Cumbria & The Lake District

Alston Town Centre - Photo: Carl Bendelow CCL

At 1,000 feet above sea level, isolated Alston lays claim to be the highest market town in England. Set on a slope, it nestles in the higher reaches of the River South Tyne. The area evolved from the former industry of lead mining and many buildings hark back to the 1800s. Since then it has earned a reputation for serving up Cumberland Mustard and locally produced cheese. It stands at the start of England’s highest narrow gauge railway, the South Tynedale Railway.

View of Ambleside from Loughrigg Fell - Photo: Nigel Davies CCL

The Bridge House - Photo: Pam Brophy CCL

A number of 17th century buildings, including a watermill, give the town an air of historic importance. The Bridge House, now a National Trust information centre, is an interesting folly spanning the beck of Stock Ghyll. The town also has a medieval rush-bearing ceremony at St. Mary's Church each July.

The market town of ‘apple tree village’, on the River Eden, is the perfect base from which to explore this beautiful locality. It boasts a Norman castle that was restored by philanthropic Lady Anne Clifford in the 17th century. She also founded St Anne’s Hospital - a group of almshouses set around a cobbled square - and restored the local parish church where her black, marble tomb lies within. Appleby is more famous, however, as the setting for England’s largest annual horse fair, first staged in 1685 by permission of James II.

River Eden - Photo: Kenneth Allen CCL

Gatehouse to Brayton Park, east of Aspatria - Photo: Nigel Monckton CCL

A village on the River Ellen with prehistoric origins, Aspatria (or ‘St Patrick’s ash tree’) stands on a former Roman road and was the object of many attacks by Vikings and, later, marauders from beyond the Scottish border. It is best known for its 19th century church of St Kentigern, on the site of a former Norman church. Within is a carved Viking hogback tombstone and carved stones pre-dating the Normans. The churchyard has a holy well reputed to have been used by St Kentigern himself. Nearby, an ancient burial site discovered in the 18th century contained a skeleton, weaponry and gold ornaments.

Jubilee Bridge, Barrow-in-Furness - Photo: Rosalind Mitchell CCL

Ford over stream at Bassenthwaite - Photo: Andrew Smith CCL

This charming village lies near Keswick and looks out onto beautiful hills. Bassenthwaite Lake lies below and is thought to be the place where Sir Bevedere discarded King Arthur’s sword, Excalibur. Its waters are home to the vendace, a rare fish found only here and in Derwent Water. Soaring above everything is the great mountain Skiddaw where the first pair of ‘English’ ospreys bred in 2003.

A short distance from Keswick, the village of Bothel lies in the north of Lakeland and provides access to some of Cumbria's most attractive areas, notably the fells, the Solway coast and the city of Carlisle. Hadrian's Wall, the north Pennines and the Scottish borders are also within reach.

Road into Bothel - Photo: John Holmes CCL

Brough was the site of the Roman fort Verteris, which was later transformed into a medieval castle. During the 19th century it became an important stop over for stagecoaches. The now-ruined 11th century Brough Castle lies near St Michael's church. It was severely damaged by Scottish raiders in 1174 but was rebuilt by Lady Anne Clifford in the 17th century. The church dates from 1150 and boasts a Norman doorway.

Brough Castle

The Square, Broughton-in-Furness - Photo: Humphrey Bolton CCL

This is something of an ‘uphill, down dale’ town, with homes and shops sitting atop steep slopes. The town has its own stocks as well as a 14th century peel tower built by the Broughton family. Once visitors have explored the many nooks and crannies here they might like to head for Ulpha (wolf hill) to experience a seriously exhilarating journey along mountain passes.

Carlisle Castle - Photo: John Gibson CCL

Cartmel Priory - Photo: George Ford CCL

Locally known as’ Little Ireland’, Cleator expanded in tandem with the iron ore industry. In the mid-19th century it enjoyed the benefits of having a largely Irish workforce comprising immigrants escaping from the devastating potato famine. It lies on a former Roman road and its true origins can be traced back to at least the 12th century.

