Named after the River Eden, which flows from just south of Mallerstang Common in the south of Cumbria to the Solway Firth, in the north, the Eden Valley provides a contrast in walks to the fells surrounding it. The river is beautifully clear, running through farmland mainly given over to sheep and cattle. It is placid in places and swift with rapids elsewhere, such as near Nunnery. Its main tributary is the River Eamont, which runs out of Ullswater and is itself fed by the River Lowther joining it near Brougham, south of Penrith. A smaller tributary is the River Lyvennet, which, starting as Lyvennet Beck, drains the land to the west of Appleby.
Besides the market towns of Penrith, with its old narrow side streets, and Appleby, there are many other visitor attractions. Below is a list of the more permanent ones, which should give the visitor an idea of what is on offer. Eating places and tea rooms, which are more likely to change, have been omitted.

Walk leaders will try to include some of the attractions, mentioned here, in their walks and with the views of the Pennines to one side and the Lakeland fells to the other, walkers should find a lot to interest them. Some pictures, which may be of interest, do not fit into any of the classifications above. Here are two.

Note: since the web-site was first started, farmers in the area have diversified into other activities, ranging from farm tours to adventure playgrounds but these have not been included.

For further information and photographs go to Visit Cumbria website. To Top

• Chapel of Christ and St Mary at Armathwaite - 12 th century chapel rebuilt in 1688.
• St Lawrence at Appleby - early English and Perpendicular with fine gargoyles and battlements.
• All Saints at Bolton - fine Norman relief over north door - 18th century screen with open tracery.
• St Andrews at Crosby Garrett - mainly Norman on hill with good views.
• St Lawrence at Crosby Ravensworth - originally 12th century in Early English style - fine setting.
  
  
• St Wilfred at Eamont Bridge - chapel first restored 1658 - opulent gilt oak reredos with fine 15th century altarpiece.
• St Cuthbert at Edenhall - mediaeval sandstone with squat tower and stunted spire - 14th century glass.
• St James at Great Ormside - Fortified tower - Norman nave arcade and chancel arch - 17th century furnishings.
• Kirkby Stephen Parish Church - (often wrongly called 'St Stephens' according to the vicar) - founded in the 8th century - has 16th century tower - splendid monuments.
• St Oswald at Kirkoswald - spring flows through it -19th century tower stands on hill 200 yds away. To Top
  
  
• St Andrews at Penrith - Norman tower - 1720 Tuscan doorway - saxon crosses in church yard.
• St Ninian on a curve of the River Eamont - 17th century built on Saxon and Norman site.
• Shap Abbey of the Premonstratensian order founded in 1201 - detailed layout of cloister buildings.
• St Leonard at Warwick - Norman with 12th century apse and tower arch.

• The alpaca centre - near Ullswater you can view the rearing of alpacas from the paddocks. (See also Exhibition centres, craft centres).
• Eden Ostrich World is a working farm 5 miles east of Penrith on A686, which has many rare breed animals as well as ostriches, wallabies, goats, donkeys, sheep and pigs.
  Telephone: 01768 881771.
• Lakeland Bird of Prey Centre - set in Lowther Castle parkland south of Penrith - see hawks, eagles, falcons and owls.
• Wetheriggs was closed in October 2008 as a centre for pottery and glassware but the cafe and animal rescue centre still operate. To Top

• Talkin Tarn, east of Carlisle - has boating facilities with woodland walks in nearby Low Gelt Woods,
• Stenkrith Park, Kirkby Stephen - turbulent stretch of River Eden passes through wooded gorge.

