On a typically stormy night in Cumberland, more than 400 years ago, an oak tree crashed to ground…read morein Keswick. The split earth gave up a wealth of black lead, known locally as wad and soon to be renamed graphite. It was the purest graphite in the world and gave rise to riches, skulduggery and the world's first pencil industry. This tale is told by Professor Henry Petroski in The Pencil: A History of Design and Circumstance (1990) and laid out in admirably simple style in this quirky museum, off a side road in the town. Everything you ever wanted to know about pencil manufacture (but were afraid to ask) is answered here, from how early artist's pencils were made to why the Napoleonic Wars broke the Cumberland monopoly on pencil production. Budding and successful artists can hone their skills in a small workshop at the back of the museum.

You know when something is so naff, that it comes full-circle and actually becomes quite cool? Yes?…read moreWell, that's the pencil museum. It's a museum. And it's full of pencils. We went along because it was raining, and we needed something to keep us out of the pub for an hour. On entering and paying your £3, you receive a free pencil. Now, how many museums give out demos of their exhibits like that, eh? The last time you walked into the Natural History Museum, did they hand you the thigh bone from a woolly mammoth to take home and decorate your mantel with? I'll bet not. Point 1 to the Pencil Museum. Clutching your cedar-smelling new pencil, you walk through a kind of papier mache tunnel (graphite mine) into the museum: a small set of rooms with case after case of pencils. From the humble origins (writing with dirty lumps of graphite), through the evolution of the wooden holder, and on to the colourful array of pencils we all take for granted today. I know. Case upon case of pencils - I can see you stifling a yawn - but, remember, it's got to be truly rubbish to be able to swing round full circle. Highlights: clever secret war pencils with maps and compasses inside, and a big photo-opportunity pencil to stand next to with a sign saying 'This is me a the Cumberland Pencil Museum'. Brilliant.

This is a review of the Via Ferrata Xtreme climb which is based at Honister Slate Mine…read more(http://www.honister-slate-mine.co.uk/via_ferrata_at_honister.asp). After an induction in the equipment room, the climbing instructor provides everyone with a harness and helmet before the group (maximum of 12 people) walks up part of the miners' track to start the guided ascent. Via Ferrata means 'Iron Way' and you'll soon see why as there are iron rungs, supports and a continuous metal cable all the way along the route. It's certainly not for the faint-hearted as you are high up on a cliff face but it's extremely safe as you have two carabiners (strong metal clips) on your harness and you keep one locked to the cable at all times as you move carefully along. You climb independently and aren't attached to anyone else. The whole experience will take 2.5 to 3 hours and it's a combination of short walks through pitch-black mine shafts, cliff edge ladders, vertical climbs, a Burma Bridge (hanging wire bridge) and cargo net crossing. It's quite tough-going but you can take your time and the instructor was really encouraging of everyone, we had a great laugh with her the whole way. Our group had a big age and ability range. After all this, the summit of Fleetwith Pike awaits (it's over 2,000 feet high) and the views of the magnificent Lake District are breathtaking. Thankfully you don't have to go back the way you came (!!) and there's a walking track all the way down to the centre. You will feel fantastic (albeit knackered) after you complete this, so go for it! Tip: no cameras or phones are permitted on the climb for safety reasons, but the instructor will take photos of everyone with their camera at key stages on the route. You can buy the CD of the photos for £15.

What a great visitor attraction this is, perched on the crest of Honister Pass. There is no museum…read moreas such but you can take 1 of 3 different mine tours lasting about an hour. You get the chance to go deep inside Honister Crag. Make sure you have a coat/fleece as it tends to get rather chilly inside. Kids love it. The more adventurous can do a Farrata track accent with a guide. If you are in the north lakes give it a look, we enjoyed the experience.

I saw a leaflet for the Puzzling Place during a stay in the Lakes, and thought it looked…read moreinteresting but maybe a bit rubbish, but we were going somewhere via Keswick so we decided to pop in. It was brilliant. Entry was £3.50 per adult and we ended up having to rush at the end because the car park was about to run out - we didn't know we'd be spending nearly an hour there! The illusions are really interesting and very well presented, with an explanation of each. The shop is good as well, containing loads of brilliant gifts. If you're in Keswick then definitely give the Puzzling Place a go, you won't be disappointed.

If you're in Keswick and looking for something to do the Puzzling Place is definietly worth a…read morevisit. It's a fun and eye opening experience based on optical illusions. The anti gravity room is a good laugh, balls roll up hill, you can sit on a powerless chair lift and roll up hill. There is a great hologram exhibition where all kinds of famous characters come out the walls at you, as well as opitical illusion exhibitins. I loved the Ames room which creates tall and little people. Superb for taking funny photos. The Puzzling Place is great for kids and adults a like. Defo worth checking out.

