Courtship Maze

You'll find this maze tucked away near Carlisle, and it's one of those attractions that divides opinion pretty sharply. The Courtship Maze is basically what it sounds like - a proper hedged labyrinth designed with romance in mind, playing on the old Victorian idea of couples getting intentionally lost together.

Once you're in, it's a decent bit of fun if you've got kids in tow or you fancy a bit of light navigation that won't leave you genuinely furious. The paths wind through hedging tall enough to actually obscure the route, so there's a genuine puzzle element rather than just wandering through obvious corridors. Depending on how many wrong turns you take, you're looking at anywhere from 15 minutes to half an hour to crack it.

Honestly, though? It's less of a day-long draw and more of an afternoon diversion. Pop in if you're already in the Carlisle area staying at one of the nearby parks - High Gaitle and Camelot are both within a few miles and well-rated spots for a caravan holiday. But don't make a special trip just for this. The maze works best as part of a broader outing rather than a standalone destination.

Best visited on a dry day when the ground isn't boggy. Bring the dog if the place allows it, and don't expect much in the way of facilities - it's fairly no-frills. Worth an hour if you're passing through, frankly.