Workington, Cockermouth and the Northern coast

Bank Mill Nurseries
plant sales and nursery, nature reserve, butterfly house, reptilia, children's play area, ferret world, coffee shop, restuarant, animals and birds, picnic area. Mid-size attraction in Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and next to Site of Special Scientific Interest. Wheelchair friendly. Open daily 9am-6.30pm restaurant 6pm-10pm. Closed Mon & Tue. Admission to nature reserve £2, pensioners £1.50, children £1 family (2adults. 2 children) £5; butterfly house and reptilia £3, pensioners £2.50, children £2 family (2 adults, 2 children) £9 both attractions £4.50, £3.50, £2.50 £12. Children must be accompanied by adult in attractions. Beckfoot, Silloth-on-Solway CA7 4LF 01900 881340
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Senhouse Roman Museum
Roman military altar stones, Romano-British religious sculpture, children's activities, dramatic cliff site in former battery next to fort, N edge of Maryport at end of Promenade. The Battery, The Promenade, Maryport CA15 6JD. Small attraction. Open Apr-Jun Tue Thur Fri-Sun 10am-5pm Jul-Oct and Bank Hols daily 10am-5pm £3, children £1, families £8 01900 816168
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Lake District Coast Aquariumm
Marine life of the Irish Sea in 50 themed displays, some gentle touching allowed. Also gift shop, cafe, aquablaster game, radio controlled boats. South Quay, Maryport CA15 8AB, part of docks and marina complex at south end of town. Open daily 10am-5pm, fish feeding demonstrations daily, at 12 noon, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm. Mid-size attraction but can be returned to all day with admission ticket. £5.75 children £3.75 concessions £4.75, under 4s free families; 2 adults and 2 children £16.75; 2+3 £19.75; 1+2 £12.25; 1+3 £15.75. Also miniature golf (£2.50/£1.75) adventure playground (ages 5-15) and other attractions. 01900 817760
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The Gincase
animal paddocks with rare breed farm animals and poultry, pets to stroke, outdoor play area, playbarn, walk-through aviary, art gallery, tea room, craft shop. Tea room, craft barn, gallery free, other areas £4.50 children /concessions £3.50 under 3s free families (2 adults 2 children) £14. Small to mid-size attraction. Open Tue to Sat 10.30am-430pm 2.5miles S of Silloth, turn inland off B5300 at Beckfoot. Mawbray Hayrigg, Silloth. Wigton CA7 4LL 016973 32020, 016973 31443
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Walby Farm Park
outdoor play areas, trampolines, nature trail, off-road driving, farm animals and pets, plus county's largest indoor play area with 24ft demon drop slide, cafe, shop. Mid-size attraction. Crosby-on-Eden CA6 4QL 4 miles E of Carlisle turn off A689 to Walby 01228 573056 10am-6pm last admission 4pm £5.95 children £5.45 under 1s free over 65s £5 families (2 adults and 2 children) £21

High Head Sculpture Valley
sculptures by Jonathan Stamper in natural woodland valley, art gallery, tea room, farm shop, play area, spa beauty treatments and therapies, woodland walks. Mid-size attraction. Open daily 10.30am-5pm last admission 4.30pm. Tea room, gallery, parking free. Sculpture Valley £2.50 concessions, children 6-16 years £1.50 under 6 free. Closed Wednesdays. High Head Farm, Ivegill, Carlisle, CA4 0PJ on minor road 6 miles S of Carlisle, 2 miles SE of Stockdalewath, look for sculpture. 016974 73552
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Solway Coast Discovery Centre
exhibition showing the environment, heritage, history and development of the Solway Coast over the past 10,000 years. Film of Solway Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Art gallery, tourist information, shop. Small attraction. Open daily 10am-4.30pm £2, children and concessions £1. Liddell Street, Silloth-on-Solway CA7 4DD on N edge of town off Skinburness Road 016973 33055
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Around Cockermouth and Bassenthwaite

