Cumbria 2023: Selside

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Selside Hall Cottages

In September 2023 we took a three centre road trip through Scotland, England, and Wales. We stayed in a cottage in each country with our first stop in Cumbria, just beyond the eastern edge of England’s Lake District National Park. We rented one of the cottages at Selside Hall, the “small but perfectly formed” Thomasin. It’s is part of a barn conversion and, despite its compact size, we were very comfortable there for a week.

Thomasin at Selside Hall
Back window view

On our first evening we took a stroll along the minor roads around us.

View from the gates
Walking from Selside
Walking from Selside
Walking from Selside
Walking from Selside

The following day we also walked straight from the door, but in the opposite direction, as far as the River Mint and back. This included visiting the local church, St Thomas.

This way!
Churchyard
Porch window
Font
Nave
Stained glass window
Organ
Jesus’ words to Thomas

The walk was mainly through rolling farmland. We met lots of curious locals – but very few were human: the quietness was one advantage of being just outside the National Park rather than within it.

Cattle
Decorative window!
Curious sheep
Curious sheep
Rolling farmland
River Mint bridge
Turning point
Yoadpot Farm
Curious sheep
Rolling farmland
St Thomas comes back into view

John also cycled straight from the door on a couple of the evenings when it was my turn to cook. On one such trip he visited another church, St Mary’s in Longsleddale, which can be used for overnight stays, or “champing”. The journey involved a bit of a traffic jam. Those sheep again!

St Mary Longsleddale
Nave
Altar
Traffic jam
St Mary Longsleddale

Our other walks and visits were all a car journey away, but none of them too far – there is so much to do in the area if the weather gods play nicely, which they did for the most part. More to follow!

England, UK ,

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  1. Pingback: This week’s small pleasures #459 – Thistles and Kiwis

    • There weren’t any cafes within walking distance of the cottage but the Lake District as a whole is heaving with tea rooms and pubs. It might feel remote when out walking on the fells but it’s a very popular, compact area with lots of small villages. We usually go June or September when the schools are in – in the summer it is just too busy!

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  8. Even though it’s outside the National Park it still looks scenic there. I remember the immediate difference leaving the golden bubble of pretty villages and landscapes down that way for the more down to earth post industrial towns of Whitehaven and Maryport only a few miles distance away on the coast. A lot poorer looking but far more affordable housing stock I’d imagine. A real contrast but I liked them as well. Can’t really go wrong in Cumbria. BSS. Bob.

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  9. Reminds me a bit like home! We had a wandering cow the other night, a young lass came knocking on our door very concerned about a cow in the lane, I’m not sure what she expected us to do, but I valiantly went out to reassure her. Luckily another neighbour happened along who was definitely a cow whisperer!

    It is nice to be able to walk straight out the door to explore and that church St Mary Longsleddale is charming.

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  14. A part of Cumbria i don’t know very well though i have heard of the champing church in Longsleddle. I quite fancy it myself though no friends are particularly keen.
    Your little Thomasin cottage is cute and perhaps named after the village church?

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  18. Very cute sheep! It’s quite common here to have them sauntering across the road in front of us. Goats too! Do you usually cook when on holiday, Anabel, or only if there isn’t a convenient pub nearby? xx

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  21. Anabel, this looks like a fabulous place to stay. I love the sheep traffic jam! We spent several days in the Lake District in 1999, during the only trip we’ve ever taken to England, and we loved it. Everything there is so green and bucolic. 🙂

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  22. That seems a very cosy base for a country stay, and I’m sure being outside the national park made it not only much quieter but also a bit less expensive? As a city girl I always smile at country ‘traffic jams’ like these 🙂 I love the greenness of everything and the church looks very tranquil.

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  26. A lovely collection of photos Anabel, you obviously had really good weather here. I love the view from the gates and the view of St. Mary’s Church.

    My son did a Monday to Friday camp with school at Longsleddale when he was 14, it was in a barn somewhere – ‘champing’ hadn’t even been invented then. As a souvenir he brought me a small piece of stone from a wall 😊 I’ve often thought about having a champing night somewhere but for one person it’s not cheap and the one I really wanted to go to has been taken off their list.

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    • Thanks Eunice. We did have good weather, it was the tail end of a heatwave which continued through Cumbria, partway through the next leg in Wales and deserted us by the time we got back up to Scotland! I quite fancy champing too – for one night only – but this church seems to be the only one reasonably near to us.

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