Activities & Visitor Attractions

Solwayconnections
Guided Minibus Tours

We are a small specialist tour guide business based close to the historic city of Carlisle in Cumbria. We run guided heritage tours around the Cumbrian Solway plains, the beautiful Solway Firth estuary and the Border regions. Our experienced guides live close to the Solway and all have a passion for sharing their knowledge of the area. Our tours include a ‘Secret Solway’ guided heritage tour and guided garden tours. We also provide bespoke tours. Tours take place all year round.

If you want to arrange a tour or would like to find out more about our tours, please phone 07494489901 or 01228 915929. You can also email us at info@solwayconnections.co.uk

CARLISLE

Bank Mill Nurseries and Visitor Centre
Open 7 days per week.

Bank Mill Nurseries and Visitor Centre is situated in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and adjacent to a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The Beautiful Solway Coastline is just 200 metres away.

Bank Mill Visitor Centre, Beckfoot, Silloth on Solway CA7 4LF
Tel: 01900 881340 Email info@bankmillnurseries.co.uk

BECKFOOT

Solway Coast Discovery Centre
Visit the Discovery Centre and 10,000 years of Solway Coast Heritage.
Exhibition, Art Gallery, Tourist Information Centre, Education Resource Centre and Gift Shop.

Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10am – 5pm, Saturday 10am – 12.45pm, Closed Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The Discovery Centre, Liddell Street, Silloth on Solway, CA7 4DD
Tel: 016973 31944

SILLOTH

Soldiers in Silloth
Soldiers in Silloth is an exhibition / museum displaying toy soldiers and related items. Based on a private collection of over 10,000 figures, vehicles, guns, castles etc built up by a local resident who wished to dedicate the collection and the building which houses it for the benefit of the town. It is run by a group of local volunteers on behalf of the community.

Soldiers in Silloth, 1 Marine Terrace, Criffell Street, Silloth, CA7 4BZ
Tel: 016973 31246 Email: enquiries@soldiersinsilloth.co.uk

SILLOTH

Solway Cycle Hire
Discover the stunning Solway coast by bike. With miles of smooth coastal cycle path, a great experience for all the family. Full and half day rates.

For more info call 07551750373

ALLONBY

Guided Shore Walks
Why not join Ann Lingard on her informal guided rambles on the Solway shore near Allonby, to find out more about whelk eggs and worm-built reefs, underwater glues and mussel-power, sand dunes and sea-potatoes, submerged forests ... and much more.

Walks will usually start from Mawbray Banks car-park.

For more info contact Ann Lingard.

MAWBRAY

Sea Fishing Boat Trips
Fishing trips are usually around 4 hours and we can cater for individuals or groups of up to 8 people (use of rods and reels, terminal tackle and 'some'' bait included). Boat trips are only available to club members and membership costs £2. A contribution towards the cost of fuel is expected.

See the Solway from a different perspective!

Tel: Steve Jolly on 01900 881399 or 07955035676
Email: fishing@allonbycumbria.co.uk

MARYPORT

The Lake District Coast Aquarium
Winner of the Cumbria Tourism Visitor Attraction of the Year 2010.

Lake District Coast Aquarium, South Quay, Maryport, Cumbria CA15 8AB
Tel: 01900 817760 Email: info@coastaquarium.co.uk

MARYPORT

Clip n' Climb
Challenge yourself, challenge your friends at the North of England’s first Clip ‘n Climb.  A stunning series of climbing based activities that provide healthy, challenging fun for everyone. Perfect for ages 4 to 84, children can visit and climb unaccompanied with us from age 11+.

Clip 'n Climb Maryport, The Wave Centre, Irish Street, Maryport CA15 8DN
Tel: 01900 811 450

MARYPORT

West Coast Indoor Karting
Experience the thrills of indoor kart racing in our custom built indoor kart track. We have modern Go Karts to suit anybody (ages 8 or over).

West Coast Indoor Karting Ltd, Solway Trading Estate, Maryport, Cumbria CA15 8NF
Tel: 01900 816472 Email: info@westcoastkarting.co.uk

MARYPORT

Senhouse Roman Museum
Dramatically sited on cliffs overlooking the Solway Firth, this award winning museum is next to a Roman fort probably founded in the first century AD and rebuilt during the reign of the emperor Hadrian.

Senhouse Museum, The Battery, Sea Brows, Maryport,, Cumbria CA156JD
Tel: 01900 816 168

MARYPORT

Coast 2 Coast Cycle Route
Experience the thrills of indoor kart racing in our custom built indoor kart track. We have modern Go Karts to suit anybody (ages 8 or over).