Wordsworth House and Garden
poet's birthplace and childhood home in Cockermouth. Georgian townhouse, walled garden, hands-on activities. Watch the servants and help them with daily routine, family activities in school holidays. Small attraction. National Trust gift shop next door. Gift aid admission £5.90 children £2.90 families £14.70. Open Mon-Sat 11am-5pm last admission 4pm. Main Street, Cockermouth CA13 9RX 01900 820884 (info line) 01900 824805 (office)
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Go Ape
obstacle course through the tops of trees. Min age 10, height 1.40m/4ft 7in, max weight 130kg/20.5 stone. Under 18s must be supervised by participating adult. 1 adult can supervise 2 children where 1 or both is under 16 or up to 5 16-17 year olds. Participants should be able to climb rope ladder. Whinlatter Forest Park, Braithwaite, near Keswick CA12 5TW. Off the A66 W of Keswick take B5292 and follow forest park visitor centre signs. Mid-size attraction. 18s and over from £25, 10-17s from £20, peak prices £27.50/£22.50 book on 0845 643 9086 or click the link:-
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Jennings Brewery
tours of traditional brewery which has its own well, bar, shop. Tours, July and August daily 11am and 2pm £5.50, children £2.50 over 12s only. Jennings Brewery, Castle Brewery, Cockermouth, Cumbria, CA13 9NE 0845 1297185

Lakeland Sheep and Wool Centre
learn to tell a Herdwick from a Shetland or any of 19 breeds of sheep you will see in Cumbria; watch a sheep shearer in action and see how sheepdogs round up a flock of geese. Restaurant, shop open daily 9.30am-5.30pm visitor centre free, shows £5, children £4. Shows and demonstrations Mon-Thur 10.30am, 12 noon, 2pm and 4pm. Small attraction. Egremont Road, Cockermouth, CA13 0QX S of Cockermouth at A66 roundabout, take A5086 away from town towards Egremont. 01900 822673
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Trotters World of Animals
Collection of wild animals from all over the world in large open air complex. Play areas, picnic areas, birds of prey flying displays, handling certain animals. Mid-size attraction. Open daily 10am-5.30pm last admission 5pm £7.25, children 3-14 £5.25, under 3s free. Coalbeck Farm, Bassenthwaite CA12 4 RD follow brown tourist signs on A591 at N end of Bassenthwaite Lake. 017687 76239
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Osprey Watch
Ospreys, fish eating birds of prey with a nearly 5ft wing span, nesting in Lake District for past few years, viewpoints set up around Bassenthwaite Lake to watch them. Lower viewpoint (best place to start) open 10am-5pm daily, see ospreys fishing over lake, as well as red squirrels and woodland birds. Staff and volunteers help visitors to reach the upper viewpoint, half-mile with steady climb. Upper viewpoint open 10.30am-4.30pm staffed by volunteers, telescopes available for viewing nest. Take binoculars. On sunny days visibility better in mornings. Viewpoint 3 miles N of Keswick off A591, follow signposts to Dodd Wood. Car parking opposite entrance to Mirehouse with viewpoint 15-20 minute walk uphill on gravel path, grid ref NY235281. For people with reduced mobility, access to old viewpoint by car can be made by phoning 017687 78469. No charge for viewpoint. Small attraction. Car parking £1 for 1 hour, £3 up to 4 hours, £4 over 4 hours. Osprey Bus from Keswick takes route round Bassenthwaite Lake to Whinlatter Exhibition and the Dodd Wood viewpoint.

Whinlatter Forest Park
Visitor centre, cafe, shop, pay and display parking at visitor centre, 4 free car parks along the forest area, disabled toilets and parking, 8 waymarked walking trails, 2 children's walking trails, 3 high level walking trails, 1easy level walking trail, 4 picnic sites, 2 orienteering courses, Lake District Osprey Project Exhibition and live video, Altura mountain bike trail, bike hire. Visitor centre, shop, tearoom open 10am-5pm. Mid-size attraction. Braithwaite, 3 miles NW of Keswick off Whinlatter Pass, B5292 CA12 5TW Grid Ref NY209245, 017687 78469