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Festival-happy Ulverston knows how to celebrate events. The party capital of Furness hosts a series of specialist events throughout the year, where visitors also get the chance to sample the town’s wonderful collection of cosy pubs, traditional markets and cultural hotspots. Add in the colourfully rendered houses, cobbled streets and inviting side alleys and there's enough of interest to keep you smiling for days.
Surrounding the town is the gently rolling farmland of the Furness Peninsula. Along the seashore are some lovely coastal villages; Bardsea, Baycliff, Aldingham and Newbiggin, these all have stunning views over Morecambe Bay.
On the road into Ulverston, you’ll notice the prominent Sir John Barrow Monument at the top of Hoad Hill. The uphill climb to the monument is worth it for the breathtaking views over Morecambe Bay and the Lake District fells.
Ulverston’s cafés, bars and restaurants reflect this truly unique, festival market town and wherever possible the menus use both local and seasonal produce.
Enter a different world of quirky cafés with certificates of excellence, selling homemade concoctions of oils, spices and pickles and all manner of other curiosities.
It’s an ideal time to browse while you’re waiting for your fabulous meal to arrive. Delicious Chowder, proper puddings with custard and all served up with a glass of cloudy lemonade. Or how about a visit to one of the cafes for breakfast? The full English is amazing with quality local bacon and sausages and then in the evening these excellent little cafes turn into Bistros, again offering the same superb standard of food. Sometimes you need to take your own alcohol with you, but this makes your meal excellent value for money.
Menus cater for Vegetarian and Gluten Free diets and many of the cafes/bistros are suitable for wheelchairs. But it’s not just the cafes which get all the glory here, there’s some pretty amazing pubs both in the town itself and in the surrounding villages of Lowick Green and Swarthmoor, where you’ll be offered deliciously inventive menus which go way beyond normal pub fayre. The service is spot on, while chefs are incredibly talented - and your superb food and cask ales are served amongst beautiful décor.
For a little unusual, how about an old converted barn turned bar and restaurant, the Cumberland pie is gorgeous and so is the local beer. Or if a traditional old English pub is your thing, complete with cosy fire, oak beams and Stan and Laurel memorabilia, then you’ve come to the ideal place for excellent food and ales kept in perfect condition.
For something a little bit continental, try one of the bistros offering beautiful Mediterranean tapas on small sharing plates, so you can try a selection of vegetarian, seafood and meat dishes, with explosions of different flavours and textures. Some of the bistros in Ulverston are tiny, but the atmosphere more than makes up for size, as does the quality of the food. And lastly but by no means least, Ulverston does fine dining impeccably. Cocktails in the gin parlour first and then off to the restaurant for a real taste sensation where you will be offered pure artistry - delicious food at its most creative.
The earliest signs of human life round here was on the limestone outcrops of Birkrigg Common and around Urswick, where finds dating back to the Bronze and Iron ages have been unearthed. At the time, much of the Furness Peninsula was covered with trees which were gradually felled over the centuries to create the patchwork of fields, farms and pockets of woodland that exists today.
After the Norman Conquest, Henry I granted the western forests of Furness and the whole of Walney Island to Stephen of Blois, crowned king of England in AD113, and the eastern section to William le Fleming. William's son, Michael, inherited the land in 1167 – as a result, it was known as the Manor of Muchland (Michael's land).
Ulverston was granted a market charter in 1280 by Edward I. Shortly afterwards, the Scots began raiding large parts of northern England in response to the king's attempts to quell Scotland and bring it under English rule. Large areas of Furness were devastated by the attacks, which prompted the building of several fortified buildings as defence.
It was after the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1537 that Ulverston came to prominence as a market town, whilst Dalton declined in importance. The fast-flowing Gillbanks Beck (now culverted under the town) provided water power for mills making cotton, paper, candles and other commodities. Goods including local iron ore and slates were taken by packhorse to loading bays at Ulverston, Bardsea and Baycliffe - a slow and laborious means of conveyance that was soon to be replaced by water transport.
