The Ramblers are a national organisation which open the way for everyone to enjoy the simple pleasures of walking and protects the places we all love to wander.

There are 500 local groups spread across the country, with Penrith having its very own group!

Penrith Ramblers offer a wide range of walks from very easy (3 miles on level paths) to very strenuous mountain walks (15+miles with 4,000ft of ascent) and in a wide range of countryside, including mountains, lakes, woods, rivers, fields and parkland.  

They are in the process of increasing the numbers of walks they provide and now have three walks every Wednesday, offering different types of walk and a moderate walk on alternate Saturdays. 

New and non-members are very welcome to join!

For more information about the Penrith Ramblers and to view the walks on offer, please visit the Ramblers website.

Eden Valley Touring Network

Watch live music gigs all around the Eden Valley as part of the Eden Valley Touring Network!

Coming up in the next month:

Stooshie, Neil McHardy

• Venue: Stainton Village Hall
• Date & Time: Friday 8 December 2023, doors open at 7pm

Jilly Jarman, Kenneth Wilson

• Venue: The Old Courthouse, Shap
• Date & Time: Friday 15 December 2023, doors open at 7pm

Ian Cumpstey, Pete Garnett

• Venue: Great Salkeld Village Hall
• Date & Time: Saturday 16 December 2023, doors open at 7pm

Mrs Knox and the Goodtime Boys, Rhubarb Thieves

• Venue: Dufton Village Hall
• Date & Time: Friday 5 December 2023, doors open at 7pm

Mark Stivvy, Rhubarb Thieves

• Venue: Stainton Village Hall
• Date & Time: Friday 12 January 2023, doors open at 7pm

Admission fee: £5 - pay on the door at the venue or by contacting the venue directly beforehand.

For more information, please visit the EVAN website.

Katie Spencer is one of UK folk’s most progressive singer-songwriters and guitarist. Artists like Joni Mitchell and Michael Chapman flow into her sound, carrying with them the warmth and idealism of the early 70’s folk and songwriter movements.

Raised in the East Yorkshire flatlands on the fringes of Hull, Katie Spencer’s landscape has always been that of open skies and widening rivers. The people, as with the land, are moulded by tides and stark horizons. It is this sense of space and movement that flows through her music.

Her historical gig list is extensive, taking in the world-renowned Celtic Connections and Cambridge Folk Festival, whilst performances with Danny Thompson have left audiences in awe of her confidence and craftsmanship.

Date & Time: Saturday 9 December 2023 - 7:30 pm

Cost: Adult £12 | Under 18s £8

For more information and to book, please visit the Highlights North website.

Now in its 9th year, this celebration of Printmaking is one of the leading exhibitions of its kind in the UK.

A blend of 60 Printmakers with over 1,000 original artworks to choose from.

The exhibition reflects the broad spectrum of printing techniques, including woodblock, linocut, etching, screenprint and collagraph, focusing on unusual and different ways printing can be used. A curated area explores the use of printing techniques in collage, printing onto fabrics, paper, ceramics, and even mirror shards. 

Friday 8th December 2023 to Sunday 3rd March 2024.

Venue: Rheged, Redhills, Penrith

For more information, please visit the Rheged website.

Step into the enchanting world of Christmas by bringing your child to our whimsical Santa's Grotto, nestled in the heart of our Christmas Store upstairs at Sands in Penrith.

Every booking guarantees an unforgettable 15-minute encounter with Santa Claus himself, and each child will depart with a thoughtfully selected, age-appropriate gift valued at no less than £10, along with a delightful sweet treat.

Embrace the magic without the hassle of waiting in line; we offer only one booking per time slot, ensuring an exclusive and queue-free experience for your family.

Kindly note that our delightful grotto is located on the first floor. Regrettably, we do not have wheelchair access, and for this, we sincerely apologize. Join us for a truly magical and memorable Christmas experience!

For more information, please visit the Sands Facebook page.

A marionette puppet show with scenery, special effects and musical score.

The show takes you on a magical journey into the woods, where the children are led by a magic bird to a house made of sweets. The witch leads them inside where she catches Hansel in a cage, ready to eat him. Gretel has a plan and tricks the witch and pushes her into her own oven.

Everything ends happily ever after.

Venue: Upfront Puppet Theatre, Upfront Gallery, Near Hutton-in-the-Forest, Unthank, Penrith, CA11 9TG

Dates & Times: 

• 22, 23, 29 & 30 December - 11am. 
• 16, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28 & 29 December - 2:30pm

The show last approximately 1.5 hours with an interval.

Cost: Adults £10, Children £8.50. Family £33 (2 adults & 2 children or 1 adult and 3 children)

Suitable for ages 4+

For more information, please visit the Upfront Puppet Theatre website.

The Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) is a programme of winter activities and experiences aimed at all school-age children and young people in Cumbria.

The programme is administered by Westmorland and Furness & Cumberland Council who have commissioned a number of different organisations to provide activities across the summer, with all activities including a nutritious meal.

Places are FREE for young people who receive benefits-related Free School
Meals. Additional FREE spaces are available for children and young people who fit a number of eligibility criteria. For more information about potential eligibility for a free space, please email: HAF@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk

Some activity providers also have spaces available for any child, but there may be a cost to parents.

For activities based in and around Penrith, please see the leaflet below:

• Winter HAF - Eden Area Leaflet

For activities further afield to Penrith, please visit the Westmorland & Furness website.

For more information, please visit the Alhambra Penrith website.

Penrith Repair Cafe aims to fix your broken items and save them from landfill. At the same time, you'll learn new skills from the brilliant volunteer repairers who can fix electricals, garden tools, ornaments and also tackle clothing and textile repairs! This is all carried out free of charge, but donations are appreciated.

There is also a cafe with delicious home made cake and drinks, which is also free!

The Repair Cafe runs on the second Saturday of each month - so 9th December - from 10am - 1pm at the Old Fire Station on Bridge Lane.

For more information, visit the Penrith Repair Cafe website and follow them on their Facebook page.

Growing Well is a mental health charity that supports recovery through growing and gardening activity. We are located in a new kitchen garden at Tebay Services Northbound.

Need help?

If you’re feeling depressed, anxious, or finding everyday life difficult, then we may be able to help with free effective support for your mental health. We grow salad, fruit, and vegetables fresh every day which we sell to the Tebay Services Farmshop and Kitchen.

Our service is completely free, and we provide minibus transport from Penrith and the surrounding areas.

To find out more email refer.tebay@growingwell.co.uk or phone 07512 316564

Want to give help?

If you would like to support our work, there are several ways you can get involved:

Support Volunteers

Perhaps you’re an avid gardener with skills you’d like to share? Or just love being outdoors and want to do something really worthwhile? You will work alongside our staff and support our beneficiaries to engage in horticultural activities.

Community Volunteers

Do you love growing and gardening, getting involved with good causes, and letting people know of things happening in the community?  We need some help with growing and developing our site, fundraising, local events, and generally spreading the word about our service around local communities.

Interested? Email us at tebay@growingwell.co.uk 

Penrith Park Run is a free, fun, and friendly weekly 5k community event at Frenchfield! Walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate – it's up to you!

It's completely free to join, just register before you first come along. You only ever need to register with parkrun once. Don't forget to bring a printed copy of your barcode. If you forget it, you won't get a time.

For more information, please visit the Park Run or search for Penrith Park Run on Facebook.