The video above shows Things To Do - Eat and See all within 20 miles of the Cottage

The holiday cottage is 5 minutes walk from The Lake District National Park on the outskirts of the small village of Shap which consists of two long lines of limestone built houses, many dating from the 18th century. The area is possibly the quietest part of the National Park with access to the deserted fells and mountains that mean you can find peace and quiet that is missing from the central lakes yet still be able to get to Windermere, Keswick, Ambelside etc with a short drive.

The village - an easy walk - has all you will need for your stay with 4 pubs, a small super market, newsagents, butcher, coffee shop, post office, play areas and swimming pool. Many of our guests have not used thier car all week spending the days reading in the garden, walking the fells and returning to BBQ on the patio.

The area around Shap was extensively settled in Neolithic times, and there are several stone circles, and other standing stones nearby. Shap itself was built on the site of a 2 mile long Neolithic stone avenue which had at its mid point a 400m diameter stone circle which is very close to the holiday cottage. You can read more about the standing stones and stone circles of Shap here

Modern day Shap is situated on the very edge of the Lake District National Park and its a short walk from the cottage to the river which runs along the eastern edge of the park. This is a great place for a picnic and children can spend many hours playing on the stepping stones over the river and fishing with the nets and buckets provided at the cottage. We even supply some large towels for when they fall in the river!!

Pictures of theLake District National Park 5 minutes walk from the cottage

Open Air Heated Swimming Pool

The  open air swimming pool which is the highest in England and open from mid May to the end of August - this is within walking distance of the cottage and we supply towels to be used at the pool.

Shap Summit, about 2¼ miles south of the former Shap station, is the highest point on the West Coast main railway line from London to Glasgow, at 914ft above sea level. Shap summit on the A6 is about 1350 feet above sea level, and in a small layby is a memorial 'to the drivers and crew of vehicles that made possible the social and commercial links between north and south on the old and the difficult route over Shap Fell'. Shap is very popular with railway enthusiasts who come to watch the steam trains which regularly pass through the village.

Nearby is Haweswater, a man-made lake, built to supply water to Manchester. It is probably best remembered for when the water level drops and the flooded village of Mardale is again accessible to walkers, bringing back memories and creating a tremendous visitor attraction. It is a beautiful valley well worth seeing even when full, the walk round Haweswater is about 10 miles on part of the Coast to Coast footpath with a stop at the Haweswater Hotel for afternoon tea a must. You may also be luckey enough to see the only Golden Eagle in Britain which lives on the crags above the lake. You can also walk or cycle the 6 miles to Haweswater along the old concrete road that was built to transport building materials in the 1930's.

Shap Abbey is a 2 mile walk following the river from the cottage standing in a picturesque setting by the River Lowther, with nothing nearby to interrupt the beauty of the lonely and unfrequented site. It was built in 1199, the last Abbey to be founded in England, and the last to be dissolved by Henry VIII in 1540.

Nearby is the medieval Keld Chapel, owned by the National Trust, and one of their more remote religious sites.

St Michael's church in the village has some 12th century elements, though its tower dates from the reign of George IV, and the chancel is Victorian.

Northern Lights

The cottage is ideally situated to watch the Northern Lights, a few hundred meters from the cottage is a hill from where you can get great views of the Northern Lights. You can get email and facebook alerts when there is a good chance of seeing them from http://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/

In the film "Withnail and I" (1986), ‘Crow Cragg’ is Sleddale Hall, a derelict cottage alongside Wet Sleddale Reservoir is a level walk from the cottage following the river Lowther round the reservoir and back along the old concrete road built to supply the building of Haweswater in 1935

Shap Wells Hotel was opened in 1833 to serve the growing numbers of visitors coming to take the waters of the Shap Spa, located in the hotel's grounds. Under the ownership of the Earl of Lonsdale the hotel became a fashionable resort visited by many members of the aristocracy, the best known of these being HRH Princess Mary. During the second world war Shap Wells was requisitioned as a prisoner of war camp for senior Luftwaffe and German Naval Officers. In 1962, after a period of decline, the building was purchased and turned into the fine hotel it is today.

The village has many amenities:

Post Office - with cash point.
4 Public Houses
CO-OP mini supermarket - open on Sunday mornings. They will also deliver your purchases to the cottage free of charge.
Newsagents - open Sunday mornings.
Cafe serving lunch meals - Closed Sunday & Monday.
Fish & Chip shop
Butchers - dont miss out on the award winning Cumberland sausage
Hairdresser's
DR's Surgery
Fire Station
Open Air Swimming Pool - open May till Sept
Childrens play area
Playing field
Tennis courts
Bowling Green
Library

The famous New Balance factory shop is also in the village which is a must visit if you are a runner or just want a good pair of running shoes or clothing at a knock down price.

There are regular daily busses into Penrith and Kendal from where you can get into the heart of the Lake District.

More information about Shap can be found at the Shap Community Website