Creative Tourism

Leisure and Culture - Barrow Tourism on Barrowbc.gov.uk Information for residents and visitors on how to spend leisure time in the area. The Borough of Barrow-in-Furness is situated at the southern tip of Cumbria, to the north of Morecambe Bay and set against the spectacular backdrop of the English Lake District Mountains. One of the best kept secrets in Britain, Barrow is a Victorian built town with a proud heritage of innovation, surrounded by beautiful beaches and inspiring scenery. It is a destination of surprises. The range of tourist venues within the Borough can be seen either as a wet weather or day trip alternative to the usual Lake District scenes, and many are top attractions in their field, worthy of a longer visit to make the most of the world famous Northern England welcome and hospitality. Planning a Visit or Leisure Time in this area: Attractions in the area Accommodation, including Hotels, Guest Houses and Caravan Sites Beaches to visit with links to maps Eating Out and Entertainment Venues Events Calendar for Barrow and Forum 28 Theatre How to get to Barrow-in-Furness. Leaflet Request Service Parks and Spaces with links to maps Shopping in Barrow and Local Markets Sports facilities, clubs and venues Tourism and Travel Information View Our Gallery. Image of North Scale above supplied by Furness Fine Arts. Cultural and Heritage Information: Archives and Libraries, Local History, Family History Arts venues and Groups Local History and Heritage Sites - including articles on Barrow Town Hall and Local Mining Development Local Venues and Facilities managed by Barrow Borough Council: The Dock Museum, Social and Industrial History in a unique setting Forum 28 Theatre, Dance, Drama and Exhibitions by professional and amateur artists The Park Leisure Centre, Swimming, Sports and Fitness Centre. Barrow Sports Council has a useful section on its web site covering the work of the The Disability Sports and Leisure Forum, a Community Regeneration Company project which aims to eliminate the barriers which prevent people with disabilities from accessing sports and leisure projects and strategically develop sports and leisure opportunities for people with disabilities in the Borough. The website also has a list of local facilities with accessibility details. www.barrowsportscouncil.org.uk/disability.htm Further information from BBC Cumbria The BBC Cumbria Website carries useful and interesting information for Visitors and Residents: www.bbc.co.uk/cumbria. See the Cumbria area on webcams: www.bbc.co.uk/cumbria/in_pictures/webcams/index.shtml. See a list of Internet Cafe's in Cumbria www.bbc.co.uk/cumbria/going_out/internet_cafes/index.shtml. Making Additions and Amendments to this page Additions or amendments will be considered, with no guarantee of inclusion: admin@barrowbc.gov.uk Barrow Borough Council does not accept responsibility for the content of external web sites. | Related Information There are no related links for this page.

Keswick on Derwentwater and the Northern Lakes covers one half of the Lake District National Park. This is the perfect area to choose equally for gentle relaxation or for an action packed family adventure holiday with lots of activities and attractions. The landscape of the Northern Lake District is of spectacular glaciated scenery, ranging from the rugged central volcanic mountains to the smoother outlines and more open countryside if the lakes and villages found along the valley floors. This is a wonderful area in which to try new outdoor activities or to extend your existing skills. Walkers and climbers are spoiled for choice. From the high summits to forest trails and lakeside paths, there are routes suitable for all. Within such a compact area as the North Lakes it is very easy to explore the neighbouring valleys and secluded places. To the east, for example, you can enjoy the lakeside paths beside Thirlmere. To the west you can explore the delights of Whinlatter mountain forest. For visitors to Keswick and North Lakes there is a range of accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets, whether you prefer a bed and breakfast (B&B), a guest house, hotel, or self-catering cottage, caravan or campsite. The geological origins of Keswick and the North Lakes lie in the Ice Age when glacier erosion shaped the landscape of mountains, valleys and lakes. The first evidence of settlement dates back to the Stone Age when Neolithic man used stone axes to making clearings in the forested hills and valleys to grow crops and keep livestock. Three axes have been found inside Castlerigg Stone Circle which dates back some four thousand years to around the time of these early farming communities. The original purpose of the Stone Circle is unclear; it could have been used as a trading post, meeting place for social gatherings, an astronomical observatory or a site of religious ceremonies. Whatever its intended function the site of the circle is superb, completely surrounded by high fells. Many Scandinavian place names in the area such as ‘thwaite’ meaning clearing and ‘keld’ meaning spring are an indication of settlement by Norsemen in the 10th Century. In the 12th and 13thC the Cistercian religious order acquired large areas of land and introduced large flocks of sheep to the district. A familiar sight on the fells today is the Herdwick sheep, a hardy resilient animal able to withstand extremes of weather. In the mid 1500s a period