Where are we?

Pardshaw Quaker Centre is situated in the hamlet of Pardshaw Hall, just off the A5086 road from Cockermouth to Egremont, about 4 miles south of Cockermouth in the English Lake District.

Postcode CA13 0SP. National Grid Reference: NY 10378 25463. what3words:///unfit.automatic.lightbulb

Getting here on public transport

The nearest train stations are:

• Penrith (West Coast Main Line from the south – recommended for most uses)
• Carlisle (West Coast Main Line from the north)
• Workington (Cumbrian Coast line from the south)
• Maryport (Cumbrian Coast line from the north)

There are buses to Cockermouth from Penrith, Workington and Carlisle. The nearest bus stop to Pardshaw Quaker Centre is Oakhurst Garden Centre, which is served by the X5 bus from Penrith and Workington. Other buses stop at Cockermouth Main Street.

There is no public transport from Cockermouth to Pardshaw, but the Oakhurst Garden Centre stop is only 5 minutes drive away, so it’s easy to organise pickups for members of your group arriving by public transport. We recommend that if you need one you use the Premier Inn as a designated meeting point, as it has free short-stay parking and an indoor cafe serving reasonably priced hot drinks.

It’s possible to cycle from Cockermouth to Pardshaw, but walking is not recommended due to the lack of a footpath on a busy road.

Local public outdoor spaces

Pardshaw Crag

Pardshaw Crag is just up the hill from Pardshaw Quaker Centre. It takes about 5 minutes walk to climb the crag, which gives you wonderful views of the Lake District fells, the Solway Firth ocean, and the Scottish mountains beyond. Pardshaw Quaker Centre was originally built as a wet weather shelter for Quakers who held Meetings for Worship up on Pardshaw Crag. Today the crag is used by groups for picnics, meditation and nature connection sessions, outdoor bouldering, and arts sessions like landscape drawing. A particular favourite is to climb the crag at dawn or dusk in order to witness the sunrise or sunset over the mountains.

 

Pardshaw Crag is owned by a local farmer, with permissive public access, and is often grazed by sheep. Groups visiting the crag should take care to follow the Countryside Code, close all gates behind them, and not unduly disturb farm animals.

Black Beck and the Fell Church

The footpath down to Black Beck starts from just up the road from Pardshaw Quaker Centre. Black Beck is a stream that follows the path through the fields to the village of Mosser. Groups will often then walk up the track to St Michael’s Church, commonly known as the Fell Church. The full circular route to the Fell Church and back to Pardshaw along the road from Mosser takes approximately 60 minutes depending on the speed of your group.

Download file for GPS

The farm along the road back to Pardshaw Quaker Centre will often be selling eggs. Bring cash for the honesty box.

The Fell Road to Loweswater

Continuing on from Mosser past the Fell Church, the road begins to climb steeply and becomes unsuitable for cars. This track cuts over the fells and continues on down to Loweswater lake. It has spectacular views of the fells, the lake, and the ocean. The full walk to Loweswater is approximately 90 minutes walking dependent on the speed of your group, or double this if walking both ways.

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Loweswater is suitable for wild swimming. Groups will often walk out to Loweswater, have a dip in the lake, and then head to the local Kirkstile Inn for food before being picked up and driving back to Pardshaw Quaker Centre. Remember to follow standard wild swimming advice, as well as to check the signs near Loweswater to see if there is any reason the lake is not currently suitable to swim.

Further Afield

There are many beautiful places that are easy trips out from Pardshaw Quaker Centre in the car. The Lake District has lots of wonderful areas to explore! Here are some links to our favourite nearby.

• Wild Ennerdale, the largest nature reserve in the Lake District
• Maryport Coastal Park and other beach areas around the Solway Coast
• Bassenthwaite Lake, another permitted wild swimming lake
• Skiddaw Mountain, the 4th highest mountain in England, visible from Pardshaw Quaker Centre and Pardshaw Crag
• Whinlatter Mountain Forest, with the longest purpose-built mountain biking trails in the Lake District