Gosforth is a small village in Cumbria and is a terrific place to relax and explore the towns, villages and countryside of the surrounding
Lake District National Park. If you enjoy walking, cycling, hiking and boating then the Lake District should have plenty to keep you entertained on a country cottage holiday.
About Gosforth for Cottage Holidays
The village of Gosforth is a historic place, with its oldest building going back to 1628. The village church of St. Mary’s has a famous Viking, red sandstone cross located in its churchyard, known as the Gosforth Cross. Measuring 14 feet in height, with both Christian and pagan carvings, it is said to be the oldest and the tallest cross from ancient times found in England. It is also significant because of its mixture of symbols, indicating a shift from pagan beliefs to an acceptance of Christianity. This church is also celebrated for two ‘Hogback’ tombstones dating from the 19th century.
If your family members like to take a lungful of fresh air and go walking on a cottage holiday, nearby Blengdale Forest offers lovely walks on the riverbank of the River Bleng. Some keen walkers like to continue on to Monks Bridge, an ancient packhorse bridge on Cold Fell. Cyclists enjoy travelling on the roads going through the forest. Parts of the forest offer wonderful views, some all the way to the coast.
Depending on the dates of your holiday, you may be able to catch the annual Gosforth Agricultural Show which takes place in August. Traditional country pursuits provide the family with a fun day out. There are animals galore, with ponies, horses, sheep, poultry and cattle vying for the judges’ honours. Other attractions include vintage farm machinery, terrier racing, show jumping, traditional crafts, food, a beer tent and trade stands. Children can participate in their own sports and the grand tradition of Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling is on display.
One of the most photographed lakes in the locality and somewhere not to miss on a self-catering break is Wastwater in the Wasdale Valley. It’s the deepest lake in England (260 feet) and the surrounding mountains, which include Scafell Pike, the highest mountain in England, frame it perfectly. Broken pieces of rock at the southeast side of the lake make up the ‘Screes’, giving this lake a distinctive feature. Artists and writers from the past have been inspired by it and today’s climbers and divers are still drawn to it. Nearby, St. Olaf’s Church at Wasdale Head is one of the smallest churches in England. Its roof beams are thought to have once been part of Viking ships.
Other places of interest for those taking a cottage holiday in Gosforth include Whitehaven and
Ravenglass. Travellers have fallen in love with this area for many years and it continues to offer amazing scenery along with modern hospitality. Whether you choose to stay in a rustic cottage near to Gosforth or a country cottage in the heart of the village we trust that you’ll have a great time discovering some of the best of the Lake District.
Whether you choose to book a holiday cottage in Gosforth, an apartment, a lodge or another type of self-catering holiday accommodation, we hope you have your best holiday yet in Cumbria.
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