of prosperity, brought on by mining, lasted almost 100 years in contrast to the poor rural economy based on wool, crops and leather. During the reign of Elizabeth I there was a demand for copper for the production of arms and the strengthening of warships. In 1564, due to a lack of skilled workforce in the area, expert miners arrived from Germany to fulfil both the demand for copper and provide royalties for the Queen. The Society of Royal Mines was established to finance and organise the operation. Considerable deposits of copper were found in the Newlands and Borrowdale Valleys. Local people were employed carrying coal from Caldbeck, peat and slates from Skiddaw and timber from Borrowdale. Ultimately the Newlands and Borrowdale mines declined due to economic factors such as rising costs and a depression in England but also to other factors such as a decline in fuel. However, this was not the end of mining in the Keswick area. Force Crag Mine, near Braithwaite has been working up till modern times producing a variety of materials. Threlkeld Quarry provided a century of employment. The first records for quarrying at Honister Slate Mines are in 1643. The mine prospered with over 100 men employed until its final closure in 1986. The raw material for Keswick’s major industry, pencil making, was purportedly discovered by a shepherd in Seathwaite in the Borrowdale Valley in 1550. The substance, known as black lead or graphite was initially used to brand sheep, leading to Borrowdale’s claims to have made the first pencils in the world. In the 18th and early 19th C the mines were at their most productive. The description of pencil maker begins to appear in the Crosthwaite Parish Registers in the early 1800’s in the form of cottage industries and by the 19th and early 20thC there were several companies with pencil factories in Keswick. A wide range of pencils are still made in Keswick today. The Cumberland Pencil Museum tells the history of pencil making from early origins through to present day. The origins of today's tourism industry began in the late 18thC when the first visitors started to arrive encouraged by the area's close connections with famous writers such as Coleridge, Ruskin, Wordsworth and Southey and popularity with artists such as Turner and Constable. A 1783 Travellers' Guide stated 'Keswick receives great benefit from the resort of gentry to see the romantic lakes and mountains that surround it'. As war in Europe brought 'The Grand Tour' to an end and roads began to improve numbers of visitors increased. In the 1860's the building of the Cockermouth, Keswick and Penrith railway line lead to a dramatic increase in visitors and Keswick began to be transformed from a small market town to the thriving tourist centre it is today.

Tyne and Wear - where dynamic city life meets culture, countryside and coastline. Whatever you are looking for, Tyne and Wear can give any visitor the best of everything. The five unique areas of Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Sunderland border the two main rivers the Tyne and the Wear, where the region derived its name. The two rivers have played a key role in the development of the area with the Romans the first to realise the potential of their success by using the rivers as a form of defence when building forts as part of Hadrian’s Wall. Subsequent generations used the rivers during the industrial revolution for transportation purposes, which led to the rapid growth of the regions two major cities. Tyne and Wear’s industrial fortunes first came from wool, then coal, whilst the steel industry made it the biggest shipbuilding region in the world. Most of the heavy industry has long disappeared and the region has re-emerged as a focus for investment and development, with the creation of new leisure and cultural facilities. There is now so much to see and do in Tyne and Wear, with the region in the lead as one of the most visited destinations in the country. Its attractions capture the imagination of everyone, whether it's nature, art or a fun filled family day out, visitors will find a profusion of activities. With a wealth of galleries, museums and public art, attracting international interest, no other area offers such a blend of culture. The region is well known for its award winning beaches, amazing coastline and its countryside as a haven for wildlife and tranquil beauty. For things to do the region is home to an array of restaurants and cafes serving food from around the world and look no further for entertainment at any one of the region's many theatres or cinemas. Bars, pubs and clubs offer a unique vibrant atmosphere that is renouned in the North East, with some of the most popular venues in the country offering music and dance to suit all tastes. If shopping is your thing it couldn't be easier with Europe's largest indoor shopping mall, traditional markets and high street shops with some of the biggest names in retail. For those sports enthusiasts the region supports some of the biggest international sporting events, so it is no surprise that Tyne and Wear has created more than it's fair share of sporting heroes and celebrities. Offering an excellent range of quality accommodation, to suit all tastes and easy access through the region's excellent transportation network, wherever you make your base, while on your stay in Tyne and Wear you'll find everything you need on a short break or holiday all within easy reach.