Cleator Church - Photo: John Holmes CCL

Cockermouth Castle - Photo: Humphrey Bolton CCL

This characterful market town in the north of Cumbria lies on the edge of the Lake District National Park and is where the rivers Cocker and Derwent meet. It was not only the birthplace of Fletcher Christian, the leading mutineer on the famous ‘Bounty’, but also William Wordsworth. His boyhood house (Wordsworth House) was almost demolished in the 1930s to make way for a bus station. Instead it was handed to the National Trust. It was owned by the poet’s father, John, who lived there rent free, and his employer, Sir James Lowther, of Lowther Castle.

The town has a number of fascinating museums - including a printing museum and toy and model museum - as well as the 19th century Jennings Brewery, where visitors can enjoy guided tours and sip some fine ales.

Cockermouth Brewery - Photo: Humphrey Bolton CCL

Coniston, with Yewdale Fells in the background - Photo: George Ford CCL

Coniston's famous Steam Yacht Gondola - Photo: George Ford CCL

Egremont Castle - Photo: Roger May CCL

A small town near Whitehaven, Egremont is famous for its annual crab fairs, held since the mid-13th century, in which apples are thrown from a cart while local youths are encouraged to climb up a greasy pole. It also hosts the World Gurning competition in which contestants pull ugly faces.

Nearby, St Bees is well worth visiting. The priory Church of St Mary and St Bega was destroyed by Vikings in the 7th century but was rebuilt 400 years later. It is still in use. The rocky promontory St Bees Head lies a few miles northwest and has both a lighthouse and a nature reserve. Egremont Castle dates from 1120 but is now a ruin.

Cartmel Priory is one of few English monastic churches to have survived the Reformation. It has carved choir stalls, a 15th century stained glass window and a tall belfry. At Lindale-in-Cartmel, two miles north, stands an iron monument to John Wilkinson who spent his youth here and built the world’s first bridge made from iron in Shropshire.

Grange-over-Sands - Photo: Eileen Cowen CCL

Grasmere - Photo: Michael Parry CCL

The poet William Wordsworth and his wife Mary thought Grasmere was paradise. Today this small village lying on the shore of Grasmere lake is just as picturesque but far less peaceful thanks to the myriad visitors who wish to see it. The romantic wordsmith first inhabited Dove Cottage (1799 to 1808), then moved to nearby Allan Bank before finally settling for The Parsonage. Comparatively humble Dove Cottage remains the pivot of the modern Wordsworth pilgrimage because it is still in its original state. Next door, a blacksmith’s shop has been transformed into a local museum to tell the poet’s life story. Wordsworth, Mary, their children and his beloved sister, Dorothy, are buried at 13th century St. Oswald's Church.

Hawkshead Village Centre - Photo: Pam Brophy CCL

Nether Bridge over River Kent -
Photo: Alley Mc Gurk CCL

Once famous for producing lead pencils, thanks to local deposits of graphite, rugged Keswick is a major town in Lakeland. It lies at the northern end of Derwent Water and is overshadowed by Skiddaw and Blencathra. A one-time woollen town, it developed through the mining of materials such as lead, copper, iron and gold. The use of graphite, found in Borrowdale, is celebrated at the Cumberland Pencil Museum.

View over Derwent Water - Photo: Malcolm Winder

Kirkby Lonsdale Market Square -
Photo: Carl Bendelow CCL

Set on a hill above the River Lune, this is arguably one of Cumbria’s most scenic towns, lying close to magnificent peaks such as Skiddaw, Helvellyn, Great Gable and England's highest point, Scafell Pike. It is particularly well known for its Devil’s Bridge and Ruskin’s View. The bridge spans the River Lune and was built in the 13th century - reputedly by Satan himself. Ruskin’s View can be found atop a series of steps near St Mary’s Church.

The steep drive out of this quaint market town on the River Eden will take you to the Yorkshire Dales National Park, providing dramatic views on the way. The local sandstone church dates from the 12th century. It contains the shaft of an Anglo-Dutch cross which has a carving of the Devil and is unique in Britain.

Kirkby Stephen Town Centre - Photo: Carl Bendelow CCL

Maryport Harbour - Photo: Pat Pierpoint CCL

Millom Market Place - Photo: Simon Phillips CCL