By the 19th century, Ulverston was a thriving commercial port, exporting cotton from Ellers Mill, slate from Burlington Quarries, iron from its foundries, limestone from Stainton and leather from its numerous tanneries (there is still a Leather Lane in Ulverston). Other industries included brick making, paper manufacture and brewing beer. The malty aroma from Hartley's Brewery was a feature of the town until 1991, when it was bought out by Robinson’s, who moved production to Stockport.
Looking for something to do in Ulverson?
Our friends at Ulverston.com have Ulverston’s biggest Events Calendar which includes festivals, live music, community events, classes, club meetings, sports matches, pub quizzes, open days, etc.
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Bardsea - a lovely little village sitting on the coast road that takes you from Ulverston through to Barrow. The beach itself is mostly shingle and offers a wonderful view across the bay looking towards Heysham and Morecambe.
Gleaston - located between Barrow-in-Furness and Ulverston, this beautiful village boasts of a 17th century Water Mill that has now become a tourist attraction. Moreover, the remains of Gleaston Castle are still visable.
Haverthwaite - the famous Lakeside & Haverthwaite steam railway runs between Haverthwaite on a 3.5 mile journey via Newby Bridge to Lakeside station on Lake Windermere, where you can pick up regular steamer services on Lake Windermere.
Newby Bridge - Newby Bridge is located at the foot of Lake Windermere and offers magnificent views into the heart of the Lake District. Spanning the River Leven, the bridge itself is a lovingly crafted crossing made from local stone.
Greenodd - The extensive broadleaved woodlands of the Rusland Valley have not always presented the tranquil scene they do today. Leven and Crake valleys acted as conduits for the transport of goods and materials and at their confluence is Greenodd.
Did you know?
Electric bike charge point
Buses to and through Ulverston: 6/6A Barrow - Dalton - Ulverston. 11 Barrow - Roa Island -…
The Fourmost had its roots steeped in the eclectic 1960s Mersey beat boom and was part of the…
English Touring Opera returns with a poetic production of the most popular of operas: Puccini's…
Electric bike charge point
Buses to and through Broughton: X7 Barrow - Broughton - Millom - Haverigg.
Learn bushcraft or archery skills on a private country estate overlooking the Duddon estuary and…
Great Fires of London – Norman Price is in trouble (again)! Join the ultimate hero next-door…
Learn how to build a Cob Clay Pizza Oven - With expert tutor David Alty Come to the woods to learn…
Come and enjoy our amazing upmarket glamping experience on our working family farm in the Lake…
Friday night of Another Fine Fest sees Ulverston's Comedy Club Planet Mirth host another stellar…
Steam trains running a seasonal daily service from Haverthwaite to Lakeside via the Leven valley.…
Set in a quiet corner of Western Cumbria, and with panoramic views over Duddon Sands, South…
Come and experience the world's greatest and most authentic touring Live Band Northern Soul show…
Great cycling activities for all the family in the Lake District and Cumbria. With mountains and…
Velo Retro is ready for its 8th year. The only retro and vintage cycling festival in the English…
Manchester Camerata return to The Coro celebrating their 50th birthday year with Ulverston…
Want something fun and a little bit different this holiday? Try something new and exciting in the…
Thornthwaite Farm is set amidst the beautiful scenery of the Woodland Valley. We have four…
Really friendly company offering the best quality experience in gorge walking, canoeing, rock…
NATIONAL YOUTH JAZZ ORCHESTRA MARK ARMSTRONG – DIRECTOR We are thrilled to welcome the National…
Rhinos, Tigers, Giraffes, Lions and Bears living in the heart of the Lake District….this is…
Why not take a break from your travels and relax in the warm, welcoming and nostalgic surroundings…
Join us, Andy & Zoe, to create your own Signature Gin. Groups are small and we guide you through…
Watching the sun go down over Morecambe Bay is the stuff memories are made of
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Broughton in Furness
Electric bike charge point
Queen Street
Buses to and through Ulverston:
6/6A Barrow - Dalton - Ulverston.
