The nearest village, Braithwaite, is about a mile away and has two shops and two pubs
(Royal Oak and Coledale Inn). Across the valley, 25 minutes walk away, is another pub, the Swinside Inn.
About a mile away at Nicholl End Marina boats and canoes can be hired for great family days
Keswick is a few minutes drive and has all the facilities you would expect in a country market town
plus some you wouldn't ...
Supermarket, Pubs, Tourist Information, Shops, etc
Pencil Museum, Bike Hire, Mountain Walling
Keswick Museum
Lakeside Theatre -
Lovely Parks with public tennis courts, pitch & putt golf, boat hire
The Whinlatter Forest vistor centre (short drive away) is a great stop-
This is now a really good cycle centre, with graded routes and bike hire.
Go Ape is at Whinlatter -
Newlands Adventure Centre is a few minutes away and will arrange many activities including Ghyll Scrambling in Stoneycroft Beck behind the properties.
Castlerigg Stone Circle -
Further afield ...
trips to the sea (St Bees has a nice beach)
stately homes ; Mirehouse, Hutton are very accessible, Muncaster Castle (plus Owls) is great -
Cockermouth is 25 minutes drive away and has many attractions (Wordsworth House, Jennings Brewery)
Ambleside and Grasmere are about a half hour drive away