Lonsdale Park Information
Our Philosophy
We believe in the Golden days of angling, and that they are not over yet!
Here at Lonsdale we try and preserve a little of the spirit of Sir Isaac, whilst offering our guest modern luxury.
We believe that angling is good for the soul and the mind, and are particularly keen to encourage young, new, and disabled anglers.
If you find yourself reading Chris Yates, Tom O'Reilly, Arthur Ransome, George Shaman, Archie Bradocks, and of course Bernard Venables, you'll be right at home here.
Flora & Fauna
Lonsdale Park is home to a huge variety of wild life, remember to bring your binoculars fishing with you!
The site is very popular with bird watchers with its resident Kingfishers, Grasshopper Warblers and visiting Ospreys, Buzzards, Red Starts and many, many other species found on-site.
One regular bird watcher recently counted over 45 different species of birds at one sitting.
As a result, we thoroughly recommend our guests to explore the surroundings quietly in order to share the excitement of previous visitors who have spotted not only rare birds but also deer, foxes and badgers.
More recent arrivals were a family of hedgehogs who took up residence near the cottages and were frequently seen by guests whilst the wetter than usual weather proved a bonus for the wild orchids which flourished better than ever.
Click here to download a checklist of birds you might see during your stay
List Of BirdsOur Local Area
Where's The Nearest?
Our nearest city is the Historic Border City of Carlisle, which is 6 miles away, and home to the Lanes shopping centre.
Our nearest supermarket is a large Tesco which is a straightforward drive 5.5 miles away on the outskirts of Carlisle.
The nearest railway station is at Wetheral which is 3 miles away, the main railway station is at Carlisle.
Our nearest English Heritage Site is the Wetheral Priory Gatehouse which can be found along a lovely looping walk from the park along the River Eden.
Local Attractions
Carlisle Castle
Just outside the city centre, Carlisle’s impressive castle is an English Heritage site open to the public. Over nine centuries old the castle was originally an impressive Roman Fortification, and later as a castle was a site of imprisonment for Mary Queen of Scots, and saw action during the English Civil War, and Jacobite Risings. Guided tours of the castle are available with several events throughout the year - we recommend a visit!
Tullie House Museum & Art Gallery
Carlisle’s Museum is a great way to spend an afternoon or a day and has always been popular with our family. Kids entry is only 50p too. Collections include Middle and New Stone Age, Bronze Age, The Roman Carlisle and Hadrian’s Wall (a highlight), New Medieval Carlisle, Later Medieval to Tudor, and Carlisle’s Local History. Nature collections includes a display of wildlife from the Lakeland and Peninne Fells to the Solway firth as well as botany, geology, invertebrate, and vertebrate collections. The museum is also home to Carlisle Natural History Society.
New Mills Trout Farm
Found close by Brampton, New Mills Trout Farm is a great opportunity to fit in a spot of fly fishing whilst your with us, or to have a go. The staff are incredibly friendly and helpful (Emma is learning to fly fish with them), and the site is home to 2 pools. One is a bait pond, ideal for kids to catch their first trout, the larger is reserved for fly and is home to Rainbows 2lbs - 18lbs, and Brownies up-to 16lbs. For more details including tariffs please refer to their website.
www.newmillstroutfarm.net
Carlisle To Settle Railway Line
The most scenic railway in Britain runs along one border of the Park, and guests can ride the line from the nearby station at Armathwaite (which is 5 miles away) or from Carlisle station.
Other Places
- The Animal’s Refuge centre and charity - is less than half a mile along a footpath from the site.
- The park is less than 5 miles from Warwick Bridge and the Hadrian’s Way Cycle Route.
- Carlisle Racecourse, for flat and jump racing is 5 miles from the park.
- Carlisle Golf Club, is 5 miles from the park.
- Brampton Golf Club is 9 miles from the park.
- Eden Golf Course is 6 miles from the park.
- The Rheged Centre - Home to 10 shops, 3 cafes, indoor soft play, outdoor play area and a create pottery painting workshop, the Rheged centre also offers a variety of films and documentary’s on its 3d cinema screen and interesting exhibitions can always be found in the gallery. The centre’s contents and displays reflects its location, at the north of the lakes. It’s just one junction south of the park on the M6, 20 minutes away.
- Other historical museums close by include Beamish the open air museum and the Solway Aviation Museum
- A bit further afield but well within driving distance are the Scottish Borders and the famous Gretna Green.
The Lake District
Borrowdale includes half of Derwentwater and the well preserved Castlerigg Stone Circle near Keswick. It has been a favourite haunt of artists and writers over the years, including Beatrix Potter.
Buttermere and Ennerdale This tranquil area of dramatic fells, farms and woodland encompasses three lakes: Buttermere, Crummock and Loweswater.
Explore Hawkshead, a classic Lakeland village surrounded by beautiful scenery. The village is home to the Beatrix Potter Gallery.
Follow in Wordsworth's footsteps as you roam around the site of his famous daffodils. Ullswater is one of the most beautiful lakes in the Lake District, which winds through a glaciated valley. One of the highlights of a visit is the impressive Aira Force waterfall, around which you can follow dramatic walks.
Wasdale is the home of England's highest mountain, Scafell Pike, and deepest lake, Wastwater.
