Centred around a pretty village centre, Dalston has a small village shop, a pub The Blue Bell Dalston, a chip shop and a bakery, as well as several independent shops. The village spreads out west from the river and is easily accessible from the north and south. With its old stone buildings, two churches and large garden centre Dalston makes a fantastic place to base yourself during your visit to Carlisle. From Dalston Carlisle, find your way to Carlisle Racecourse where you can catch a race during the season or look out for other exciting events such as open air cinema and car rallies.  Also nearby is Watchtree Nature Reserve, an old airport turned nature reserve where you can rent bikes of all shapes and sizes to pedal around the reserve. They also host events throughout the year and are a fabulous place to bring children, with a cosy café, adaptive bikes and fun trails to follow.