Ashness Bridge

The Northern Lake District

The northern region of the Lake District National Park is an area of outstanding natural beauty with magnificent scenery, and also an area with a great variety of wildlife.

Thornthwaite village is located close to Bassenthwaite Lake, a National Nature Reserve and SSSI.

There are no motor boats here, and the Southern part of the Lake is a World renown site for water fowl. There is a public hide from which birds may be viewed.

View a video of photographs taken around Thornthwaite Village.

Ospreys, which are successfully breeding in Thornthwaite Forest

, may be seen catching fish from the lake during Spring and Summer. A public viewpoint from which to observe the ospreys has been established in Dodd Wood and is open from April until Ocober.

Bassenthwaite Lake is an easy and pleasant walk from Jenkin Hill Cottage, passing through Powter How Woods, and taking advantage of an underpass below the A66 to reach the shore.

About 100 yards from the Cottage a track runs gently uphill into Whinlatter Forest. This leads to miles of walking or cycling routes unhindered by motor vehicles. Alternatively a route from the village leads up beside Comb Beck, providing a sometimes steep but very attractive path into the forest. The Whinlatter Forest visitor centre is within easy walking distance. There is a variety of waymarked walks running through the forest, all starting at the visitor centre, which also has some educational displays. Mountain bicycles are also available for hire at the centre for those who wish to explore at a faster pace. There are also useful routes through the forest onto the surrounding fells, such as Lord's Seat, Barf and Grisedale Pike.

Keswick's historic Moot Hall provides a centrepiece for traditional street markets, which are held every Saturday.

The market town of Keswick, with its variety of shops, pubs, restaurants and an interesting mix of traditional and new attractions, is in an impressive situation on the foothills of Skiddaw (3054') and nestling on the edge of the beautiful three mile long Derwentwater.

In the opposite direction lies Cockermouth, the birthplace of William Wordsworth and home to several small and interesting museums, plus the Jennings Brewery, which is open for tours.

Activities available locally include walking, climbing, mountain biking, sailing, canoeing, wind surfing & paragliding, to name but a few! For those who like a more leisurely pace there is fishing or birdwatching, and beautiful scenery to photograph, paint - or to simply enjoy.

Jenkin Hill Cottage provides an ideal base for those visiting the Lake District, as virtually all the National Park is within one hours motoring. Skiddaw and the other highest mountains in England (Helvellyn, Great Gable and Scafell) are within easy reach. Just a little further afield are the Pennines and Hadrians Wall, or the delightful villages of the Eden Valley.

We do recommend the use of the OS 1:50,000 to help you plan your local trips and walks. The local map can be ordered from here.

This area has so much to offer and to enjoy...........

NEW! View our garden photo gallery here.

Local Information