Out and about the country roads of The Westmorland Dales, and indeed…..most country roads in Cumbria, you will meet cyclists. Touring families, lycra clad speed merchants, evening only cyclist groups and enthusiastic ladies like myself! This area is a Mecca for cyclists. The challenges are varied, with stiff hills, long winding descents, gentle undiscovered back roads. Plus pubs and cafes for en route refreshment ….. so important. Your bike is easy to store at the farmhouse. We have 2 Adult size hybrid Bikes that are available for our guests to hire. Add them to your booking as an extra at £15/day. Then off you go and explore the quiet lanes and country roads that are challenging but beautiful.

Food: Shap Co-op, is a 10 minute drive away and is the best Co-op in the world Tebay Services Farmshop, for amazing local food this motorway  farmshop ( of TV fame) has amazing local food. clothes, drinks plus  well made gifts and essentials Booths at Penrith, we call it the Waitrose of the north, full of delicious food and drink. J&J Graham Deli’s delicious hampers can be delivered to the cottages; afternoon treats, champagne and fudge. Cumbria in a hamper. Low Howgill Butchers, Buy the farm’s home bred meat, as well as other great local produce including delicious pies and tarts. Stephenson’s Grocers, A proper fruit and veg shop which also sells Appleby creamery cheese and other deli items Fun: The Evan Gallery,  Penrith Eden Valley artists cooperative has an extensive exhibition of local arts and crafts. For a perfect reminder of your holiday N Arnison & Sons of Penrith, Many guests to Crake Trees Manor Trees make a regular trip to visit this emporium for fabulous clothes, shoes and underwear. The Courtyard Gallery, Appleby. Wonderful high end art, jewellery and local books Church Gallery, Kirkby Stephen All of Kirkby Stephen is fun, with loads of small independent shops  

We have loads of maps and suggestions for circular walks or treks into the fells and towards the lakes. Our favourite is to Haweswater, and then follow the ancient coffin roads over the tops to Ullswater. We have two new information boards for the villages of Maulds Meaburn and Crosby Ravensworth. Crake Trees Manor is located between these two villages. Crosby Ravensworth Maulds Meaburn There is a lovely new Walking leaflet, Fell & Riverside Walks around Crosby Ravensworth and Maulds Meaburn produced by local people in 2018, which provides 3 walks around this beautiful area – described by Hunter Davies as “… one of the most beautiful villages in the country“.

Perfect places for a hot and sunny day to escape the crowds. Take a walk up Crosby Fell to Black Dub and lie amongst the heather, looking up at the sky and listen out for skylarks. Climb up from Haweswater, which is our nearest ‘lake’ to Small Water, where our drinking water originates. Follow a footpath down through our farm into the village of Maulds Meaburn, then back to Crosby via Flass House and slip into the water for a paddle. The Victorian town of Silloth is worth a visit and has a 2 mile promenade to enjoy. Take a dip in the outdoor swimming pools at Hunsonby, Shap or Lazonby. Wild swimming is very popular in our local rivers. Pop along to Brougham Castle & Brough Castle to learn all about our most famous northern feminist, Lady Anne Clifford. Visit the many and varied  churches of the Lyvennet and Eden valley, which are usually open and always cool and interesting. Rainy day fun… There are plenty of interesting places to explore on a rainy day. Rheged, and  Penrith Cinema,at Penrith. Take a train adventure south through the Dales on the Settle to Carlisle train from Appleby. Or go the other way  to Carlisle  Tullie House Carlisle, . Drive over the wild and dramatic Shap Fell  to Kendal Abbot Hall Kendal and then onwards to Windermere Blackwell House Windermere.