You have picked a truly beautiful part of the world for your holiday in the stunningly beautiful Lake District National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site!

Backbarrow is a small, historical, village in the South Lakes which allows you to get away from the hustle and bustle of some of the major tourist hotspots of the Lake District, yet it is still within easy reach of many of the most beautiful towns and villages that the The Lakes has to offer.

The village has a couple of places to eat and drink, including the Whitewater Hotel (bar, restaurant and spa) and Cafe Ambio both of which are within a 5 minute walk of the cottage (and both offer spectacular views from outdoor riverside seating in the dry weather). Our local dog friendly pub is The Anglers Arms (a nice 1 mile walk down "Trundle Brow") which serves great traditional pub food. The nearby tea room at the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Steam Railway (also 1 mile away) is also recommended (they do a great take away afternoon tea!) as is the Rusland Pool Hotel with a great selection of food and a lovely sunday roast (5 minute drive).

Less than half a mile from the cottage are the Lakeland Motor Museum (amazing collection of vintage motors hosting regular events in the summer) and the Cliffhanger Rooms (escape room game), both of which are great options on a wet day, and less than a mile away is the wonderful Lakeside and Haverthwaite Steam Railway, where you can take a step back in time to a byegone era with a ride on the steam trains (check timetable) and enjoy a visit to the gift shop and engine shed.

Less than 2 miles away are The Lakes Aquarium and Windermere Lake Cruises, where you can leave the car behind and take a cruise up Lake Windermere to Bowness-on-Windermere and on to Ambleside. In our opinion, there is no better way to see and explore these villages than by leaving the car behind, letting the boat do the work, and watching the scenery glide by. Combined tickets for the steam train / lake cruise / motor museum are also available online.

Two local hotels, The Whitewater Hotel (5 minute walk) and The Swan at Newby Bridge (around 1 mile away), offer dining, leisure and spa facilities. Both allow guests to pay in as day visitors to use the pools, sauna and gym facilities for a small entrance fee, and both can be contacted directly to pre-book spa treatments (check price and availability with the hotels directly). Plenty of other hotels in the area also offer spa facilities and afternoon tea packages. Booking is advisable, especially in summertime.

The cottage has excellent walking direct from the door, with a number of great options. Haverthwaite Heights (a historic forest with wild deer and waymarked walking trails), the spectacular white waters of the River Leven, peaceful and serene Bigland Tarn and the beautiful felltop walk to Newby Bridge all easily accessible on foot, with access to the open fells literally 50 yards from the cottage door. Roundsea Wood and Mosses National Nature Reserve, Gummer's How, and Finsthwaite High Dam are also close by, whilst Walney Island Nature Reserve and Grizedale Forest walking trails are also well worth the short drive. 

Nearby towns, villages and attractions:

• Lakeside - < 2 miles - Lakes Aquarium, Lakeside and Haverthwaite Steam Train and Windermere Lake Cruises
• Cartmel - 5 miles - Racecourse, historic Cartmel Priory, Rogen and L'Enclume (both Simon Rogen Michelin star restaurants) plus Sticky Toffee Pudding!
• Grange over Sands - 8 miles - traditional Victorian seaside resort with mile long promenade.
• Bowness-on-Windermere - 9 miles - a major tourist village with many pubs, restaurants and shops. 
• Hawkshead - 10 miles - one of the most beautiful traditional villages in all of the Lake District.
• Coniston - 14 miles - large but still unspoilt village, set in the shadow of the famous Old Man of Coniston.
• Ambleside - 15 miles - a hub for walkers and a lovely day trip from the cottage on the boat from Lakeside.
• Grasmere - 18 miles - a small traditional village. Beautiful scenery and world-famous gingerbread! 

If you are looking to take the outdoor excitement up a notch, horse riding, Segway tours, cycle hire, boating and canoeing are all available to book and hire less than 10 miles from the cottage.

For something really extreme, you can try mountain climbing, ghyll scrambling, or tackle the tree top obstacle course at Grizedale Forest where you can also hire mountain bikes and Segways, or head to Fell Foot National Trust site just a 5 minute drive away where you can try all manner of watersports including paddle boarding and open water swimming if you feel really brave, and where you can also join in the local Saturday morning Park Run!  

If you are interested in something a little more sedate and finding out more about the area and its history, there are many former stately homes such as Holker Hall, Levens Hall, Sizergh Castle and Beatrix Potter's former home, Hilltop, which are all less than 10 miles from the cottage, as are a number of museums such as the Lakeland Motor Museum which is on our doorstep and the Windermere Jetty (steamboat museum) in Bowness on Windermere..

Whether you want your holiday to be about putting your feet up and relaxing, seeing the wonderful sights of the Lake District villages, pulling on your walking boots and leaving the crowds behind, or enjoying fine local food and relaxing spa treatments, you could not have picked a better place for your break in The Lakes.

We are both passionate about the Lake District, being frequent visitors long before buying Birch House, and we believe in supporting local businesses and introducing people to the wonders of the stunning Lake District. We will happily answer any questions that you might have to make sure you get the most from your stay.

Steve and Maria