Caldbeck.org.uk
with Hesket Newmarket
Caldew group sites
 
Information for visitors
 
If you are lucky enough to visit Caldbeck and Hesket Newmarket, or to be planning a visit, you will find that there is plenty to do - particularly if you enjoy the outdoors and you don't mind rain.
 
Tourist information
See golakes, the official website of Cumbria Tourism.
 
Local services
Click here.
 
Walking
The Northern Fells, dominated by Skiddaw and Blencathra, are on the doorstep and the rest of the English Lake District is not far away.  Wainwright's Guide to the Northern Fells was first published with Alfred Wainwright's own charming drawings and handwritten text 50 years ago.  It has recently been revised and continues to be the classic guide to High Pike, Carrock, Great Cockup, Skiddaw, Blencathra etc.
If you are adventurous (and reasonably fit) you could take the Saturday bus to Keswick and walk back.
 
Cumbria Way
 
Many walkers stay in Caldbeck on the Cumbria Way - a 70 mile walk from Ulverston to Carlisle via Coniston and Langdale.  See http://www.thecumbriaway.info/, 'The Cumbria Way and Allerdale Ramble' (Cicerone Guide) by Jim Watson and Cumbria Way (Walker's Route) by Harvey Map Services Ltd.
 
Eating and drinking

The Oddfellows Arms, Caldbeck and Old Crown Inn, Hesket Newmarket both serve good food, including evening meals.
The Watermill Café, Caldbeck serves lunch and tea and Denton House, Hesket Newmarket has a 60-seater restaurant.  (Phone first 016974 78415).  The Old Smithy in Caldbeck serves teas.
See local businesses for more ideas.
 
Museums
Learn more about the history of the area by visiting the Threlkeld Quarry and Mining Museum which offers activities for all the family, including an 'underground tour' and the Pencil Museum which you enter through a replica of the Seathwaite mine where graphite was first discovered 350 years ago. Tullie House museum in Carlisle has various interesting collections, exhibitions and activities.
 
Sports
Caldbeck has a tennis court near the school.  (£1 per hour and 50p for children.) The booking board is at the garage (where you can also get your car mended).  Please provide your own racquets and balls.  I think visitors can also use the bowling green if they are bone fide bowlers, you would need to ask a bowler.  Where is the nearest gold course?   There are hundreds of golfers in this world. 
Visitors are welcome at the active Caldbeck Bowling Club which is situated near the pond on the road to Wigton and Carlisle.  Call in or contact the secretary Lawrence Hayton (016973 42930).

There are golf courses in:

Carlisle (01228 513029)

Cockermouth (017687 76223)

Crosby-on-Eden (01228 573003)

Dalston (01228 710165)

Keswick (017687 79324)

Penrith (01768 865429)

Silloth  (016973 31304)
For spectators (or a game if you are lucky) there are active cricket and football teams.  See organisations.
 
Hunting
Caldbeck was the home of John Peel, probably the most famous huntsman of all time.  The song 'D'ye ken John Peel?' was written by John Woodcock Graves in a house opposite the Oddfellows Arms and first sung in the pub.  John Peel is buried in Caldbeck churchyard. 
Three local packs of hounds meet in the area to drag hunt, roughly from September to March.  The Blencathra Foxhounds is a foot pack kennelled in Threlkeld with hounds that descend directly from some of John Peel's.  The Cumberland Hunt and Cumberland Farmers Hunt are mounted packs kennelled in Westward and Welton respectively.