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Day 1

Cockermouth to Newby Bridge

1 Trip item 1 of 5 for day 1
1 Trip item 1 of 5 for day 1

Meet the alpacas at the Lakes Distillery

  • Sightseeing
  • Suggested time at location: 1 hour

Get up close and personal with these fluffy South American mammals during this 40-minute session with Alpacaly Ever After, in which you’ll get to hand-feed the herd. The knowledgeable guide will answer any questions and plan the session to suit accessible needs. Facilities include free accessible parking and adapted toilets. Whisky lovers can pick up a bottle of single malt from the distillery, too.

2 Trip item 2 of 5 for day 1
2 Trip item 2 of 5 for day 1

Dine in style at Bassenthwaite Lake Station

  • Eatery
  • Suggested time at location: 1 hour

Photo by: Mark Nattrass

A front view of a parked steam train behind closed white level crossing gates, with a stone train station house to the right. In front is a green lawn with a picnic table. Bassenthwaite Lake Station - Silver award winner for New Tourism Business of the Year at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2023.

Board a vintage Orient Express train – that doesn’t go anywhere! On what was once the Cockermouth, Keswick and Penrith railway line, Bassenthwaite Lake Station is a dining venue with a difference. Amid its art deco splendour, tuck into mini cheeseburgers or go for the posh afternoon tea. There are wide doors, a ramp and an on-loan wheelchair and mobility scooter for guests to use, free of charge, during their visit.

3 Trip item 3 of 5 for day 1
3 Trip item 3 of 5 for day 1

See a show at Theatre by the Lake

  • Show
  • Suggested time at location: 2 hours

Photo by: Theatre by The Lake

Theatre by The Lake

Enjoy morning and early afternoon performances at this arts centre and theatre with a curtain-raising location on the banks of Derwentwater. Productions range from musicals to comedies. The nationally-renowned venue is wheelchair accessible with drop counters, a lift and accessible toilets on each floor. The theatre also provides a inclusive space for a range of other disabilities. Performances can be captioned and include BSL. Relaxed and audio described (with optional touch tour) shows are also available. 

4 Trip item 4 of 5 for day 1
4 Trip item 4 of 5 for day 1

Stop for early dinner at the Brew Room

  • Eatery
  • Suggested time at location: 2 hours

Inspired by Peaky Blinders, this family-run cafe in Windermere is an atmospheric place lined with quirky and original pieces, from old leather suitcases to an eclectic collection of books. Breakfast is served all day; specialities include eggs Benedict and the hash brown stack. Brew Room has a wheelchair-accessible entrance and seating.

5 Trip item 5 of 5 for day 1
5 Trip item 5 of 5 for day 1

Feather your nest at The Swan Hotel

  • Accommodation
  • Suggested time at location: Overnight

With a sublime waterrside setting, just a five-minute-drive from Windermere, this whitewashed coaching inn is big on charm and accessibility. Richly patterned fabrics and wallpapers lend rooms a boutique feel; guestrooms for wheelchair users have adapted bathrooms. There’s designated parking and drop-off points, plus a ramp to the entrance.

Top Tip - Accessible Tranquil Otter

  • Accommodation

If you’re looking for wheelchair-accessible log cabins in the Lake District, call off the search. The Tranquil Otter has accessible lodges with a private lake and woodland you can access.

Newby Bridge to Kendal

1 Trip item 1 of 5 for day 2
1 Trip item 1 of 5 for day 2

Explore the West Windermere Way

  • Sightseeing
  • Suggested time at location: 2 hours
  • Free

After a hearty full English breakfast at the Swan, soak up the local scenery by following a new mile-long, all-abilities path along the West Windermere Way linking the hotel’s location with Lakeside. Some sections are accessible for wheelchair users, running along the River Leven over the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway onto grassland.

2 Trip item 2 of 5 for day 2
2 Trip item 2 of 5 for day 2

Find culture and history at Cartmel Priory

  • Sightseeing
  • Suggested time at location: 1 hour

Steeped in history and legends, Cartmel Priory has many original features, including 15th-century stained glass and the one-of-a-kind square belfry tower. There’s a door known as “Cromwell’s” with bullet holes above, said to be fired by villagers angry at his Roundhead troops. Most of the priory is accessible by wheelchair.

3 Trip item 3 of 5 for day 2
3 Trip item 3 of 5 for day 2

Take time for tea at Netherwood Hotel & Spa

  • Eatery

Uninterrupted views across Morecambe Bay through floor-to-ceiling windows, 10 minutes from Lake Windermere, mean this Victorian-built hotel is all about location, location, location. The Netherwood Hotel & Spa has disabled parking bays (be sure to reserve yours), ground-floor toilets and lift access to the first floor. Scoff afternoon tea with plenty of dainty sandwiches, followed by scones with jam and cream (you decide which way around) and hot drinks.

4 Trip item 4 of 5 for day 2
4 Trip item 4 of 5 for day 2

Admire superlative gardens at Levens Hall

  • Sightseeing
  • Suggested time at location: 1 hour

Photo by: VisitBritain/Joe Wainwright

Colourful flower beds in a bright garden with trimmed hedges

Levens Hall is a privately-owned Elizabethan house and gardens. Swerve the antique-and-plasterwork-adorned interiors, which aren’t accessible.  Instead, explore the romantic grounds, home to the world’s oldest topiary gardens, orchards and thick hedges. There’s level access into the garden, tearoom and shop.

5 Trip item 5 of 5 for day 2
5 Trip item 5 of 5 for day 2

Celebrate culture at the Brewery Arts Centre

  • Sightseeing
  • Suggested time at location: 2 hours

The clue is in the name. Housed in a characterful former brewery, the Brewery Arts Centre is a creative hub for films, theatre, dance and musical performances. The building may be old but it’s fully accessible via ramps, internal lifts and wheelchair bays.

Travel Tip - Kendal to Windermere by train

  • Sightseeing

Want to get from Kendal to Windermere by train? Oxenholme Station in Kendal has accessible ticket machines, toilets and a ramp for train access.

Find more things to do in the Lake District

Photo by: Alamy Stock Photo

Location: Lake District

People attending the Winter Solstice celebration at Castelrigg Stone Circle near Keswick in Cumbria

Find more places to visit in North West England

Discover places to visit on a two-day trip in Manchester including gin tastings, footy legends and late-night street food.

Photo by: Matt Eachus/Manchester City Centre BID

Flower displays set up in Manchester's city centre for the Manchester Flower Festival

From live music and gin tasting to behind-the-scenes football stadium tours, here’s how to plan the perfect accessible break in Manchester.

Photo by: VisitBritain/Zut Media

Two men chatting, exploring canal side shops.

Catch legendary live music, hop on the Mersey Ferry and scoff street food galore on a two-day wheelchair-friendly break in Liverpool.

Photo by: Liverpool City Region LVEP/Rob Jones

Location: Liverpool

A group of friends sit together on a bench in front of an iconic building