Places Of Interest To Visit During Your Stay At Scar Side Farm.

Scar Side Farm self catering holiday cottage is set in its own 30 acres of farmland, making it the ideal get-away for those of you wishing to escape from the hustle and bustle of 21st century living.

The farmland surrounding Scar Side Farm is mostly used for grazing; the rest of the land is recognised by English Nature as an SSSI, ( Site of Special Scientific Interest ). The reason for this is its distinctive plant life, which in springtime is a mass of rare unusual flowers; for the biologists, it is known as a limestone flush, which gives rise to many micro-habitats on the brink of acid/alkaline, which in turn allow these unusual  plants to thrive. The newly formed ponds are already attracting birdlife, geese are nesting and snipe and curlew are often seen and heard. Occasionally, in the winter months, you may be lucky enough to see a stoat running across the fields, dressed in all its ermine finery.

Just as for the buzzards, which can often be seen soaring on thermals lifting off the Scar, Scar Side Farm is ideal for kite flying. Bring your own, or try your hand with the stunt kite, with other outdoor games left in the porch for you to enjoy. Guests are welcome to use the grounds at Scar Side, in addition to the private sunken garden area and dining furniture, where you may sit and enjoy their BBQ with the scents of wisteria, lavender and honeysuckle wafting slowly across on the evening air.

You will find in the cottage several bulging folders detailing the many and varied local attractions. Regularly updated, these tell of the best there is to see in the surrounding area. Amongst the many things listed, the following are just a sample.

In the village of Orton are many facilities including a tea room, shop, post office, church, children's playground, The Mad Monk's Music Shop and Kennedy's Chocolate Factory. The famous Orton Farmers Market is also hosted here on the second Saturday of every month.

This unspoilt area of Cumbria has an abundance of wildlife, including a wide variety of birds; curlews, lapwings, oyster catchers, sandpipers, buzzards, herons and dippers. At Bassenthwaite ospreys can be seen and at Haweswater magnificent golden eagles soar through the skies. Roe deer can often been seen in the area and if you keep your eyes peeled you may be lucky enough to spot, a now rare and endangered, red squirrel.

The British Isles is home to the world's most important area of limestone pavement, a rare and endangered habitat. Above Scar Side lies the second most extensive area and best examples of pavement in Britian. Great Asby National Nature Reserve covers a large part of this group of pavements.

There are countless walks in the surrounding countryside - Orton and Great Asby Scars, the River Lune, Sunbiggin Tarn and Smardale Nature Reserve are but a few. Further afield, but within easy reach for a day trip of are the Central Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales, North Pennines, Galloway and Hadrian's Wall and Wainwright's Classic Coast to Coast Footpath passes within a mile. The forests and lakes of Cumbria are an hour's drive away; Haweswater, Ullswater, Windermere, Thirlmere and Derwent Water.

Kendal, Appleby, Penrith and Kirby Stephen are all within an half an hour's drive away, whilst the Lake District towns of Keswick and Ambleside are only 45 minutes away.

For railway enthusiasts, the famous Settle Carlisle Railway is ten miles away and the notorious Shap incline is just to the west. Rheged the Upland Kingdom Discovery Centre is nearby as are castles, historic houses, potteries, galleries and numerous other attractions.

For bird enthusiasts, Morecambe Bay and Leighton Moss at Warton are renowned for bird-watching and Lowther Bird of Prey Centre is only a few miles away.

For the keen fisherman, Bessy Beck Trout Fishery provides quality bank fishing for rainbow trout in a beautiful Cumbrian setting. They have three lakes to fish in, catering for a variety of angling styles. They have a fishing lodge heated by a pot bellied stove and car parking is available making access to all fishing very easy.

If you enjoy wandering historic houses or gardens, Holker Hall, Levens Hall, Sizergh Castle, Holehird, Dalemain and Mirehouse are all within easy reach.