Penrith campsites

Located in the town's historic Robinson's School, a building founded in 1670 as a girls' charity school you’ll find the Penrith and Eden Museum. This provides an informative insight into the natural and social history of the town and surrounding area and a great place to start when visiting. It houses a collection of material reflecting the history and culture of Penrith and the surrounding Eden District.

Exploring the remains of Penrith Castle is also a fun way to experience the history of the town in a tangible way. The striking sandstone remains of the ‘Castle of the Kings’ is situated in the pleasant surroundings of Castle Park, on the southern edge of Penrith. The Castle is accessed via a wooden footbridge that spans the Castle’s moat.

High above the town, on top of Beacon Hill, is Penrith Beacon, a monument built in 1719. You can walk up to the beacon, and from there get a magnificent view on a clear day across the Eden Valley to the hills of Lakeland.

Situated not far outside the town is Ullswater, the Lake District's second largest lake. Here visitors can enjoy fun activities such as kayaking, sailing and fishing, as well as great cruises on Ullswater Steamers. Ullswater Steamers offer the perfect opportunity to explore the area. Referred to as the 'Dark Lake' in Arthurian legend, it is believed monsters used to live beneath the dark waters of Ullswater! Set sail with the family on a voyage of discovery through the valley that holds the secrets of many amazing achievements.

The surrounding area is great for walks and sightseers should also not miss a trip to the beautiful Aira Force waterfall. Probably the most famous of the Lake District waterfalls, the main force falls 70 feet from below a stone footbridge. Aira Force provides a glimpse of a landscaped Victorian park with dramatic waterfalls, arboretum and rocks scenery. More than enough to satisfy the most adventurous family hikers but not too far off the main routes.

A great all-weather attraction has to be Crafty Monkeys, allowing children and adults to let loose and make their own pottery on the potter's wheel, paint ready made items like cups, piggy banks and monster trucks, make your own teddy bear or create a lovely mosaic. Also available are hand, foot or paw prints on pottery or in clay.

Set in the beautiful Eden Valley on the way to the Lake District you’ll find Abbott Lodge, a working dairy farm which produces over 30 flavours of homemade Jersey ice cream, of which at any time a whopping 16 types are available on site.

Fancy a swim, there’s a plethora of pools to choose from... the fantastic indoor Penrith Leisure Centre, Askham Outdoor Swimming Pool, Lazonby Swimming Pool, Greystoke and District Outdoor Pool and Shap Swimming Pool.

Happy Hooves Riding Centre and Eamont Competition Horses is a riding school with a delightful rural outlook over the river just outside of Penrith. Open six days a week they provide high quality riding lessons, an own a pony day, hacks out in the lovely countryside and the popular three hour Fell Ride.

At Rookin House near Penrith you can begin your outdoor adventure with a plethora of activities available. There's 4x4 off-road driving, archery, clay pigeon shooting and horse riding, plusamphibious vehicles are all on offer.

Not to be missed is Talkin Tarn Country Park is a whopping 165-acre site rich in fairy-tale like mature woodland and gentle meadows, all surrounding a glacial lake with the stunning Pennine Hills as a backdrop. Walks, orienteering and numeracy trails are just a few activities on offer. It's close to the historic market town of Brampton too, which is a lovely place for family exploration.

Also, nearby is the picturesque Lowther Castle and Gardens, while anyone interested in birds of prey should not miss a trip to the Lakeland Bird of Prey Centre. In addition, a visit to Long Meg & Her Daughters is a great opportunity to combine nature with a sense of history while exploring this Bronze Age stone circle. The beautiful historic house of Hutton-in-the-Forest and the intriguing Lacy's Caves are also well worth exploring too.