You'll discover fine varied walking country around Lake Windermere, at the heart of the Lake District. Hire a boat and take to the lake itself, or use the network of footpaths to reach the best high-level views. There are lots of options for places to visit, including Ambleside Roman Fort and Troutbeck Park, which was once owned by Beatrix Potter.
Walks Close By
Gelt Woods RSPB Reserve - Just 7 miles from the Park, and walks take in the River Gelt, a roman sandstone quarry complete with 3rd century graffiti, as well as a variety of bird life and red squirrels.
Sections of the Hadrian’s Wall Path
The North of the Lake District - is just 40 minutes drive away, guests staying with us benefit from the peace and traquility of our estate, whilst being able to visit the busy market towns and fells of the Lake District on their terms.
Keilder Forest and Water - an hour’s drive away is the huge Keilder forest and water. Particularly worth a nocturnal visit for our urban guests as Keilder is famous for the darkest skies in England - perfect for stargazing. Daytime interests are a plenty with much more on offer than stunning walks including cycling, mountain biking, water sports, adventure activities, horse riding, bird and wildlife watching as well as the largest outdoor public art gallery!
www.visitkielder.com/Walks From The Site
A selection of beautiful walks go right by the park, our favourites are:
Wetheral to Cotehill along the River Eden - a loop taking in Constantine’s cell which is shown below. Routes can be as short as 3 miles, 6.25 miles, or upto 16 miles if you decide to head upto Armathwaite.
Wreay and River Petteril - the main linear route is an easy 3 miles, or by adding the Wreay extension the walk becomes a circular 4.25 miles.
Sections of the Eden Way - parts of this long distance path can also be walked following the same route from the site as the Wetheral route.
Local Pubs & Restaurants
- Lowther Arms Pub in Cumwhinton
- Wheatsheaf Pub in Wetheral
- Fantails Restaurant in Wetheral
- John’s Plaice Fish and Chip Restaurant at Orton Grange
Seaside
Allonby Beach - Voted on of the Independents Top 10 UK beaches, this beach is beautiful. Pebbles close to the shore, with sand appearing as the tide backs out, a walk along the beach is our family’s favourite thing to do on a Sunday! It really is a must visit for anyone coming to Cumbria! Eagle eyed walkers and beach combers might even find discarded .303 casing telling of the beaches’ history as a training ground for fighter pilots during WW2
Silloth - A Victorian Seaside resort Silloth is famous for it’s fish and chips. Settle down on the sea front benches with your meal at dusk and you may well see the local dolphins come in along the shore!
The Solway Coast - An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with a variety of family walks to take it in. Particularly famous for its wildlife which includes the Harbour Porpoise and the Natterjack Toad.
www.solwaycoastaonb.org.uk/
Park Maps
Lonsdale Park
Lonsdale ParkWith such a vast area to explore we would like to show you what you can see and where you can go. Your unlikely to get lost at Lonsdale Park although perhaps getting 'lost' every now and again would give you more time to truly enjoy the area. There are fantastic lake views, quality fishing, wildlife and a variety of flora & fauna which create a brilliant feeling of relaxation and space, this is after all what a holiday is all about.
We provide this map to give you a little more information about our lakes and how the parks laid out. Perhaps you could use it to make a 'plan of attack', of exactly where your going to go and what to see before arriving.
Download Map
Park Rules
Please respect the following rules, which must be adhered to, as they are for the benefit of fish and anglers alike:
- On arrival, residents must dip landing nets, unhooking mats, net bags, etc for 30 minutes and then rinse them in the tanks provided.
- Barbless hooks only for Pike. Micro-barbs allowed for coarse fishing.
- All ledger rigs including method feeders must be free running and able to drop away in the event of a break off.
- Anglers are asked to be sensible with line strengths and to use a hook length which is weaker than their main line.
- Rods in use must never be left unattended - even when remote bite alarms are being used. If you leave it - you may loose it!
- Anglers may only use a maximum of three rods per person where swim allows.
- Anglers must respect other anglers' swims by not casting across swims.
- Please do not 'reserve' pegs by leaving unattended tackle or bivvies.
- The siting of bivvies should be by arrangement.
- Specimen fish should be photographed kneeling down, over an unhooking mat. (Highly recommended safety unhooking mats are available in the shop at discounted price).
- Unhooking mats must be used for large fish.
- Anglers must use a minimum 15lb breaking strain line when fishing for Carp and Pike.
- When fishing the pole, anglers should use heavy elastic.
- Carp sacks may only be used by prior arrangement for the verification and photographing of large fish with the exception of Grass Carp, which should be released immediately. (Please ensure carp sacks are securely fixed).
- Klinik or Propolis or a similar antiseptic should be carried by all anglers at all times. (Again this is available at a discounted price in the shop).
- Keep nets are not allowed, with the exception of during residents' matches.
- The use of trout pellets, Tiger Nuts and Peanuts is prohibited.
- Landing nets should be used on all but the smallest fish.
- Unauthorised live baiting is not allowed.
- Night Fishing is allowed!
- Residents can fish any peg with the exception of private pegs allocated to the accommodation.
- Anglers are asked to report any snapped off rigs, etc in trees or snags and to ensure they pick up all their own litter in order to protect our wildlife.
- Anglers should observe the speed limit on the approach road.
- If swans and ducks are present - please do not feed them.
- Cycling is not permitted around the lakes.
- Please respect other park residents by keeping the noise down to sensible levels.
- No open fires are allowed, but barbecues may be used.