The Cotswolds is an area of England about the size of greater Tokyo. Popular with both the English themselves and visitors from all over the world,the Cotswolds are well-known for gentle hillsides (‘wolds’), sleepy villages and for being so ‘typically English’. There are famous cities such as Bath, well-known beautiful towns like Cheltenham and hundreds of delightful villages such as Burford and Castle Combe. Above all, the local honey-coloured limestone, used for everything from the stone floors in the houses to the tiles on the roof, has ensured that the area has a magical uniformity of architecture. You will see ‘Drystone walls’ everywhere in the fields. Many were built in the 18th and 19th centuries, a matter of considerable skill as there is no cement to hold the walls together. They represent an important historical landscape and a major conservation feature – and are of course still used by farmers to enclose sheep and cattle. During the 13-15th centuries, the medieval period, the native Cotswold sheep were famous throughout Europe for their heavy fleeces and high quality of wool. Cotswold wool commanded a high price and the wealth generated by the wool trade enabled wealthy traders to leave their mark by building fine houses and wonderful churches, known as “wool churches”. Even today, the sight of sheep on the hillside is still one of the classic Cotswold images. Not all villages are well known, and today many still hold their secrets. Amongst the treasures to be found are perhaps a hidden village off the beaten track, perhaps Painswick, Biddestone, Winchcombe or Woodstock, or an unspoilt historic church, such as at Northleach often called the “Cathedral of the Cotswolds” – open the church door and you will discover a hidden world of history. Today, the larger market towns and villages of the Cotswolds are famous for their shops, such as Stow-on-the-Wold, Cirencester, Chipping Norton and Tetbury.

Welcome to the official web site of the Gloucestershire Tourism partnership, we're here to help and this site contains detailed information on everything from activities to accommodation. There are a number of links to other useful sites and it's also possible to order on line if you'd like further information. Cotswolds - Donnington Fish Farm: Modern trout farm set in beautiful Cotswold countryside and housed in a fine 18th century stone barn. Visitors can feed the trout or fish on the small lake. Farm shop selling fresh/smoked trout & pate. Tel: (01451) 830873 Opening Hours: Summer (April-October): 7 days a week, 10.00 - 17.30. Winter (November - March): 6 days a week (closed Mondays), 10.00 - 17.00. Admission free. Forest Of Dean - Smarts' Traditional Gloucester Cheeses: Working farm where the making of Double and Single Gloucester cheeses can be seen every Tuesday & Thursday. It is appreciated if visitors would telephone first. Cheese may be bought daily. Tel: (01452) 750225 Opening Hours: 10am - 4pm. Cheesemaking demonstrations 09.30, 11.30, 13.30 Admission charge. Cotswolds - Dovers Hill: A natural amphitheatre on a spur of the Cotswold scarp with glorious views. Site of the Cotswold "Olympick Games". Circular walk across limestone grassland and mature woodland. Wheelchair access to viewpoint & topograph. Tel: (01985) 843600 Opening Hours: Open all year Admission free. Gloucester - Gloucester Cathedral: Benedictine abbey church (1089) & Chapter House. Earliest perpendicular work & fan vaulting. Great East window commemorates the Battle of Crecy in 1346. Edward II's tomb. The Orchids restaurant. Dinner for groups by arrangement. www.gloucestercathedral.org.uk Tel: (01452) 528095 Opening Hours: Daily: Summer: 08.00 - Booked parties from 9.45am Admission free (donations welcome). Gloucester - Gloucester Docks: The revitalised Gloucester Docks feature newly refurbished warehouses with museums, pubs and shops around the docks basin. www.gloucesterdocks.info Tel: (01452) 311190 Opening Hours: All year, Daily. Access to Docks: 05.30 - 01.30. Attractions: Summer 09.30 - 17.30, Winter 10.00 - 17.00 (some closed Mon) Admission free. Gloucester - Gloucester Transport Museum: Transport items from the 19th century to the 1980's can be seen from the pavement at all times. Contact the Gloucester