Local area and things to do

The nearby town of Kirkby Stephen lies at the head of the Eden Valley, whose towns of Penrith, Appleby, Kirkby Stephen and Alston are immersed in Arthurian mythology with tales of ancient kingdoms, valiant knights and Celtic legends and folklore. 

Kirkby Stephen was granted a market charter in 1361 and retains many fascinating historic buildings, including a spinning gallery and cloisters, narrow winding passageways and the original ford across the River Eden from which the town developed. The church still boasts its 'Loki Stone', a carving of a Norse God dating to AD850, one of only two that have been found in Europe.

But Kirkby Stephen is more than just the sum of its history. Today, the town boasts an impressive array of shops selling art and antiques, along with many pubs and restaurants. Greengrocers and butchers stock a range of locally produced and sourced goods, organic food and delicatessen products.

Kirkby Stephen's setting makes it ideal for walking and cycling, and is a popular stop along Wainwright's Coast to Coast path. There are many spectacular walks in the area, with recognised trails and walks of various lengths which will take your through countryside, villages, culture and history. The Northern Viaducts Road - which is accessible to wheelchairs and buggies - follows over a mile of the former Stanmore Railway, crossing the Merrygill and Podgill Viaducts.

On the Poetry Path, part of which also follows the path of the disused line, 12 large stones inscribed with poems reflecting a year in the life of a hill farmer have been installed. Another section of the former Stainmore railway line can be walked at Smardale Gill, about three miles from Kirkby Stephen.

Historical sites include:

• Kirkby Stephen Church
• Brough Castle
• Castlerigg Stone Circle towards Keswick
• Kirkby Stephen Parish Church - the Loki Stone, dating back to the Vikings, depicts the Norse god Loki and is of particular interest because it is the only surviving example in the UK and one of two in Europe.
• Lacy's Cave, Little Salkeld
• Lammerside Castle - Accessible ruin dating back to the 12th Century
• Long Meg and her daughters - Neolithic stone circle. With around 68 stones, this is one of the largest circles in the country. Legend has it that if you count the stones twice, correctly, they will come back to life.
• Lower Castle, Askham
• Pendragon Castle, Mallerstang - Legends say that this was the home of Uther Pendragon, King Arthur's father
• Shap Abbey
• St Oswalds Church, Ravenstonedale
• Stenkrith Park, Kirkby Stephen, the Devil's Mustard Mill - circular holes that have been hollowed out over the centuries by pebbles swirling around in the strong currents of the River Eden. Local mythology says that these holes were used by the Devil to mill his mustard
• The flooded village of Mardale - Mardale was an ancient settlement which was flooded in the 1930s to make a reservoir to supply the city of Manchester. In dry summers you can see some of the village

Nature reserves:

• Acorn Bank Garden and Watermill, near Temple Sowerby
• Crossbank Nature Reserve, Ravenstonedale
• Great Asby Scar Nature Reserve
• Smardale Gill Nature Reserve
• Stenkrith Park, Kirkby Stephen

Waterfalls:

• Aira Force, Ullswater
• Cauldron Snout, High Force and Low Force, Teesdale
• Cautley Spout, Howgills
• Hellgill Force, Mallerstang
• High Force
• Hardraw Falls, near Hawes