force
www.ullswater.org/the-ullswater-way/aira-force-glenridding/
Glenridding is a small village. There isnt loads there. The Inn on the Lake is a big lakeside hotel. They do an absolutely gorgeous afternoon tea..I took my teens this summer on the boat from Pooley to have afternoon tea and then got boat back. It is expensive though... definitely a one off for us...

The other option is Keswick. There are also boat trips there. The circular boat trips take about an hour. You could also get off at Hawse End and walk to the lIngholm estate which was Beatrice Potters holiday home,.it has a.lovely cafe and grounds....and alpaca trekking! Keswick is a much bigger town with a lot more shops and things going on so you might prefer it though it is a longer drive

Ah man... I might have screwed up. In my excitement I booked the boat from Pooley Bridge to Glenridding, thinking we could have a look at the waterfall and then get the boat back. The walk doesn't sound like much fun. I could call them and see if I could change it? And follow your earlier recommendations.

How long have you got in Glenridding??

About 2 hours

gowalkabout

There is a path from glenridding to Air Force no need to walk on the road it’s A very pleasant walk

I am sorry for saying the weather would be nice Bugsy. The new James bond is on at Rheged if that helps...