Newby Bridge Country Caravan Park

Newby Bridge is about a mile south of Windermere, a narrow ribbon of 10 watery miles making up England's biggest natural lake. Famed throughout the land (world?), it's a haven for cruises, watersports, boating, and cycling or hiking the five miles around its western shore. A watersports and information centres is at Bowness-on-Windermere; hire boats or hop on a pleasure cruise at Brockhole. Steam yacht gondola rides can be arranged on Coniston. Elsewhere around are all manner of activities and attractions for all flavours, like the rambles of the Yorkshire Dales, seaside days at Grange-over-Sands, island hopping around Morecambe Bay, and having days at famed historic houses like Holker Hall and Gardens and Sizergh Castle. At Cartmel village, pick up some sticky pud then wander to the 12th-century Priory Church of St Mary and St. Michael, a popular place that these days has regular events and concerts as well as a monthly food market. May and August bank holidays are the best times for meets at nearby Cartmel Racecourse, where concerts are also held throughout the year. Also recommended by the Newby Bridge team are scenic wanders around Fell Foot Park next to Windermere, a look at Backbarrow's Lakeland Motor Museum, and runs on the Lakeside & Haverthwaite and Ravenglass and Eskdale railways. For animal adventures, see the snow leopards of Lakeland Wildlife Oasis near Milnthorpe or the freshwater and marine inhabitants of the Aquarium of the Lakes at Ulverston.