Beetham Nurseries

Beetham is a beautiful, Postman Pat-style village of stone houses, narrow lanes, and low walls on the Cumbria-Lancashire border. At its edge you’ll find the nurseries, a modern garden centre washed with fresh air and floral scents. The Garden Café is blissful, with massive glass windows and a wide, table-scattered patio to make the most of glorious plants outside.

It’s popular with the lunch crowd who stop in for roasted pepper, beetroot and feta sandwiches, crispy jacket potatoes filled with field mushrooms and Swiss cheese, or smoked haddock baked in Mornay sauce. Cakes, hot scones and fudgey brownies are made on-site and are perfect with the freshly ground coffee and Lancashire tea. An artisan food shop alongside sells cheese, deli treats, fresh pies and homemade cakes to take on your way.

Follow the path from the village up to Fairy Steps afterwards, where local legend has it that if you climb to the top without touching the gully sides, the fairies will grant you a wish.