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Things to do near The Melbreak

The Melbreak Hotel is fortunate to be close to all the action: the Lake District and Solway Coast are both on the doorstep, and bustling towns such as Workington, Whitehaven and Cockermouth are just a short drive away. You’ll find plenty of things to do during your stay, whether you’re partial to hiking, golf, eating out, or relaxing.

Below are just some ideas to keep you busy during your visit. Our team is always happy to provide advice and recommendations about local activities and attractions during your stay with us.
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Walking and Cycling

As you might imagine, there’s no shortage of walks and bike rides nearby, whether that’s along the coast at Maryport and St Bees, or amongst the spectacular scenery of the Lake District. Families will enjoy gentle strolls along the beaches and cycle tracks at Allonby, while experienced hikers might want to take on mountain giants such as Skiddaw and Blencathra. If you’d like a guide to the best lakes in the area, we recommend Lakeland Mountain Guides.

Our nearest lakes are Bassenthwaite Lake, Loweswater, Buttermere and Crummock Water. There are plenty of walks in these locations, including around the lake shores, along nearby rivers, and up into the hills.

Mountain biking and road biking is popular in these locations, too, particularly up the challenging Whinlatter and Honister passes. Bikes can be hired at Whinlatter Forest or in Cockermouth.

Our nearest town, Workington, also has some very pleasant walks. A bike track has fantastic views of both the coast and the Lake District fells, while a wander around Hall Park and Millfield takes in charming ruins, woodland, and the River Derwent. Look out for rabbits and birdlife.

Activities for Families

If you’re visiting with your family, you’ll find plenty to keep even the youngest children entertained. Maryport Aquarium is home to plenty of sea life and also has its own cafe and miniature golf course. For more animals, head to the Lake District Wildlife Park where you can see the likes of monkeys, meerkats, zebra and more.

The Clip ‘n’ Climb in Maryport is great fun for children. Lots of exciting walls and climbing challenges will keep them entertained for hours.

Workington Town Council often hosts family-friendly events, especially throughout summer. If you’re visiting, have a look at the events calendar for a range of activities.

The popular Lake District town of Keswick is home to the Puzzling Place, with lots of optical illusions, and the quirky Pencil Museum. Both are good options for rainy days.

If you’re happy to travel a little further afield, Muncaster Castle and the Ravenglass and Eskdale miniature steam railway are two must-see attractions that are well loved by adults and children alike.

Outdoor Adventures

With the Lake District so nearby, there’s no shortage of outdoor activities. In Keswick you’ll find plenty of outdoor adventure providers like Keswick Adventures and the Newlands Adventure Centre who will take you ghyll scrambling, paddle boarding or kayaking. You can also hire your own boats or paddle boards at Derwent Marina or Nichol End Marine.

Other outdoor adventures locally include paragliding, gyrocoptering, mountain biking, Go Ape and horse riding.

Golfing

Golfing is popular in West Cumbria and you can find several good courses. The nearest is Workington Golf Club, just a 5-minute drive away from The Melbreak, while Maryport Golf Club is also close by and right on the coast. In less than an hour, you can reach golf courses in Silloth, Keswick, Seascale and Eskdale – enough to golf every day of the week if you wanted to!

Culture and History

Workington has two theatres – the Theatre Royal, where a local community theatre group performs regularly, and the Carnegie, which is particularly popular with live music and tribute acts, but also has a varied programme of drama, talks, musical theatre, dance and comedy. Cockermouth has a community theatre – the Kirkgate – with a programme of films, talks and live music.

Two cinemas in Workington show plenty of modern and classic films and a unique Art Deco, family-run cinema in Keswick is very popular. Also in Keswick is the renowned Theatre by the Lake.

Cockermouth is home to the likes of Wordsworth House, William Wordsworth’s childhood home, castle ruins, and a quirky local heritage museum at the back of the J.B. Banks hardware store. Workington’s Helena Thompson Museum is a lovely spot with interesting local history, and across the road are the romantic ruins of Curwen Hall.

Historic homes are plentiful, and we would especially recommend Mirehouse near Bassenthwaite, Muncaster Castle in Ravenglass and Hutton-in-the-Forest near Penrith.

Other must-see cultural attractions include Castlerigg Stone Circle, Honister Slate Mine, Senhouse Roman Museum and Moorforge Viking Settlement.

Along the Coast

The Solway Coast stretches from Maryport, just a short drive from the Melbreak, to near the Scottish border. But there’s also lots of beautiful coast heading south, too. We recommend a trip  to the village of St Bees, which has iconic sandstone cliffs, a rare bird colony, and a large beach (when the tide is out).

Maryport is a traditional fishing village and you can still see fish being brought in on small boats at certain times of day. It has a couple of interesting museums as well as cafes, promenades, indoor go-karting and an aquarium.

As you head north from Maryport, you’ll pass by picturesque seaside villages, nature reserves, and Roman history. Allonby is a popular location for a picnic and has a much-loved ice cream parlour. Silloth-on-Solway has a traditional arcade, a large village green that hosts many events during the summer, and lovely coastal walks. Carry on up to Skinburness and you’ll reach an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Fishing is also a very popular activity along this stretch of coast, with an astonishing amount of sea creatures found in the waters.

Relaxation

If you’re on holiday to really relax, or are here on business and need to take some time out of all that work, then a spa day could be just what you need. Armathwaite Spa and the Lodore Falls Spa are both high-end options for a perfectly relaxing day. Or enjoy a simpler pampering session when you get a facial or your nails done at one of the beauty salons in Workington or Cockermouth.

A visit to the Lakes Distillery at Bassenthwaite is also a fantastic option for a laid-back day out in the Lake District. You can experience a tour of the characterful distillery and sample some of the world-famous whiskies, gins and vodkas afterwards.

Transport Options

Due to our position, you will need a car for at least a small bit of travelling. However, you can catch buses to the most popular areas of Cumbria from both Workington and Cockermouth, just 5-minute drives away from the hotel. There is also a train station in Workington for trains south towards Ravenglass and north to Carlisle and the main-line routes.

During peak season, there are a number of free shuttle buses that help you avoid narrow and winding busy country roads. These include the Buttermere Shuttle Bus from Cockermouth and the Wasdale Shuttle Bus from Ravenglass.

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