An Alternative Day Out in Cumbria | Ideas for Places to Visit

This is an advertisement for October 2021 and based on a visit in September 2021. Any edits / reshares beyond this point have not been asked or paid for. Please always check information direct with venues when making plans as details can change over time. 

I love visiting Cumbria. It is super easy to get to from North East England by car or train and perfect for a day trip or short break. The scenery is stunning, the food delicious and the region is packed with a diverse range of activities and things to do. No two visits are ever the same.

Earlier this year we stayed near Penrith and explored Pooley Bridge, Lowther Castle and Askham Hall. In the past we have enjoyed the beautiful lakes of Windermere , Bassenthwaite and Keswick and when the kids were younger, we enjoyed a day trip to Carlisle from Newcastle by train.


We have also booked a little staycation at Center Parcs, Penrith in January next year to try and stave off those January blues. I feel like we have spent a fair bit of time in Cumbria yet still have so much of the region to explore. It is somewhere I will return time and time again. 

Travelling to Carlisle by Train

Our most recent visit was all about exploring some of the areas and attractions on offer in Cumbria outside of the popular Lake District National Park. We packed a lot into our day but honestly had the best time. I really hope this post reflects on this and encourages some of you to retrace our steps and enjoy some of the lesser-known areas of Cumbria. 

If you are looking for more inspiration for things to do, www.experiencecumbria.com is packed with more ideas so make sure you check them out. 

I would particularly like to draw your attention to the following posts which I found to be super useful when planning our trip: 

• Carlisle and Hadrian's Wall Full Day Itinerary 
  
  
• Exploring Carlisle to Brampton Car Free 

I have created an interactive map with the locations of everywhere mentioned it this post (click this link to view). All of the places we visited are in close proximity to each other and accessible by public transport or car. 

Birdoswald Roman Fort 

• Address: Gisland, Brampton. Cumbria. CA8 7DD.
• Admission: Free for English Heritage Members (admission fee applies for non-members). Visits do not need to be pre-booked - simply turn up during opening hours. 
• Access: Read their access policy here.
• Travel: On-site car park (free for English Heritage Members / chargeable for non-members). Accessible by bus (185 and Border Rambler). 
• Dogs on leads welcome in the outdoor areas. Facilities include a cafe, picnic area, toilets and a shop.
  
• Find out more here 

We started our trip with a visit to Birdoswald Roman Fort which is super easy to get to, just off the A69. We arrived just as they were opening for the day and pretty much had the place to ourselves which was nice. The staff were so friendly here and really made us feel welcome. 

I loved this viewpoint from the car park which shows you both sides of Hadrian's Wall and really puts the landscape into perspective and helps you to get your bearings. The wall just goes on forever and it's a fantastic view. In fact, the wall here is the longest continuous stretch of Hadrian's Wall which still remains today. 

Into the fort and the first part of the visitor experience is a brilliant exhibition which shares life as a Roman soldier. This is hands down, one of the best Roman exhibitions I have seen for kids with lots of hands on fun alongside engaging facts and snippets from Roman life. 

Activities included: 

• Build your own Roman arch 
• Re-create Hadrian's Wall with LEGO®, complete with a proper tutorial to watch 
• Send a Roman-style signal across the wall and ask a partner to interpret it and send a signal back 
• Build a model fort 
• Peek through the periscope and see just how tall Hadrian's Wall could have been 
• Take a fun quiz 
• Watch a film sharing the size and scale of Hadrian's Wall 

All of the above activities were included with admission and in extremely good condition. We had a great time trying them all. 

Heading outside, and another fantastic activity at Birdoswald is their clue-cracking quest and spy trail which takes you around the outer areas of the fort via a series of activity boards. 

A lot of thought has clearly been put into this outdoor trail and we found it to be innovative and engaging with a nice variety of challenges as we progressed through the trail. 

We unravelled a spy code word, listened to neighbourhood gossip for clues, played a Roman game, discovered the best vantage point to look for intruders and eventually, managed to 'catch' they spy. Our final task was to compose a celebration song using a special instrument by Hadrian's Wall. 

Honestly, I just loved how engaging this trail was and if you want a day out along Hadrian's Wall where the kids won't moan that they're bored, Birdoswald would be my number one recommendation to try. Along with Arbeia Roman Fort, Birdoswald is my favourite Roman site for visiting with kids. 

There is a nice gift shop and cafe serving limited food and hot drinks with indoor and outdoor seating. We enjoyed the most delicious mid-morning scone which was still warm and fresh from the oven. You can bring a picnic too and dogs are welcome in the outdoor areas so could join in with the outdoor trail with you.

Lanercost Priory 

• Address: Lanercost, nr Brampton. Cumbria. CA8 2HQ 
• Admission: Free for English Heritage Members, chargeable for non-members. No need to book ahead, simply turn up during opening hours. 
• Access: Click here to read their access statement. 
• Travel:  Ample free parking on site and the AD122 bus passes the site.
• Facilities: Lanercost Tea Room & Farm Shop on site, picnic area and shop. Dogs on leads welcome in the outdoor areas. 
• Find out more here. 