• Rheged, west of Penrith houses 12 special shops displaying local goods, an information centre and a cinema , under a grass covered roof. The cinema puts on 5 movies daily featuring subjects such as mountaineering, Egyptian history and natural features of the world. A free exhibition centre has a display featuring Cumbrian history.
• Upfront Gallery- wood user's exhibition near Hutton-in-the-Forest.
• Red Barn Gallery houses original works in glass, ceramics, jewellery, sculpture and fine art on two floors. It is located on Melkinthorpe Road off the A66. See also Larch Nurseries on same site. ( Garden centres, nurseries).
• Kirk Neuk Studio & Gallery is located by the village church of Lazenby, 7 miles north east of Penrith. It has a regularly changing exhibition of ceramic animal figures alongside figures of tall African ladies. To Top
• The Alpaca Centre, houses the Just Wood Gallery and G & Specialist Timber Crafts workshop. (See also Animal centres).
• Station House Pottery. See Station House Tearooms (Tearooms).
• Greystoke Gill pottery is situated just south of Greystoke, which is 6 miles due east of Penrith. There is a showroom and you can visit the workshop and see work in progress. On certain days you may try your hand at throwing your own pot.
• The Pot Place is 5 miles north of Penrith. Take A6 northbound and turn left at Plumpton. The factory outlet, which has water features, statues, garden pots and ornaments, is on the right beyond the main railway line.
• Note Wetheriggs Country Pottery, which houses a steam engine worked on by the late Fred Dibner was closed in October 2008. However the cafe and animal rescue centre there still operate.

• Armathwaite Castle - a four storey 15th century pele tower,
• Kirkoswald Castle - 13th century moated castle with scattered masonry and a 60' high tower on its northern edge,
• Penrith Castle. Building started in 1399 and lasted some 70 years and was primarily done as a defence against raids from Scots to the North. For a time it was the part-time residence of Richard Duke of Gloucester, who became King Richard III in 1483. It has been in ruins for the last 4 centuries. with only the south wall and parts of two towers now standing. It is maintained by English Heritage. It is located opposite the town's railway station with parking at a nearby superstore. For more information go to English Heritage web site.
  
  
  
• Lowther Castle dates from the 19th century and has never been a fortification. Only the facade still survives, which is out of bounds but can be seen from the nearby park, its stable yard and its gardens. The gardens are being restored and were opened in Spring 2011, so that visitors could see the restoration process in operation, while work making the castle safe proceeds in parallel. For more information go to their web site.To Top
  
  

• Appleby Castle - moated with ruined outer walls and 80 ft high keep dating from 1170 AD - spiral staircase,
• Brougham Castle - dating from 12th century once owned by Lady Anne Clifford, situated by river Eamont, Apply to English heritage for admission charge details.
  
  
  
• Dacre Castle - 14th century pele tower still habited.
  
  
  
• Greystoke Castle - has been rebuilt twice. The first time was in the 1840s, after being laid to waste by Oliver Cromwell in earlier times. The second time was more recently, after it caught fire in 1868 and many treasures were lost. During the 2nd World war some of its 6000 acres were used as a tank drivers training area. It is not open to the general public though it can be used for civil weddings.
  
  
  
  To Top

• Hazel Dene Garden Centre and Tea Room is midway between Penrith and Appleby. From the A66, take the B6412 for about a mile. Besides a tea room, there is a large selection of garden plants and giftware.
• Larch Cottage Nurseries is in Melinthorpe, just off A66, 4 miles east of Penrith. It has a unique garden nursery with meandering paths and rose covered pergolas and has over 15,000 varieties of rare and unusual plants. There is also a 'Greenhouse Restaurant', overlooking the nurseries. Email: plants@larchcottage.co.uk. Telephone: 01931 712404.
  See also Red Barn Gallery on same site (Exhibition centres, craft centres, galleries).

• Acorn Bank at Temple Sowerby, is owned by National Trust. It has walled herb garden of 250 species of culinary herbs, the largest collection in the north of England. There are mixed borders, shrubs, herbaceous plants and a riverside walk to a water mill, which was brought back into use in October 2011. Its cafe uses the flour produced by the mill in its own cakes and bread.
  It is located 1 mile off A66 and 6 miles east of Penrith. Email: acornbank@nationaltrust.org.uk. Telephone: 01768 361893.
• Lowther Castle Gardens. These are being restored and were opened to the public in Spring 2011, allowing visitors to see the progress being made. Like 'The Lost Gardens of Heligan' in Cornwall, this will probably take a few years. Facilities include a visitors centre in the old stable courtyard. (See also Lowther Castle)
• Corby Castle - early 18th century grounds plus woodland walks beside river Eden,
• Winderwath Gardens is 4 miles from Penrith. Take the A66 east bound and its on the left before Temple Sowerby - post code CA11 9PA. There are mature trees, rockeries, herbaceous borders with a large collection of Alpine and Himalayan plants and a picnic area.
  Telephone: 01768 88250.
• Dalemain- old fashioned roses plus many rare plants. (See also Historic Houses).
• Hutton-in-the-Forest- walled garden, topiary terraces and woodland walk.(See also Historic Houses).To Top