This is a fantastic little volunteer run air museum. Staff extremly helpfull & friendly. We went on…read morea Sunday arfternoon & was pleasantly supprised at the access to the aircraft, especially the Vulcan Bomber. There is a well informed museum, It was a pleasure not to surrounded by hordes of people. Good athentic location next to Carlisle Airport. I didn't realise there was a voucher availible untill writing this review but am more than happy to support volunteers efforts. No cafe but the reception did provide hot & cold drinks, crisps.

Came here on the way down south. Only had limited time, but this castle was on our route. Has an…read moreinteresting part in history and was free for us EH members. For 500 years, until the English and Scottish crowns were united in 1603, Carlisle Castle was the principal fortress of England's north-western border with Scotland. Unlike most medieval castles, it has been continuously occupied since its foundation by William II in 1092. When Mary, Queen of Scots fled from her rebellious subjects to England in May 1567, she was housed for some weeks here. This was the last time the castle was used as a royal residence. These are just some of the countless interesting facts. There's a lot more to see, learn and read. Funnily enough just the day before we've visited Linlinthgow Palace, the birthplace of Mary. You can visit lots of rooms, can walk on the walls. You can see the prison cells and much more. Its' a highly interesting castle. There is also Cumbria's Museum of Military Life on site, if you got some time on your hands. A museum shop, toilets and a café/restaurant. Picnic tables outside as well. All in all a very interesting visit. We only had 2-3 hours time, but you could easily spend a day here.

From the outside a very nice building with a piece of well-kept lawn. For our group, however, the…read moreadmission fee was a touch expensive, so we left the charms of the interior to wealthier people. Zvenku velmi pěkná stavba s opečovávaným trávníkem. Pro naši skupinku ovšem poněkud dražší vstupné, takže kouzla interiéru jsme nechali movitějším :)

this museum is actually inside Carlisle Castle in Queen Mary's Tower and is well worth a visit…read morewhile you are there. It is free to get in once you have paid to get into the Castle and it has many displays of uniforms, weapons, equipment, musical instruments, and the most interesting part for me was seeing the personal items of soldiers and reading their stories. That really made it feel more real to me. In the museum there is also a mock up of what it would have been like in one of the trenches in WW1 my boys really enjoyed this part. There are two floors to this museum and it is amazing what they have packed into such a relatively small area. There is a small gift shop here too selling items relating to the regiment and the army in general and I believe they also hold a lot of archive records and will do research for you but they will ask for a donation towards the running of the museum.

Visited the Mill on the Fleet today and thought it was awesome. The surrounding area is stunning…read moreand the building with the old mill wheel turning is lovely from the outside. The Mill building houses a little shop and cafe on the ground floor. When you head up to the first floor (with lift access) there is a museum detailing the history of the Mill. There are lots of information boards and interactive displays. Great for engaging kids. Plus there is a dressing up section for the children. But the magic really happens when you reach the top floor. There is a little gallery space with local art which is great to wander round. However, the show is really stolen by the 'book shop'. I have never seen so many books piled up. It is like a labyrinth of nooks and crannies with walls of every type of book you could imagine. I am not articulate enough to find the right words but it is like something out a story book. The staff are very friendly and helpful and never moaned once as we spent ages wandering round looking at everything and touching lots of books! Unfortunately I had not take my purse as there were lots of little treasures I would have loved to have bought. All very reasonably priced too. Plus, there was a children's section with big cushions on the floor. I will definitely be back. Gatehouse of Fleet is one of my favorite places and the Mill just adds to it's draw.

This place is brilliant…read more Gatehouse is where my parents live, and its really beautiful. The Mill on the Fleet is an old mill, as the name suggests, inside theyve got a pretty good little museum, but the real treat I found was the awesome bookshop at the top floor. You will never have seen a bookshop quite like it! It is chaos, piles and piles of old books form corridors of, yes you guessed it, books!! If you've got time to burn and you're a book fan, this is an absolute must!!!!!

Good because Eleanor's narration left us wanting more. Inside was out of bounds so we were left…read morewith a half hour outside tour and the mini museum of the witches. We were thirsty for much more history than was given but what was given was great. Eleanor was a born story teller and there is so much more to this history than was given. For 2 pound 50 it was a bargain. What stories this castle could tell.

You'd be silly to come all the way to Lancaster without seeing the castle!…read more The castle is still a working court and prison, but you can take tours there seven days a week if you head around back (near the requisite gift shop.) The keep dates to the 12th century and the history of the castle is very interesting. The guides are well informed and fun to listen to, and there are events here throughout the year. When you finish, it's worth heading out front, putting the castle at your back and taking a walk down the street towards town. On the right, you'll see a sign for the Nice Cafe, and inside that building is the tourism office, which always has more info on things to see locally. If you go a few feet further and look left, you will find the Merchant's Pub, one of the oldest and coolest pubs in town. Grab a burger and a pint and enjoy their patio!