The Rusland Valley is a forgotten corner of the Lakes District. Only 30 minutes from the M6, nestled between the Coniston and Windermere, the valley is a secluded idyll relatively unmarked by tourism. 

You can easily spend the weekend just walking or cycling from Rookhow without having to get back in the car to enjoy the beautiful scenery. 

LAKE WINDERMERE & FELL FOOT PARK (15mins by car) on the tip of Lake Windermere: with an adventure playground, cafe with ice creams, plenty of space to run around and lakeside access if you want a quick dip, dingy or canoe.

GRIZEDALE FOREST (10mins by car): cycle trails, mountain bike trails, adventure playground and cafe. 

SCULPTURE TRAIL, cafe and adventure playground in the Grizedale Forest.

WILD SWIMMING AT HIGH DAM: Walk 2.5 miles over the hills to High Dam, a classic Lake District wild swimming spot and beautiful place for a picnic. A lovely round walk from Rookhow (see Walk 2 below). About an hour each way, more with younger children or less if you run!

LAKESIDE & HAVERTHWAITE STEAM RAILWAY  Steam train ride through the beautiful Leven Valley near Lake Windermere. Only 15 mins by car from Rookhow and there's a yummy tearoom too!

LAKES AQUARIUM, Newby Bridge (20 mins from Rookhow near the steam railway and Fell Foot Park)

BETHECAR MOOR & the slidy stone: less than a mile away on the way to Bethecar Moor this is a favourite challenge for children and their parents. Take some cardboard to sit on!

FELL FOOT PARK RUN every Saturday 9am by the tip of Lake Windermere. Visitors welcome. Parking available.

HAY BRIDGE NATURE RESERVE

STOTT PARK BOBBIN MILL

RUSLAND HORIZONS have produced 6 leaflets of walks around Rusland. Copies in the Bunkbarn. They often run moth walks, bat walks, early morning bird walks and even dry stone walling training! See their website for more details. 

OXEN PARK CINEMA CLUB run regular film nights the Carthouse, 2 miles down the road from Rookhow. They're now open to bookings of small sole use groups. Their secretary, Carol McNeill is a Rookhow supporter.

2 walks from Rookhow without even getting in the car. The 1st a circular walk through Ickenthwaite, up onto Bethecar Moor, through the woods above Force Forge and back to Rookhow via Rusland Church. The 2nd a walk up to High Dam, around the tarn (where you might want to stop for a picnic or a quick dip) and back down to Rookhow. 

Click on the links below to get the route on your phone or take a photo of our route maps at Rookhow. We have OS maps there which you can borrow. 

WALK 1: ROOKHOW - ICKENTHWAITE 

7.3km (311m ascent)

WALK 2: ROOKHOW - HIGH DAM 

9km (333m ascent)

The postcode for Rookhow is: LA12 8LA.    Address@ Rookhow, Rusland, nr Ulverston, Cumbria 

What 3 words: 

By train & bike. 9 miles from Ulverston train station, 9 miles from Cark station or 13 miles from Grange-over-Sands.

By car: From M6 Junction 36: Follow A590, signs for Barrow. Leave A590 at Greenodd (A5092) junction and follow sign for Workington for 0.5 mile. Take minor road to right signed Colton / Oxen Park. Continue through Oxen Park. After 2 miles Rookhow is on the left (there's a quicker way comming off at Newby Bridge but the roads are narrower and windy!).

From Ambleside: to Hawkshead, then to Grizedale. Continue beyond Grizedale for 3.5 miles (Satterthwaite – Ulverston Road). Rookhow is on the right.

Rookhow now has its own overnight Electric Vehicle charging point, thanks to Charge My Street. Guests can download the Fuuse app and plug in! 

NB- Please bring your own charging cable.