Lanercost Priory is just a few miles along the road from Birdoswald Roman Fort and it definitely makes sense to combine the two. It is such a peaceful spot and as you sit admiring the Priory and grounds, it is so peaceful and difficult to imagine the site ever having such a troubled past with frequent attacks taking place here (once by Robert the Bruce in person). 

The Cloisters and Priory are both beautifully preserved here and it's one of the best preserved medieval sites in the UK and dates right back to 1169. As you wander around and admire the architecture and history around you, you can't help but feel at peace with the world. I would highly recommend as a place for a gentle stroll. 

Kids will be fascinated by the ancient tombs on display here and the ruins and grounds lend themselves very well to a quick game of hide and seek.

As well as the ruins, you can pop into St Mary Magdalene Church which is the part of the priory still intact and used for services today. The church is welcoming, beautiful and again, super peaceful. There are windows to admire and facts about the surrounding area too. Look out for the statue of Mary Magdalene at the entrance. 

We didn't have time to stop at the attached tea room and farm shop on this occasion but I had a few DMs from people letting me know that it's excellent so if you can, I would plan a tea and cake stop here too. 

Both Birdoswald Roman Fort and Lanercost Priory were mostly outdoors, easy to get to and really interesting for both kids and grown ups. If you are looking for somewhere to spend a fun day out away from the crowds, they are both somewhere I'd highly recommend. Both are dog-friendly too. 

The next part of this post takes us into Carlisle, a compact city which is very easy to walk around with kids. All of the attractions mentioned below are within a 5 minute walk / very close to each other. 

Tullie House Museum & Art Gallery

• Address: Castle Street, Carlisle. CA3 8TP.
• Admission: £10 for adults (annual pass), U17s go free. No need to book ahead, simply turn up during opening hours. 
• Access: You can download an accessibility statement here. 
• Travel:  The Museum is in the heart of Carlisle and just a few minutes walk from Carlisle Train/Bus Stations. If visiting by car, I recommend parking in Castle Car Park (CA3 8UL). There are ample spaces and it is less than £3 to park for the day. The car park is just across the road from the museum.
• Facilities: Cafe, shop and toilets. 
• Find out more here. 

Sadly, Tullie Museum was closed on the day of our most recent visit to Carlisle but we have visited in the past (the photos below are from a few years ago) and I would say it's a must-visit attraction when visiting Carlisle. 

Visitors can expect a range of hands-on fun, lots of interactive Roman exhibits and games (you can even fire a Roman weapon) and there is the chance to climb a life size replica of Hadrian's Wall. 

As well as Roman History, the museum and gallery celebrates natural science, nature and art across various permanent and temporary exhibitions. You can visit a badger's set and encounter local wildlife in the Eden Valley exhibition. 

Carlisle Cathedral 

• Address: 7 Abbey Street, Carlisle. CA3 8TZ
• Admission: Free to visit, no booking required. Check service times before visiting. 
• Access: Click here for accessibility information. 
• Travel:  The Cathedral is in the heart of Carlisle and just a few minutes walk from Carlisle Train/Bus Stations. If visiting by car, I recommend parking in Castle Car Park (CA3 8UL). There are ample spaces and it is less than £3 to park for the day. The car park is a short walk from the Cathedral. 
• Facilities: Cafe with indoor and outdoor seating, toilets. 
• Find out more here. 

Entry to Carlisle Cathedral is free and they openly welcome those of all faiths (or no faith). They describe themselves as somewhere you can escape the noise of the world and I would have to agree.

The Cathedral is popular but not overly busy (and much quieter than somewhere like York or Durham). Visitor numbers are monitored and there is plenty of space to move around or find a quiet spot. 

What stands out about Carlisle Cathedral for me (other than their stunning ceiling which I will get onto in a bit) is how welcoming they are to children. There is a dedicated children's trail which is free to enjoy and will help you discover more about the building, simply pick up a sheet at the entrance. 

We decided to try the sensory trail which was fantastic and a lovely way to get us engaged with the building. There are various prompts around the trail asking you to get hands on with a sensory activity. For example, with the first activity, you are asked to cleanse with the holy water and listen to your body / how it feels. 

Personally, I would never feel comfortable walking into a Cathedral and helping myself to water from a font and activities like this made us feel much more comfortable and involved. It definitely made the whole visit more accessible to us. 

Some of the other sensory activities including smelling various herbs, lying on the Cathedral floor, looking up at the starry ceiling and allowing our mind to dream and listening out for various sounds. It's done really well and was a nice way to get visitors more involved. 

For me, the trails themselves were worth the visit alone and are definitely worth considering as a rainy day activity. However the real star of the show is the Cathedral itself. What an absolute stunner! 


The decorative Choir Ceiling is just incredible and you just can't visit Carlisle without popping in to see it. Other highlights for me include the Treasury, the Tait Memorial Window and the East Window. All so beautiful and intricate. 

The Cathedral has their own cafe on site which is where we stopped for lunch. There is indoor and outdoor seating where you can enjoy beautiful views of the Cathedral, Cloisters and Gardens and service was super speedy. 

