The Eden Valley contains not only wonderful scenery, but also many small and delightful villages and hamlets. The village of Kirkoswald is 1.5 miles from Howscales, a pleasant walk along a country lane or along the banks of the meandering Raven Beck.

In this magnificently sited village you will find many interesting buildings, including St.Oswalds Church, the bell tower of which is detached and located on a grassy knoll high above the church!

There are many beautiful walks in this part of the Eden Valley, from the leisurely to the arduous; from the valley bottoms to the fell tops, varying in length from a few miles to over 15 miles. On many of them you can walk a whole day and not see another person!

Popular walks are along the Raven Beck, Croglin Water and to Long Meg and Lacy's Caves along the banks of the River Eden.

This is also a good area for cycling and pony trekking.

Howscales is surrounded by wooded valleys and open grassland, rivers and moorland, making it an ideal area for both bird watchers and animal lovers. Some of the species regularly seen are buzzards (a family of 5), kestrels, barn owls, curlews, wagtails, finches, our barns are home to house martins. Deer and red squirrels can sometimes be spotted in the wooded valley behind the farm or on the road leading to us.

The whole of the Eden Valley awaits you - and just a little further afield you have the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales, the North Pennines and Hadrian's Wall.

Provided in all cottages are files detailing all walks, horse riding, and other pursuits and attractions, both locally and into the Lake District, Pennines, Scottish borders and Yorkshire Dales.