Things to do in the area

The immediate area surrounding The Pheasant is ideal for walking, low level or for the more adventurous the Skiddaw range is only 10 minutes away, but Sale Fell is on the doorstep. This was one of Alfred Wainwrights favorite area’s as he said in his North Western Guide to the fells ‘nothing pleased me more then the shy Wythop Valley, so easy to walk, so charming and unspoilt, a little tranquil world apart’

Little has changed over the years and as you explore the area you will find plenty of connections with the past from the old Bassenthwaite Lake railway station to the remains of St Margaret’s Church the other side of Sale fell and further afield are the remains of the old brickwork factory near Wythop Hall. The story behind the ruins is a fascinating one. In the 1930’s a modern plant was installed for the manufacture of silica bricks, a small railway was built and the road to Wythop Hall re-laid and over 100 workman employed, all to no avail, as the product was inferior and the buildings and plant dismantled, the workman dismissed and the site vacated!

Wildlife: The Silver Meadow wetland nature reserve is next door to The Pheasant and is a must walk for any visitor. This beautiful area is 7 hectares of wetland and once part of Bassenthwaite Lake, but now is home to a range of special wetland flora, fauna and wildlife. There are access for all paths and boardwalks which will take you around the site where you can see rare plants and birds and if you are really lucky roe deer and Red Squirrels feeding at the hazel nut feeders.

Railway Enthusiasts: Bassenthwaite Lake Railway Station – this picture was taken in 1961, the station house, ticket office and mail sorting room to the right of the picture, and the goods yard and siding to the left of the picture. The left of the picture has now been taken over by the A66 road, whereas the right is barely recognisable through the dense growth of plantation! Brief History.... The New Year of 1865 brought the railway to Bassenthwaite Lake with the opening of a station there. It served the nearby community of Dubworth as well as the more-distant Bassenthwaite village which involved a three-mile trek. Like many small country stations, it featured a signal box, a coal depot to its northern side and a timber siding to the south. The route was single line but trains could pass on Bassenthwaite`s loop. The station was base to a gang of platelayers who were each earning 18 shillings per week as the 19th Century closed. In January 1966, Transport Minister Barbara Castle announced that passenger services would be withdrawn between Keswick and Cockermouth, signaling the end of the line for Bass Lake. The last train pulled out in April 1966.

Theatre: Keswick Theatre by the Lake is a year-round professional producing and presenting theatre which provides a service through the performing arts to communities of, and visitors to, Cumbria. The core programme is home-produced professional drama productions, including a six month Summer Season of six plays in repertoire, a major Christmas production and at least one other production in the spring of each year. The theatre is situated at Lakeside in Keswick with its famed views across Derwentwater, Borrowdale and the Western Fells. Theatre by the Lake has been sensitively designed to complement this unique and beautiful location. It has a traditional Lakeland exterior of locally-sourced stone, slate and roughcast, in keeping with Keswick`s distinctive architecture.

History: The Embleton Sword: There is much evidence of Iron Age settlement in Cumbria, including hill forts such as those close to The Pheasant Inn at Maiden Castle and Dunmallard Hill, Pooley Bridge and many hundreds of smaller settlements and field systems but it was in Wythop Mill, Embleton that, from a cultural, artistic and technological standpoint, one of the most exciting Iron-Age artifacts ever found in Britain was unearthed. The artifact, discovered in the mid 18th Century, is a beautiful iron sword with a bronze hilt and scabbard, thought once to have belonged to a Brigantian and dating to around 50 BC. The Embleton Sword is presently in the possession of the British Museum.
Origin of the name Dubwath: The term “dub” is in common usage in old English, although it probably derives from Norsk. It means a pool, pond, or mire, usually in the course of a river or stream. The term”wath” is a Viking word meaning a ford or shallow stream. Thus, Dubwath means “ford across the mire” The Ouse Bridge Inn is just past Dubwath and following Bass Lake shoreline, is Ouse Bridge and on the other side of the bridge used to be The Ouse Bridge Inn which was a well known hostilely before The Pheasant was made from a farm house into the wonderful coaching Inn it is today.

Angling: Facilities and opportunities for Angling in and around our area are some of the best and most varied in the UK. Whether your preference is the pursuit of salmon and trout and other game fish or for coarse angling or sea fishing, our region’s rivers, lakes, shores and coastal waters offer some of the finest and best value angling to be had anywhere. The following links will take you to a range of facilities and information.

Golf: Cockermouth Golf Club, Embleton. 18 holes PGA rated golf course, ully equiped, cosy and friendly clubhouse with easy parking. Visitors welcome. A down-to-earth and handsome fell-top and heathland course; a bit exposed so adverse weather brings a golf challenge or two. However your golf will either be inspired, or if not, then put into true perspective by the quite magnificent vistas and views from all parts of this well-loved localality. Busy only during club competitions or the occasional event, it’s not unusual in off-peak periods to find the course almost empty. See the website for more detail.

Wilderness adventure: Skiddaw House, a Grand Day out, so close to home… in fact a grand overnight away, far from the rush and hurry of life. Skiddaw House the bunkhouse, YHA affiliated, but independently run is available for anyone to go and stay overnight, providing you can cope with the walk in!! It’s a three and half mile walk from opposite Peter House Farm near Bassenthwaite if you take the car up through the gates to the end of the tarmac. More like four and half if you go from the car park opposite the farm. A good bridle track leads all the way to the house, by-passing Dash Falls, quite a sight especially after heavy rain! To walk on through to Keswick after a night there is about 5 miles, taking in Latrigg or even Skiddaw, there are good footpaths either side of the Glenderamakin Valley. Since the house is at 1550’ the trip up Skiddaw becomes a doddle as you’re already half way up. Once up there, there is no other habitation in sight. Martin and Marie, the wardens make everyone very welcome, with a cuppa on arrival. There are also groups of volunteers who go up to the house regularly to do maintenance or chop wood to keep the fires burning. You can join the Friends of Skiddaw House and receive a newsletter, and support the SHF for a donation of £10. Recently grants have been successfully applied for, and this year sees the roof strengthened and re-slated, and PV cells and a Thermal water system almost completed. This will go a long way on the road to sustainability, reducing the dependency on LPG Gas for the generator. Please have a look at the website and go have your own wilderness experience.

HERE ARE LINKS TO SOME OTHER INTERESTING PLACES LOCALLY...

Holker Hall and Gardens                             One Of The Finest Victorian Halls In The North
Hutton In The Forest                                    Lord and Lady Inglewoods Historic Home And Gardens
Dalemain Gardens                                        Mansion and Historic Gardens
Mirehouse and Gardens                               Family Home With Literary Connections, Lakeside Walk, Wildlife Trail
Muncaster                                                     The Award Winning Muncaster Experience At Muncaster Castle
Wordsworth House and Garden                 Step Back To The 1770s In This Amazing Georgian Townhouse
Blackwell The Arts and Crafts House         An Iconic Gem Of English Arts and Crafts In The Lake District
Brantwood                                                     John Ruskins Home 1872 til 1900
Cockermouth Arts and Crafts                     Visit Artists Studios, Galleries And Craft Businesses In Cockermouth
Whitehaven                                                   Visit The Maritime Port of Whitehaven, Once The Third Largest In the UK.
The Pencil Museum                                      Learn About Drawing, Free Demonstrations, Kids Activities.