Swarthmoor Hall

This 17th-century farmhouse just outside Dalton-in-Furness is where the Quaker movement took root, and you can still feel that weight of history walking through its rooms. Built around 1650, Swarthmoor Hall belonged to the Fell family, and it was here that George Fox and the early Friends gathered to worship in secret when it wasn't safe to do so openly. The house itself is modest - proper farmhouse fare - but the story running through it is anything but small. You'll see the parlour where meetings happened, the kitchen where they'd have gathered, furniture from the period. It's one of those places that makes you stop and think about what religious conviction actually cost people.

The house is run by the Quaker heritage trust and does feel genuinely cared for rather than overly museum-fied. Allow a couple of hours if you want to read the information properly and soak it in. History buffs will get far more from it than anyone just passing through. Families with older kids interested in Tudor and Stuart England will find it worthwhile, though younger children might lose interest fairly quickly - there's not much interactive or hands-on about it.

It's worth combining with a stay at one of the nearby holiday parks - Haven Lakeland Leisure Park is closest at just under six miles, or Old Park Wood if you want something quieter. The location puts you within easy reach of Morecambe Bay and the Furness Peninsula's other attractions. Best to check opening times and admission fees before you go - details aren't widely advertised online, so a quick call ahead saves a wasted journey.