The menu is small but perfectly formed with various sandwiches, homemade soups, kids lunch boxes, scones, quiches and cakes on offer. There were Gluten Free and Vegan options available too. 

Lunch was delicious and good value, it is definitely somewhere I would stop by again. 

Bitts Park 

• Address: Dacre Road, Carlisle. CA3 8UZ
• Admission: Free 
• Access: Accessible for wheelchairs with surfaced paths. Inclusive play equipment available including sensory gardens and a wheelchair swing. 
• Travel:  The Parkis in the heart of Carlisle and around a 10 minute walk from Carlisle Train/Bus Stations. If visiting by car, I recommend parking in Castle Car Park (CA3 8UL) which is next door or there is an on-site car park.
• Facilities: Cafe, toilets, picnic areas, seating. Dogs are welcome in most areas on leads. 
• Find out more here. 

Over the years, lots of people have recommended Bitts Park to us. In my head, I thought it was outside of the city centre / a short drive away. Well today I can tell you it's not. It is in fact in the heart of Carlisle and just next door to Carlisle Castle / across from Tullie House Museum. It is a brilliant example of a city centre park and I really wish I had taken the time to research just where it was on my previous visits. 

Please don't make the same mistake as I have in the past and if you are visiting Carlisle, make sure Bitts Park is on your itinerary. 

First up, there is a lovely enclosed playground with excellent play equipment for all ages including swings, slides, roundabouts & climbing frames. There is a sand pit and splash pad too (available in the warmer months only) and the playground features accessible play equipment including a wheelchair swing. 

You can just about make out the outdoor gym in the background of the above photo (in orange) which is brilliant for older teens. 

The playground is overlooked by a nice cafe with indoor and outdoor seating which also sells ice creams and there are various sports courts including tennis courts. 

The grounds of Bitts Park are beautifully maintained and despite us visiting in Autumn, there was plenty of colour in the planting and it was such a lovely place to enjoy a stroll. You would never believe we were in a city. 

One section of the park which was a big hit with Jack was the sensory sound garden where you follow a path winding around trees and try various musical instruments / sound making devices along the route. Something a little different. 

Other facilities in the park include large playing fields, a skate park, and circular running and walking routes with flat, surfaced paths. Some of the walks take you past a river which is very pleasant. 

Don't miss the statue of Queen Victoria in the formal gardens. 

Carlisle Castle & Cumbria's Museum of Military Life  

• Address: Carlisle Way, Carlisle. CA3 8UR. 
• Admission: Free for English Heritage Members, chargeable for non-members. No need to book in advance, simply turn up during opening hours. 
• Access: Click here to read their access statement 
• Travel:  The Cathedral is in the heart of Carlisle and around a 10 minute walk from Carlisle Train/Bus Stations. If visiting by car, I recommend parking in Castle Car Park (CA3 8UL) next door. There are ample spaces and it is less than £3 to park for the day.
• Facilities: Takeaway snacks and drinks, picnic areas (including covered outdoor seating), toilets, shop and dogs are welcome on leads (excluding museum and exhibition). 
• Find out more here. 

Carlisle Castle is somewhere we have visited a few times now. I love how impressive it is and it is very easy to imagine the Castle being here for the past 900 years. 

The Castle has such an interesting history and Mary Queen of Scots was held captive in a turret here in the 1500s by her cousin Elizabeth I. 

I like how varied Carlisle Castle is and there is something for everyone. You can visit King Richard III's bedroom, enjoy the Captain's Tower which is one of the best preserved Gatehouses in the country and pop by the Castle exhibition which shares the Castle's interesting history. 

Some of the rooms in the Castle are partially furnished and there is a one way system in place around the main areas. It is easy to step back in time here. 

Included with your admission is entry to Cumbria's Museum of Military Life which is a small museum in the Castle grounds. It's interesting and shares some of the local stories from WWI and WWII right up to the present day. 

My favourite part of any Castle visit is usually walking around the Castle walls and Carlisle Castle is no exception to this. I always feel like walking along the walls, seeing the turrets and weapon holes gives you a real feel for a Castle and it's main reason for being. The views across Carlisle are spectacular from up here too. 

One final note about visiting the Castle is that I really appreciated all of the information signs dotted about the rooms. I discovered that prisoners were once crammed into the room below and resorted to licking the walls where moisture gathered. Crazy to think that this was less than 300 years ago! 

And with that slightly gruesome fact, I bring you to the end of my post. I hope I have provided you with some ideas for new places to visit, especially if you are English Heritage members. All of the places we mentioned were easy to get to and perfect spots for escaping the crowds. 


Northern Trains travel direct to Carlisle from Newcastle, Cramlington, Morpeth (and several other stations) and take around 1 hour 30 minutes. At time of publishing, a family return ticket for 2 adults and 2 children will cost around £30 with a friends and family railcard. It is a lovely peaceful & scenic journey through countryside and one I would recommend. 

If you wish to read more about travelling to Hadrian's Wall and Cumbria by bus, check out this handy map/guide. 

Looking to make a weekend of it? Experience Cumbria has put together a handy accommodation guide here featuring everything from campsites to cottages and spa hotels. 


Find out more: www.experiencecumbria.com

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