West Coast Indoor Karting Ltd, Solway Trading Estate, Maryport, Cumbria CA15 8NF
Tel: 01900 816472 Email: info@westcoastkarting.co.uk

MARYPORT

Wordsworth House and Garden
Step back to the 1770s at William Wordsworth's childhood home.

Wordsworth House and Garden, in the Cumbrian town of Cockermouth, is the birthplace and childhood home of romantic poet William and his sister Dorothy. It is presented as it would have been when they lived here with their parents, three brothers and servants in the 1770s.

Main Street, Cockermouth, Cumbria, CA13 9RX
Telephone: 01900 824805 Email: wordsworthhouse@nationaltrust.org.uk

COCKERMOUTH

Castlegate House Gallery
At Castlegate House Gallery we specialise in the best of twentieth century and contemporary British art.

Located in an unspoilt Georgian house within Cockermouth, a wonderful Georgian town on the western edge of the Lake District, we specialise in internationally renowned artists such as Sheila Fell, Percy Kelly, Geoffrey Key, Carel Weight, Mary Fedden, Winifred Nicholson, and Ken Howard, amongst many others. We also aim to bring to the gallery exciting up and coming artists, particularly from the north of England and southern Scotland. We also have a passion for British ceramics, and as well as early Leach and Winchcombe examples, we bring to the Gallery some of the best Studio Pottery in the UK, including the likes of Doug Fitch, Paul Young, Jim Malone, William Plumptre and Hannah McAndrew.

Castlegate House Gallery, Cockermouth, Cumbria CA13 9HA
Tel 01900 822149 · Mob 07920 836874
Email thegallery@castlegatehouse.co.uk

COCKERMOUTH

Percy House Gallery
Percy House gallery opened in May 2002. It is situated in a historic 14th century building which had been hidden from public view for over two decades. With its unique features which include the famous Tudor ceiling, fire places and plaster work, it is the ideal setting for the unusual arts and crafts on display. The gallery hosts a large selection of work by Cumbrian and British artists ranging from jewellery and textiles to ceramics, paintings and photographs. The downstairs gallery consists of four rooms each with its unique character. The oak beams have been dated to 1390 and the original flagstone floor still remains.
The upstairs, with its Tudor ceiling dated 1598, was the home of the Percy baliff. It is divided into three rooms.

Percy House, 38-42 Market Place, Cockermouth, Cumbria CA13 9NG
Tel. 01900 829667
Percyhousegallery@btconnect.com

COCKERMOUTH

The Beacon Museum
Explore 5 floors of interactive history, science, games and more. The Beacon originally opened to visitors back in July1996. In June 2008, after a major redevelopment, we were officially reopened by HM Queen Elizabeth II.

We are now open after an exciting redisplay, incorporating the history of the nuclear industry in Copeland - "The Sellafield Story".

We continue to offer easy access, guided tours, room hire, group bookings, gallery exhibitions, events and activities. We even have educational services, and groups and clubs.

The Beacon, West Strand, Whitehaven, Cumbria CA28 7LY
Tel: 01946 592302

WHITEHAVEN

The Rum Story
Imagine leaving the streets of our Georgian town centre and feeling like you have been transported to an exotic island in the Caribbean. That is what you will experience when you begin your journey through The Rum Story.

The Rum Story was designed as a wet-weather attraction, and is one of the key features of the regeneration project, which also features the Crow’s Nest at the harbour, and the renovation of the harbour-side itself.

The Rum Story, Lowther Street, Whitehaven, CA28 7DN
Telephone: 01946 592933 E-mail: louise@rumstory.co.uk

WHITEHAVEN

Carnegie Theatre and Arts Centre
The historic Carnegie Theatre and Arts Centre is one of Workington's much loved buildings. A regular programme of mainly music and dance events is enjoyed by local people and tourists, and classes and courses are held in the Carnegie Arts Centre every week. Monroe's Bar is also regarded as one of Cumbria's best live music venues.

The Carnegie Community Cafe is a popular meeting place and is open from 8.30am until 4.30pm Monday to Saturday and 8:30am to 3pm on Sundays.

Carnegie Theatre & Arts Centre, Finkle Street, Workington, Cumbria CA14 2BD
Tel: 01900 602122

WORKINGTON

The Helena Thompson Museum
The Helena Thompson is both a Museum and a Community Centre serving the town of Workington and surrounding area. We also welcome you to Workington Hall, which is the former seat of the Curwen Family, Lords of the Manor of Workington. Mary Queen of Scots spent her last night of freedom in the Hall before making her enforced journey to the Tower of London.

Helena Thompson Museum, Park End Road,Workington Cumbria CA14 4DE
Tel: 01900 64040 Email: info@helenathompson.org.uk

WORKINGTON