Recommendations for things to do, shops, pubs, cafes, restaurants etc. please
Pubs a-plenty. Limited shops, a few independant ones in Ulverston. Cafes in Ulverston (Gillams is good). A few good restaurants near by - Cartmel has a Michelin starred jobbie and there's a selection around Windermere.
Things to do? Take your bike 😀
L'enclume in Cartmel itself is supposed to be good, never been though as its a bit pricey 🙂 The pub in the middle of town (Royal Oak?) does an excellent lamb shank. Grange is retirement central but there is a great butchers (higginsons - excellent pies) and a good take-out butty shop just a the top of the hill opposite the post office. Masons arms at strawberry bank is good, used to be amazing but still good despite gastro-pub make-over.
Very good ginger puddings from the village shop
Engine Inn in Cark did very nice food.
The Cartmel Sticky Toffee Pudding factory shop is on the road heading south from Flookburgh
There's also a good cheese shop and bakery in a little courtyard place in Cartmel...
http://www.cartmelcheeses.co.uk/
Nice easy walks to be had by going across the racecourse an up into the woods... our dog loved it anyway 🙂
I believe L'enclume has a slightly cheaper sibling, but I've not been to either.
It's got a racecourse, we used to go in the summer and get ratted!
20 mins to Satterthwaite, Grizedale and the wonderful Breasty Haw. Also around Woodland common - peachy singletrack.
Climbing on limestone scars.
Masons Arms is good. The butcher in Grange sells salt marsh lamb - pricey but very tasty if you're self catering. In fact there weren't many things in that butchers that didn't look fantastic...
South Lakes wildlife park is worth a look if you have kids - vouchers can be got from Tesco for cheap entry
I went to school there 🙂