Ulverston

Ulverston

Whilst staying in one of our Lake District Cottages you will know doubt wish to explore our many towns and villages.

Ulverston lies on the Furness peninsular, west of Cartmel. A typical Northern market town in the true sense, it has not been swayed by increasing popularity and tourism, staving off the usual tidal wave of souvenir emporiums and junk. Instead Ulverston provides interesting and diverse shopping for all local and visitor needs, both practical and fashionable, served up with a warm welcome and friendly smile. The town first gained market status by Royal Charter in 1280, granted by Edward 1 and has proudly kept this title by hosting one of the best twice weekly street markets in Cumbria, along with a busy sheep auction down at Canal head. Prosperity came in 1795 with the construction of the canal built by John Rennie. The widest and deepest canal of its time it brought a thriving shipping industry, which in turn financed some fine buildings. This boom was short lived with the coming of the railways, when Ulverston was passed over in favour of Barrow as offering a much better harbour, the town settling happily back to its quieter business of being a local market town. Quiet that is until a revival with shops, arts, tourism and festival days. More like a Spanish town than one in the North of England, Ulverston does love a festival. There are festivals for walking, music, egg rolling, flag day and, perhaps most spectacular, the Lantern Festival to list but a few. As I see it, there is some celebration going on each month, so you need to check what's on and when with the Tourist Information Centre. Arts play a big part in the life of Ulverston where, along with the festivals, there is a good cinema and the ‘Coronation Hall’, a fine theatre, offering plays, music and opera. There are a host of theatre, music and art groups. Leading the way is the Lantern House, a amazing pink building on the edge of town.

Shopping - Dining - Entertainment

The centre of Ulverston is much unchanged with shops and inns lined along the cobbled Market Street, off which radiate alleys and ginnels. There are bakers, butchers ironmongers, chemists, a good deli and just east of the town is Booths supermarket, a fine local chain. Dotted around the town are some excellent art and craft shops along with fashionable clothing outlets. My favorite is the Tinners Rabbit, owned and run by Chris Benefield, himself a local artist. On three floors, up narrow stairs, rooms offer pottery, pictures, hats and jewelry. Ulverston Point in Mill Street is another good arts and craft centre with various stalls. Opposite Booths, on the edge of town, is Cumbria Crystal; noted for the quality of their designs, the company supplies many of our Embassies with their fine glass. Just west of the town is Colony Candles where you will find a huge array of designs and an opportunity to have a go at dipping your own. On Thursdays and Saturdays the streets come alive with the markets selling good local produce and with buskers and street artists there is a nice carnival air. There are lots of good pubs and inns serving bar food and local brewed ale, and dining there are a host of cafes and restaurants where to can chose from Thai to Chinese, Italian or Mexican and down at the canal foot the renowned Bay Horse Inn and restaurant. On the entertainment and cultural front there is plenty on offer. From rock venues to cinema, Theatre to indoor carnival parties with Monster Monster - look it up! there is something for everybody. The Laurel and Hardy Museum is a tribute to one of the towns most famous sons, with an amazing treasure trove of memorabilia, including letters, photographs, personal items and furniture. A small 1920s style cinema shows classic Laurel & Hardy films all day. The Coronation Hall, affectionately known as ‘The Coro', is treasured building with a seating capacity of 660 offers a year-round programme of entertainment from music and drama to ballet and opera. Finally, not least nor a complete list, is the Lanternhouse a great venue for occasional exhibitions, theatre, music, dance and workshops with free admission. Head out of the town, towards Dalton and you can visit The South Lakeland Wild Animal Park. Get close up to lions and tigers, see rare white rhinos and of course the monkey house. All in all a great day with the children.

Out And About - Local Walks - Activities

The cobbled streets make for a good days leisurely exploration, taking in the shops, browsing the galleries, visiting the attractions and stopping for coffee or lunch. North of the town lies Ulverson's peculiar landmark, The Hoad. As you approach you cannot fail to notice that the Eddystone Lighthouse has miraculously appeared in Cumbria. This odd spectacle is in fact a ninety foot high replica raised in 1850 in memory of John Barrow, born in Ulverston in 1764 and notably a writer, traveller, Arctic explorer and Secretary of the Admiralty. From Hart Street to Hoad Lane, a path leads up to the monument and gives a fantastic view of both the town and the surrounding fells and bay. This is also the route taken by the lantern festival, where the rising path and fell side is lit by a serpentine body of light There are plenty of walks and activities on offer, indeed Ulverston is the very southern start point of the Cumbria Way, a seventy mile route through the rolling Furness Fells, ending at Carlisle. Ulverston also sits on the 182 mile Cumbria Coastal Way, which stretches from The Morecambe Bay to the Solway Firth. Still on Ways, we like Ways, you can travel the Cistercian Way. A 33 mile walk through the Furness and Cartmel peninsulas which wanders through a landscape shaped by monks, merchants, miners, fishermen and shipbuilders. With all of these long, expedition like treks, you can of course sample just a short section. Closer to home is Ulverston Canal. Said to be the shortest, widest and deepest canal in Britain, the canal was an important part of the local economy for over 50 years. Nowadays, the lock gates at Canal Foot have been replaced by a concrete dam, sealing the canal from the sea and providing a wildlife haven for freshwater fish and waterfowl. There is an easily accessible and enjoyable walk along the towpath from Canal Street to Canal Foot. Leaflet available from Ulverston Tourist Information Centre. Birkrigg Common is a bracken-covered and sheep-grazed limestone upland to the south of Ulverston. Grassy paths criss-cross the area and provide extensive views across the Furness Peninsula to the Lake District Fells, Isle of Man and Snowdonia. Remains of ancient settlements, tumuli and a double stone circle, known as the Druid's Temple can be seen. Then there is Sea Wood an ancient woodland that once belonged to Lady Jane Grey, Queen of England for just nine days before her execution in 1554. The wood was planted with oak trees to provide timber for shipbuilding - the felled trunks being floated up the estuary on high tides to the shipyard in Ulverston. In the spring, the woodland floor is covered with a carpet of bluebells, wild garlic, dog's mercury and other wild flowers. A good network of paths radiate through the wood. Parking on coast road or on minor road to Urswick. Finally, but not least or all, is Urswick Tarn This is the largest glacial lake of the Furness Peninsula and home to a great variety of waterfowl including moorhens, swans, greylag geese and the ubiquitous coot which has given its name to Urswick villagers - the ‘Ossick Coots'. For activities there is quite a choice. Bike hire from Gill Cycles, golf at the Ulverston Golf Course, fishing down at the canal and for the adventurous Sea Kayaking. All in all there is much to do in and around the town, with the bay to the south, Carmel peninsular and its little villages to the east and the lakes and mountains a short drive to the north.

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