Wild Rose Park

Wild Rose Park's nearest town, Appleby-in-Westmorland, is as cute as you'd expect from Cumbria – it was once a fiercely defended border stronghold from the time when the English and the Scots were wrangling, but is now a sedate and scenic market town with an 18-hole golf course, indoor swimming pool, individual shops and old traditional pubs (the best type). And it also has a castle, and an ancient church, both linked by the also-exceedingly scenic tree-lined main street of Appleby. The church, St Lawrence, is open all year for services, but for the castle, those wishing to have a nosy will need to book tickets for a tour from the Appleby tourist information centre as the castle is now privately owned. From Appleby, take the Settle-Carlisle Line through the Yorkshire Dales and the North Pennines for a very pretty day trip; the full run is 73 miles, but if you only have time for one leg of it, go towards Settle, to pass Ribblehead and the Ribblehead Viaduct. The Eden river, also as spectacularly scenic as you'd expect in Cumbria, has a lot to do along/in it and its tributaries – fishing, naturally, but also canoeing, boating, birdwatching or simply wandering along its beaut banks. Also in the area, have a look at the Lakeland heritage centre Rheged in Penrith and Tullie House in Carlisle, go swinging among the trees at Glenridding Forest or explore historical houses, family attractions and loads more: call into the Wild Rose Park reception or to the park tourist information room for top tips.