For those Pic readers visiting the Lake District this summer, why not draw up a plan to visit the Derwent Pencil Museum in Keswick?

A short walk from the picturesque town centre, the museum marks the birthplace of the first pencil. It is home to the Cumberland Pencil Company, which has manufactured pencils since 1832, and its displays and carefully restored machinery bring to life the history of pencil-making right up to the present day.

The museum’s entrance replicates the Seathwaite mine, where graphite was first discovered in the mid-16th century. It is one of only two locations in the world where graphite has been found in an igneous mass, which is considered to be its purist form.

Young visitors will enjoy seeing the world’s largest colour pencil and, of course, the special pencil produced to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee.

There is also a shop, with drawing and art supplies, and a coffee shop for refreshments. A short walk back through the town will lead you to the Church of Our Lady of the Lakes on High Hill where you can expect a warm welcome.

• The Derwent Pencil Museum is open from 9.30am to 5pm, with last admissions at 4pm.
Lucy Oliver