Accessible places to visit in Cumbria and the Lake District

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.