Folk Museum if you wish to gain access to the Transport Museum. www.mylife.gloucester.gov.uk Tel: (01452) 396467 Opening Hours: The museum displays may be viewed from outside at any time or opened up for booked parties or special events. (e.g. National Heritage Days in September) Forest Of Dean - Great Western Railway Museum: Museum housed in one of the last remaining permanent railway buildings in the Forest of Dean, an original GWR goods building of 1883. Many full size and model exhibits. GWR name & number plates. Miniature railway. Local photographs. Parking Tel: (01594) 833569 Opening Hours: All year, Sat 14.30 - 17.00 Winter Saturdays pm only. Closed Sundays & Mondays. Excludes Bank Holidays. Summer Saturdays Only 14.30 - 17.00 or you can telephone for times (01594) 833569 or 832032 Admission charge. Cheltenham - Holst Birthplace Museum: A Regency house where the composer of 'The Planets' was born in 1874. 19th Century period furnishings and working kitchen & laundry showing the 'upstairs-downstairs' way of life in Victorian times. www.holstmuseum.org.uk Tel: (01242) 524846 Opening Hours: Open: Feb - mid December. Tues - Sat 10.00 - 16.00. Open BH. Pre-booked Groups. All Year Admission charge. Cotswolds - Hailes Abbey: Ruins of Cistercian abbey founded in 1246, with monastic buildings & cloister. Self guided audio trails available. Site museum contains a fine collection of tiles & architectural fragments. Refreshments at Hailes Fruit Farm. www.english-heritage.org.uk Tel: (01242) 602398 Opening Hours: Daily. 1st Apr - 31st Oct 10.00 - 17.00. (July & Aug 18.00) Oct 16.00 CLOSED 1 Nov - 31 March Admission charge. Cotswolds - Hidcote Manor Gardens: A delightful garden created early last century by the horticulturist Major Lawrence Johnston. A series of small gardens separated by walls and hedges of different species. Restaurant, gift shop & plant sales. Parking. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hidcote Tel: (01386) 438333 Opening Hours: Open: 19 March - 30 October : Mon, Tue, Wed, Sat and Sun 10.30am- 6pm (last admission 5pm). From 2 October last admission 4pm. Admission charge.

Explore the Open County...... Lincolnshire's big skies and warm welcome makes us the perfect destination for a short break in 2007. With an exciting mix of history & heritage, vibrant city culture, endless outdoor activities and some of the best local food in the country, Lincolnshire has a pace and a place to suit. Adventurers & Pilgrims They came from Lincolnshire and shaped the World.. Lincolnshire's history has been influenced by people from other lands; Romans, Normans, Saxons, Danes. But in later times it was Lincolnshire people who would help shape the modern world. The driving forces were curiosity, a sense of adventure, the desire to exploit the riches of the New World, and religion. Pilgrims from Lincolnshire headed west. The Pilgrim Fathers set sail to escape persecution, starting communities in a young country – America. Later 250 of Boston's most influential citizens set sail to the New World, founding Boston, Massachusetts amongst others. But they went to the other side of the World, too. The first maps of the Australian continent are thanks to Lincolnshire's Matthew Flinders, whilst George Bass discovered the Bass Strait between Australia and Tasmania, and there's more so come and explore for yourself. They came from Lincolnshire and shaped the World. Lincolnshire's history has been influenced by people from other lands; Romans, Normans, Saxons, Danes. But in later times it was Lincolnshire people who would help shape the modern world. The driving forces were curiosity, a sense of adventure, the desire to exploit the riches of the New World, and religion. Pilgrims from Lincolnshire headed west. The Pilgrim Fathers set sail to escape persecution, starting communities in a young country – America. Later 250 of Boston's most influential citizens set sail to the New World, founding Boston, Massachusetts amongst others. But they went to the other side of the World, too. The first maps of the Australian continent are thanks to Lincolnshire's Matthew Flinders, whilst George Bass discovered the Bass Strait between Australia and Tasmania, and there's more so come and explore for yourself.