Set in the Lake District National Park, Grasmere is an ideal location for walking and sightseeing, located 8 miles from Ambleside and 12 miles from Keswick. Set in a valley, Grasmere is surrounded by breathtaking views of the fells. The lake is a few minutes walk from the cottage and there are a number of pubs and restaurants (including vegetarian) in the village, together with a newsagents, post office, village store, off licence, pharmacy, children’s park and numerous local shops.

The Local Area: The barn is approximately 200 years old and was formerly the grain storage and stables for the Village. Across the courtyard was the bakery (now another cottage).

Local pubs and restaurants: There are several pubs and restaurants within Grasmere Village. Lewis’s Bistro by the Newsagents is good but you will need a reservation. The Jumble Room located on Langdale Road caters for that more special occasion with some interesting dishes and tasty puddings. The Lamb Inn, part of the Inn in Grasmere Hotel, allows children in the bar and have a buttery serving meals throughout the day. The Little Inn in Grasmere Hotel and Tweedies have beer gardens.Goodie Blakes by the school is also worth visiting for dinner.By the school is a new pub serving local ales.

Shops: The Co-op / Village Store is open 7 days a week and is located between Barneys Newsagents and next door but one to the Pharmacy. There is a doctor’s surgery should you require it, located off Broadgate (by the picture shop). There are a couple of delicatessens/bakeries within the Village for fresh bread, sandwiches, etc. The Tourist Information Centre is now situated within the Dale Lodge and staff there can often arrange guided fell walks and provide weather information on a daily basis. The Post Office is open 7 days a week and is opposite the school.

Boat Hire: If you walk out onto Langdale Road, past Tweedies and right into Red Bank Road, keep walking for approximately 5 minutes, you will find ‘Fairyland’. This is where you can hire boats to take out on the water or simply take in the view with a pot of tea and a delicious locally baked cake.Fishing permits from Barneys newsagents.

Nature: Just past ‘Fairyland’ on the left is a wooded/reeded area where deer can  sometimes be seen be seen grazing at dusk. Walk up to Allen Bank (NT) and you may see red squirrels..

Churches: There is one church in the Village, St. Oswald’s C of E and the Roman Catholic Church is in Ambleside.

Evening Walks Between the Wordsworth Hotel and Grasmere Gingerbread Shop is a riverside pathway, which takes you around the river edge, approximately 15 minutes, coming out in the car park at the top end of the Village. It is a lovely evening walk and recommended for ‘little legs’ that may enjoy paddling in the river. The newly restored church garden adjacent to the Gingerbread shop with its ‘name plate’ path is a nice spot to visit.

Services: There is mobile phone reception in the valley. The bin men come on a Thursday 8.00 am – 8.30 am  ,bin out on a Wednesday night.Details in the cottage.

Walking: If you fancy a walk on the fells, Easedale Tarn is accessed via Easedale Road (opposite Sam Reads Bookshop and the village green) – you must wear strong shoes/boots. Silverhowe to the Langdales and Chapel Stile is accessed through the gate opposite ‘Fairyland’. Again strong shoes/boots. A more gentle walk is around the Lake (along the road past the Prince of Wales Hotel) to the path by the start of the wood and then follow the path/lake/road back to the Village.