The Local Area

"The Fleece Inn Dolphinholme is convenient for visiting Lancaster, The Trough of Bowland, The Lakes, The Lune Valley and North Yorks Dales".

Pic Quernmore

Forest of Bowland
Area of Outstanding natural beauty

also Morecambe, Lancaster and Lune Valley

Lancaster Castle
Castle Hill, Lancaster. Tel. 01524 64998

Open daily all year (ex-xmas week) 10.30am-4pm. Guided tours at 30-minute intervals (Court sittings permitting - check by phoning 01524 64998) from 10.30am to last tour at 4pm. Some narrow, winding old stone staircases so not suitable for people with restricted mobility. Themed evening tours available for group bookings.  

City Museum and The King's Own Museum

Market Square, Lancaster  Tel. 01524 64637

This splendid museum is housed in Lancaster's former Town Hall, built in 1781-3 to the designs of Major Thomas Jarrett and Thomas Harrison. The Museum itself was founded in 1923 and its newly redisplayed collections illustrate the rich history and archaeology of the city of Lancaster, the most northerly and rural part of Lancashire. The Museum is home to The King's Own Regiment museum which offers a fascinating insight into army life. The museum also hosts many temporary exhibitions. For more about the King's Own, this site has a brief but thorough overview of its history.

The Grand Theatre

St Leonardsgate, Lancaster. Tel: 01524 64695

The Grand can accept credit card orders by phone. Tickets are usually on sale two months prior to an event. One of the country's oldest working theatres, the show has gone on for more than 200 years.

The Dukes Theatre

Maritime Museum

Custom House, St George's Quay, Tel. 01524 64637

This museum occupies two historic buildings on St. George's Quay, the main 18th century harbour. It was opened in 1985 and has won many awards. The former Custom House of 1764, designed by Richard Gillow, contains interactive displays on the history of the Port of Lancaster and the local fishing industry, including an excellent push-button audio/video show of Bay maritime history, with a gallery for exhibitions. In the adjacent warehouse are displays on the Lancaster Canal and the ecology of Morecambe Bay. Several preserved vessels are also displayed, including 'Sir William Priestley' and 'Coronation Rose'. There is a cafeteria and shop and parking is available at the rear.

Lancaster Priory Church

St Mary's Gate, Lancaster, next to the Castle Tel. 01524 65338

The Priory and Parish Church of St Mary was founded in 1094 by Roger de Poitou on the site of the earlier Saxon church. Exquisitely carved medieval choirstalls and the King's Own Memorial Chapel.  

Cross-Bay Walks

Tourist Info Office lists scheduled walks tel. 01524 582808

Walks across the bay from Hest Bank to Grange-Over-Sands. You need a guide to avoid quicksand, riptide etc. The Maritime Museum has an excellent display about the cross bay route through history.