• Brougham Hall is about 1 mile south of Penrith and dates from around 1300AD. Besides a cafe, it houses several studios for art, furnishings, glass and ironwork and is presently undergoing restoration to its appearance in the early 1900s.
• Hutton-in-the-Forest is located 6 miles from Penrith on B5305. It is the home of Lord and Lady Inglewood - features fine furniture, portraits, ceramics and tapestries, (See also Gardens). Email: info@hutton-in-the-forest.co.uk.
• Dalemain is located on A592 to Ullswater and is a mediaeval to early Georgian mansion, which from 1679 has been home to the Hassell family. There are displays of ceramics, furniture and old toys. Home baked lunches and teas are available. Telephone: 017684 86450. (See also Gardens).
• Gaythorne Hall is situated 3 km south east of Crosby Ravensworth and on a walk, its presence may surprise you, as it is in an isolated area. It has mullion windows dating from early 17th century and has appeared in a film of Emily Brontes' book, Wuthering Heights.

• Settlements at Ewe Close and Ewe Lock near Crosby Ravensworth.

To Top

In the south of the valley, near Great Asby you are more likely to walk over moorland and even limestone pavements than farmland. The pavement is a rare and endangered habitat made up of clints (blocks of limestone) and grykes or fissures, which are caused by water erosion. Plants, more associated with woodland, inhabit the micro-climate within the grykes, including green spleenwort, hart's tongue and limestone fern in the deeper grykes with heather , blue moor grass, nettles and tormentil in the shallower ones. Unfortunately, by removing the stone and selling it to the public, the pavements are being destroyed by some unscrupulous stone merchants and garden centres.

• The Beacon is set in a wooded plantation on Beacon Hill, which is just to the NE of Penrith. It was built of local sandstone in 1719 and is a short climb from the road named Beacon Edge, which borders this side of the town. The Beacon is about as tall as the surrounding trees and is not open to the public, so views of Lakeland fells, Eden Valley and north Pennines are usually obtained from other vantage points on the climb.



• Beacon Edge is a road below the Beacon and gives good views for those disinclined to move far from their car and make the climb.

Penrith and Eden Museum is located just south of the information centre in Penrith, at the North end of Middlegate. The building is listed and was established in 1670 for the education of poor girls. It now features archeology, art, social, cultural and natural history of the district.
Email: museum@eden.gov.uk. Telephone 01768 865105.

There are more than 30 nature reserves (including 11 National Nature Reserves) and woodlands

throughout Cumbria which are open to the public. 9 of these are in or close to the Eden Valley.

Three examples of nature reserves are:

• Smardale National Nature Reserve near Newbiggin on Lune, which occupies over 3 miles of disused railway line and has an abundance of wildlife and flora, ( For further information contact Cumbria Wildlife Trust.)
• Murthwaite Park - a relic of the original forest that once covered most of Britain. It is an SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest), managed by English Nature,
• Finglandrigg National Nature reserve on the Solway plain, which is an area of semi-natural woodland with abundant wildlife such as red squirrels and roe deer. It is also managed by English Nature.

The Carlisle to Settle railway runs through the Eden Valley and trains make stops at towns in the area, including Kirkby Stephen, Appleby and Langwathby. In the south the railway runs along the route taken by the upper reaches of the River Eden, between Wild Boar Fell and Mallerstang Edge, both worth a visit. The railway is sometimes used by the Penrith Ramblers to get to the start of a linear walk.
A railway, now dismantled, used to run from Tebay to Kirkby Stephen and on to Darlington. The line was designed to carry goods - coal and coke to Barrow and iron ore to Teeside. It was noted for steep gradients (up to 1 in 59) as its route went over Stainmore at 1370'. A branch line also ran from Kirkby Stephen to Appleby. This railway was originally known as the South Durham and Lancashire Union Railway, (also known as the Stainmore Railway). It was closed in 1962. Some of the A685 between Tebay and Kirkby Stephen runs on the bed of the old track, while other parts are now footpaths, such as the Hartley-Stenkrith footpath, south-east of Kirkby Stephen, which crosses two viaducts, (see below). To Top

The Eden Valley is host to several viaducts. The 72 miles stretch of railway between Settle and Carlisle has 17 viaducts, five with 10 arches or more.
The longest, at 440 yds, (using old money) is the 24 arch Ribblehead Viaduct.