11 Barrow - Roa Island - Ulverston.
509 Askam - Kirkby-in-Furness - Ulverston.
538 Newby Bridge - Lakeside - Bouth - Ulverston.
X12 Coniston - Ulverston.
X6 Barrow - Ulverston -…
Millom
The Fourmost had its roots steeped in the eclectic 1960s Mersey beat boom and was part of the Brian Epstein stable along with The Beatles, Billy J Kramer, Gerry and The Pacemakers, Cilla Black and others. The band has evolved from enjoying 1960's…
ULVERSTON
English Touring Opera returns with a poetic production of the most popular of operas: Puccini's story of young love, starting on Christmas Eve in a Parisian garret.
On this festive, snowy night the lovers draw close, but poverty forces them apart in…
ULVERSTON
45 of the UK's finest printmakers showcase their work in the festival championing the original hand-made print. Meet the artists, discover more about their methods, and maybe find something to take home with you.
Printfest is more than your average…
Ulverston
Electric bike charge point
Cumbria
Buses to and through Broughton:
X7 Barrow - Broughton - Millom - Haverigg.
ULVERSTON
Salem. 1692. The girls are caught dancing in the woods. The witch hunter is summoned. And a toxic mix of vengeance and fear is about to send a small community to the gallows.
Arthur Miller's The Crucible is one of the most popular plays in the…
Learn bushcraft or archery skills on a private country estate overlooking the Duddon estuary and Coniston Fells. We run various Bushcraft courses from fun half day sessions to more advanced full days. Maybe you’d prefer to try your hand at archery…
ULVERSTON
A stellar new show based on the award-winning book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Soar into space and a joyful tale of star-crossed aliens in this exciting adaptation.
ULVERSTON
Great Fires of London – Norman Price is in trouble (again)! Join the ultimate hero next-door Fireman Sam as he races to the rescue.
When all of his friends go away, Norman decides to find adventure in Pontypandy and become the star of a visiting…
ULVERSTON
Learn how to build a Cob Clay Pizza Oven - With expert tutor David Alty
Come to the woods to learn in a hands (& feet) on style, as a small group. This busy one day workshop will give you the knowledge to build your own oven at home, having had the…
Ulverston
Come and enjoy our amazing upmarket glamping experience on our working family farm in the Lake District! Get close to nature while still maintaining home comforts in our spacious and comfortable Octolodges.
ULVERSTON
Friday night of Another Fine Fest sees Ulverston's Comedy Club Planet Mirth host another stellar line-up of hilarious comedians.
Steve Royle (Britain's Got Talent 2020 runner up), Tony Law (as seen on 8 out of 10 Cats), the 'wonderfully funny'…
Ulverston
Steam trains running a seasonal daily service from Haverthwaite to Lakeside via the Leven valley. Licensed tea room, gift shop, engine shed, picnic area & playground.
Kirkby-in-Furness
Set in a quiet corner of Western Cumbria, and with panoramic views over Duddon Sands, South Lakeland and beyond; Longlands is a private holiday park offering its residents a luxurious oasis of calm.
ULVERSTON
Come and experience the world's greatest and most authentic touring Live Band Northern Soul show.
Keeping the Faith to the original sounds of the underground movement that started on the dance floors of the North and eventually swept the Nation, an…
Ulverston
Great cycling activities for all the family in the Lake District and Cumbria. With mountains and valleys, miles of mature forest, endless lake and coastal shores, the landscape of Cumbria makes an amazing place to go cycling.
Ulverston
Velo Retro is ready for its 8th year. The only retro and vintage cycling festival in the English Lake District, where for one weekend, steel is real and retro cycling jerseys rule the roost!
Based in the small and very lovely market town of…
ULVERSTON
Manchester Camerata return to The Coro celebrating their 50th birthday year with Ulverston saxophonist Jess Gillam. Heralded by The Times as 'Britain's most adventurous orchestra', the orchestra pop up in all sorts of places, from concert halls to…
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