It's that time of year for planning your hen do activities and creating a memorable experience for the bride-to-be. Cumbria is an incredible destination for your party: as well as a huge choice of indoor and outdoor activities, we boast plenty of top-notch cuisine, brilliant festivals, and quirky experiences. Just take a look at some of the wonderful hen activities on offer!
And if you want even more ideas, then have a browse of all the outdoor activities we have available.
Ghyll Scrambling
The laughs will be plentiful when you get together for ghyll scrambling. This fun and flexible activity is ideal for groups of all sizes - whether you're a small and intimate band of close friends, or a large and rowdy party of 30+. Almost anyone can take part in ghyll scrambling, regardless of fitness level or experience, so it's perfect if your group includes ages stretching from flower girl to granny.
Spa Day
To make sure your hen is fully pampered ahead of her big day, the Lake District has plenty of top-quality spas where you can soak, steam and let it all go. We particularly love the Lodore Falls Hotel & Spa in Borrowdale, which includes a heated outdoor infinity pool with stupendous views. Spend the whole day together getting massages, soaking in hot tubs, and relaxing in mud baths. Or just take a couple of relaxing hours out from your busy hen weekend.
Afternoon Tea
Tuck into a delicious afternoon tea with cakes, sandwiches, tea and champers. You'll find plenty of cream tea options in the Lake District, including a luxury option at The Daffodil Hotel & Spa in Grasmere. You'll dine on treats made from local produce, and pastries freshly baked by the in-house pastry chef.
If you're looking for something a little more unusual, the Alternative Afternoon Tea at The Wild Boar steps away from delicate finger sandwiches and replaces them with mini fish 'n' chips, pork scratchings and pigs in blankets. They also provide a picnic option so you can take your feast into the nearby woods for a day in the countryside.
Or, get your timing right and you might be able to enjoy Afternoon Tea in the Castle at Muncaster Castle. These events let you dine in the castle itself, surrounded by gorgeous paintings and antiques. They only happen at certain times of year, though, so check the event diary.
Wine Tasting
Whether your bride-to-be is a seasoned sommelier or your group just loves to sup on top-quality wine, a tasting is a wonderful way to relax with friends, enjoy invigorating tastes, and maybe purchase a bottle or two for the rest of your hen weekend.
Lake District Wine in Keswick prides itself on bringing top-quality beverages to rural Cumbria. With fine wines from both home and abroad, they cater to all tastes and diets, with options that include vegan, natural and organic. Enjoy a personalised section of wines, and opt for a cheese pairing too if you fancy it!
Festivals
The Lake District has some amazing festivals throughout the year and attending together with your hen group is a great way to celebrate. You'll find popular music festivals like Kendal Calling and Solfest, as well as more specialised events such as the Marmalade Festival at Dalemain House or the Comic Arts Festival. What would your hen love the most?
Crafting
Quirky Workshops in Greystoke put on a eclectic range of crafts activities where you can learn everything from stone relief carving and willow weaving to jewellery and dress making. You'll be astounded by the number of unusual craft activities on offer, so have a browse and see if anything takes your fancy. Places are limited and do tend to book up quickly, so make sure you book well in advance.
Karaoke
Air those vocal chords at Baha's karaoke bar in Bowness-on-Windermere. Their private pod means you can enjoy time with your friends without a stranger hogging the mic! There are other 11,000 songs to pick from, as well as additional extras available including cocktail making.
Get warmed up and sing the night away!
Go to the Races
Dig out your fancy hats, high heels and cocktail dresses and head to the races! Two popular racecourses lie at either end of the county: Cartmel in the south and Carlisle in the north. At Cartmel, you'll find a vibrant atmosphere with live music (attracting big names like Tom Jones) and a funfair. Carlisle also promises a fun-filled day with excellent eating options and plenty of bars.
Raft Building
Test your collective brainpower by building a raft that will then need to float across beautiful Derwentwater. If you're a big group, you can up the ante by splitting into smaller teams and seeing who can build the sturdiest craft. Try and make sure the bride doesn't sink!
Paintball
Dress up in your camo and load your guns: the hunt is on! At Raw War Paintballing in Aspatria and Ambleside, there are acres of forest to hide in. Split into teams and either strategize to become the ultimate champions.
Paintballing is perfect hen party activity if you've got some competitive personalities in your group. Take cover and lock and load!
Meet the Animals
At the Lake District Wildlife Park you can get up close to lots of wonderful animals, including red pandas, meerkats, zebras, and wildebeest. There's also a section of adorable farm animals, including the original herd of micro pigs, donkeys, sheep and even guinea pigs!
If you want to get even closer to the action, buy one of their experiences, which include alpaca walks and becoming a zoo keeper for the day.
Paddle Boarding
Enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Lake District with a paddle board tour of Derwentwater. You'll be shown how to use your SUP before setting off into the middle of the lake where you'll admire incredible mountain scenery and try not to fall in! At the end, there's an optional jump from a nearby bridge. Who'll be brave enough to plunge into the water below?
Bespoke hen do adventures
Let us put together a bespoke adventure hen day for you. We'll take you over lakes, across rivers, up mountains and more. We even have accommodation if you need it! Contact us for more information.
And if you've still got some energy left, then take a look all of our other outdoor activities.
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