The tallest, at 131', is the 12 arch Smardale Viaduct to the west of Kirkby Stephen, which crosses Scandal Beck as well as the dismantled Stainmore line. For more information on the viaducts on Carlisle - Settle line go to visitcumbria web site.
The dismantled Stainmore line still has has viaducts of interest intact in the region of Kirkby Stephen. To the west is the Smardale Gill Viaduct, which is south of the Smardale Viaduct. This also crosses Scandal Beck,
This was repaired by the Northern Viaduct Trust in the 1990's.
The Hartley-Stenkrith footpath, using the bed of the old line, goes over the Podgil and the Merrygill viaducts, which are located to the south-east of Kirkby Stephen.
Even the Belah viaduct built, NE of Barras over Mousegill Beck, which was closed in 1962 and dismantled in 1953 is of interest, It was made of wrought and cast iron trestles, placed between two large stone buttresses and at the time of its construction in 1857, it was the tallest bridge in England at 196'. Only the two buttresses are now standing, though the bridge, built by Thomas Bouch, would probably be still standing now, if it had not been dismantled.
(The aclaim Bouch received did not last as it was he who later designed the calamitous Tay Bridge, which collapsed in a storm soon after it was built taking a train and 75 people with it.)

• Long Meg and Her Daughters, dating from about 1500BC. Its map reference is NY571372 and is just north of Little Salkeld. According to a survey by Professor Alexander Thom (1895 - 1985), there are 66 smaller stones in total, consisting of local porphyritic stone. However, some are covered in grass, so that only 59 tend to be visible. Long Meg is about 3˝m high and is situated outside the 'circle', which is slightly elliptical, having major and minor axes measuring about 109m and 93m respectively. 2 further stones lie outside the ring. The site dates from the early Bronze Age, about 2500BC or earlier, and is 3rd only to Stonehenge and Avebury in prehistoric importance - a pity a farm track passes through the site. To Top
  
  
  
  
• Gamelands, near Orton, map reference NY 640082, - remains of a stone circle about 90m in diameter,
• Mayburgh Henge near Eamont Bridge, map reference NY519284, - stone circle and large rampart enclosing an area roughly circular, 90m in diameter, in which is a standing stone 2.8m tall, whilst nearby on the other side of the B5320 is the smaller King Arthur's Round Table Henge. (See below.)
• King Arthur's Round Table Henge, near Eamont Bridge, map reference NY523283, - a prehistoric circular earthwork bounded by an outer bank with an intervening ditch 12m wide and 1.5 m deep - 2 standing stones reported in the seventeenth century have since gone.

(See also stone circles in North Lake District.)

There are far too many tearooms/cafes to list here. All the small towns will have several. Those that are listed are some used by the Penrith Ramblers, which you are not in the main towns and have a little extra to offer.
As it is possible some tea rooms may not be open every day, you might consider checking their web site for further details. To Top

• Greystone House Farm Shop & Tea Room is situated in the village of Stainton to the west of Penrith. The shop specialises in selling local produce
• Abbott Lodge is a working dairy farm, which produces over 30 flavours of homemade icecream for sale in its tea room. It is situated 4 miles south of Penrith. It is sign posted south of Clifton, on the A6 - take the Melkinthorpe turn.
• Kennedys Fine Chocolates Ltd manufactures handmade chocolates, which it sells at its tea room in Orton. Just look for the parked cars to find it! Telephone: 01539 624781.
• Station House Tearooms has its own craft workshop, where you can decorate white ceramic items yourself with special paints which are then oven baked to be food and dishwasher safe. It is located just off the A65 past Kirkby Lonsdale travelling east Turn left just after Whoop Hall Hotel.
• Brief Encounter is a cafe at Lazonby Station on the Carlisle Settle Line, Tel 01768 881902. Large carpark but little like Carnforth Station where the film by this name was shot.
• Hazel Dene Garden Centre and Tea Room is midway between Penrith and Appleby. From the A66, take the B6412 for about a mile. Besides a tea room, there is a large selection of garden plants and giftware.

