Things to do

If you love your animals then Lambing takes place from the end of March to mid-May. There’s generally a pet lamb or two or three to feed and care for. Guests are more than welcome to participate!

We have a few hens clucking around. Feel free collect a couple of fresh eggs for breakfast.

The nights at Paddigill are particularly dark – ideal for star gazing.

Because of its location on the northern edge of the National Park and the north of the county, Caldbeck has so much within easy reach. There’s ample opportunity for fell walking simply by stepping out of the door. Some areas of the Northern Fells offer quiet walking even on the busiest days of the year. For those who prefer something more relaxed, there are local footpaths, many of them on the farm, to explore. There is a delightful riverside walk that takes you through a limestone gorge known as the Howk and ends in Caldbeck.

Carlisle, a 25 minute drive away, is the local shopping centre. The castle and Tullie House Museum make a great wet day option.

Keswick, the undisputed outdoor capital of the UK, is a 25 minute drive away. There’s a wealth of activities to choose from: from abseiling to zorbing. For indoor entertainment, the award winning Theatre by the Lake stages a rolling programme through the year, as well as a literary and mountain festival, but there’s also the Jazz & Blues Festival or the Beer Festival.

The market town of Cockermouth – which became famous in November 2009 for the major floods, is only a 20 minute drive. It has a great array of shops, restaurants, cafes and other attractions such as the childhood home of the poet William Wordsworth; Wordsworth House now managed by the National Trust. There’s also Jennings Brewery with its popular tours around the brewery.

For even more ideas of things to do and places to go try these: