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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?
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Buses to and through Broughton: X7 Barrow - Broughton - Millom - Haverigg.
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Ulverston
Ukraine's Dnipro Opera perform Puccini's tragic opera – a touching tale of innocent love crushed between two utterly different cultures, which resonates as strongly as ever in today's world.
Coniston
This bespoke retreat is crafted and infused with love offering yoga, breathwork, forest bathing, Foraging, botanical creations, women's circle, drumming, cacao ceremony & ritual to support you on your journey towards returning to your wild soul.
North Lonsdale Road, Ulverston
Come and enjoy a cocktail & cakes at the Gin Shed! Gather your friends, work colleagues or family and enjoy a tipple and treat.
What's on the menu?
Your ticket entitles you to one Cocktail, plus 3 Mini Cakes from our Afternoon G&Tea Menu*.
Friday,…
Cumbria
Buses to and through Broughton:
X7 Barrow - Broughton - Millom - Haverigg.
Broughton in Furness
Bar, tuckshop, interval refreshments and raffle.
Tickets on sale at the door Adult £6, Child £3.50. Family (2ad+2ch) £16 Family (2ad+2ch) £11
Ulverston
Classical guitar sensation MILOŠ is joined on stage by saxophonist Jess Gillam. Expect a beautiful range of music from Bach to The Beatles.
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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 -…
Ulverston
Welcome to Cumbria’s award-winning Gin Distillery. Based in the lovely market town on Ulverston, we produce small batch gins with big flavours. Winner of The Gin Guide’s Environmental Sustainability Award in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Ulverston
We, Andy and Zoe, look forward to hosting you at our award-winning Gin Distillery here in Ulverston. Enjoy a distillery tour, followed by tastings of at least 6 gins in our stylish bar with views of Ulverston’s iconic Pepperpot atop Hoad.
Ulverston
Peaceful and inspiring Buddhist Temple, amazing Romantic Gothic mansion, relaxing café, gift shop and book store. Bring a picnic. Six minute woodland walk to beach.
Ulverston
Our famous glass blowing experiences are back. Experience first-hand and close up, the extreme temperatures required to transform sand into glass and learn some of the 2000 year old skills first developed by the ancient Romans. During this…
Ulverston
Join us for a spectacular evening of music as arguably the finest military band in the world take to the stage alongside Ulverston Victoria High School Wind Band.
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Ulverston
Ben Fogle takes you on a journey through his extraordinary encounters with the human and natural world, with inspiring and uplifting tales of self-discovery that will leave you enchanted, enlightened, and entertained.
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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.
Ulverston
Discover the turbulent tale of two of Hollywood's biggest stars – Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli – in this sensational musical experience.This dazzling production, set against the backdrop of their infamous 1964 London Palladium concert, brings Judy…
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…
Ulverston
Laugh out loud with four award-winning, Edinburgh Festival-storming, prime time TV-smashing, rib-splitting, side-tickling, extremely funny acts: Mark Nelson, Micky P Kerr, Gareth Waugh, and Tom Ward.
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Ulverston
Based in the centre of the brilliant old market town of Ulverston, Retro Rendezvous is a full weekend of fabulous retro fun. Music, food, dance, clothes, markets, cars, motorcycles, drink and the famous Velo Retro old school cycling events through…
Lindal in Furness
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