To Top

The ones listed are within about 20 miles of Penrith. They provide information on accomodation, how to get to the area and have a wide range of guide books, maps and souvenirs. Some sell tickets to local attractions such as theatres, even as far as 'The Theatre by the Lake', Keswick.

• Penrith. Telephone: 01768 867466. located at north end of Middlegate, Penrith, CA11 7PT. Email: pen.tic@eden.gov.uk.
• Rheged. Telephone: 01768 860034, located on A66 going west from Penrith, on left hand side, just before turn-off to Ullswater. Email: tic@rheged.com.
• Appleby. Telephone: 017683 51177, located at Moot Hall, Boroughgate, Appleby, CA16 6XE. Email: tic@applebytown.org.uk
• Kirkby Stephen. Telephone: 017683 71199, located in Market Square, Kirkby Stephen, CA17 4QN. Email: ks.tic@eden.gov.uk.
• Southwaite. Telephone: 016974 73445, located in service station on M6, Cumbria, CA4 0N5. Email: southwaitetic@visitscotland.com.
• Alston. (This is in the Pennines.) Telephone: 01434 382244., located in the Town Hall, Alston, CA9 3RF. Email: alstonlocallinks@eden.gov.uk.
• Glenridding. (This is at south end of Ullswater, Lake District.) Telephone: 017684 82414, located in Main Car Park, Glenridding. Email: ullswater@lake-district.gov.uk.

• Little Salkeld watermill - fully operational producing stoneground flour,
• Rutter Falls 3 miles south of Appleby towards Great Asby - millwheel and waterfall.
• The water mill in the grounds of Acorn Bank garden, owned by the National Trust, was brought back to working order in October 2011. It was operational previously in the 1940's. The flour it produces is used to make bread and cakes for its own cafe. (Also see Gardens.)

High Cup Wines is named after 'High Cup Nick' not far away on the Pennine Way. It is Cumbria's only winery and visitors are allowed free tastings. It is located 1 mile south-east of Dufton at Keisley, CA16 6NF. Telephone: 017683 53714 for opening times.

The main river in the Eden valley is the River Eden. It starts life in the fells south of Mallerstang Common and very close to the source of the River Ure,which flows in the opposite direction at this point. It runs north between Wild Boar Fell and Mallerstang Edge, on through Kirkby Stephen and then through fertile farmland of gently rolling fields, between sandstone cliffs and past pituresque villages and hamlets. It eventually skirts the north edge of Carlisle and enters the Solway Firth about 2 mlies south of the River Esk estuary and some 100 miles from its source. Its secluded banks and clear water provide good salmon and trout fishing along its route. There are some small rapids between Nunnery Gardens and Armathwaite. Its main tributaries are the River Eamont, which flows out of Ullswater and joins the River Eden about 5 miles east of Penrith and the smaller River Lyvennet,which joins just south of Temple Sowerby.To Top
The soft sandstone through which the river has cut its way in places has tempted man to leave his mark too. Near Little Salkeld are 5 chambers carved in the cliffs by Colonel Lacy in the eighteenth century, known as 'Lacy's Caves and near Armathwaite there are carvings of a misquotation from 'The Complete Angler' by Isaac Walton.
To mark the new Millenium, ten sandstone sculptures by Victoria Brailsford have been erected by the footpath along the river side. They both add interest to a walk along the river and can also function as seats, when dry!
Another river in the River Eden catchment area is the River Lowther. This flows through both pastureland and a stretch of woodland before entering the River Eamont at Brougham Castle to the south of Penrith. The River Lowther starts south west of Shap and is fed by Swindale Beck just before Bampton Grange and Hawewater Beck, the outflow of Haweswater, just after the village. The River Lowther is longer than the River Eamont and might have been almost as wide, if most of the water flowing into Haweswater was not used for drinking purposes by Manchester Corporation.