The local area

Whether you are a keen walker, have children to entertain or simply want to enjoy the beauty of the Lake District, the area around Pout Howe offers plenty of activities. The Lake District National Park website has plenty of information, and here are a few tips of our own.

The Kentmere Horseshoe

This is a substantial but rewarding 12-mile walk with breathtaking views, which begins from Pout Howe’s front door.  Find out more about the route here.

Staveley Village

Staveley is at the bottom of valley and about 15 minutes’ drive down the winding valley roads from the cottage. It is also only five miles from Kendal.

Staveley Mill Yard provides a bustling hub for the village. There you will find Hawkshead Brewery and Wilf’s cafe, a relaxed place that served delicious food. The village has a shop which sells almost everything, as well as a butcher, a pharmacist and a playground. The Eagle and Child Inn provides good pub fare and there is a fish and chip shop in the village.

Kendal

Kendal lies in the valley of the River Kent. It is a lively market town offering a nice change from the peace and quiet of Kentmere valley. Kendal is excellent for shopping and is distinctive for its small yards, tucked away from the main street, which house specialist shops selling local produce. Booths supermarket is the best place to buy food, including tasty local cheeses. There is a swimming pool on the outskirts of the town and the Brewery Arts Centre is well worth a visit, if only for its excellent cafe.

Windermere

The town of Windermere is much smaller than Kendal but often very busy. It is about 30 minutes’ drive from Pout Howe, in the opposite direction from Kendal. It offers good shops, including a larger Booths supermarket. Bowness-on-Windermere is a mile or so down the road from Windermere town, nestled on the banks of the lake. Here you will find watersports and boat trips on the lake.

Bowness is also home to The World of Beatrix Potter. The kids are likely to love it, but it is busy and commercialised. You might be better crossing the lake on the ferry and visiting Beatrix Potter’s actual house, beautifully preserved by the National Trust.