Close to the Lake District is the Eden Valley, a peaceful and picturesque escape from everyday life. It is a relatively undiscovered part of the UK and offers plenty of things to do for those who are visiting the area.
Our blog at Moss Bank Country Lodges looks into the best places to visit around Penrith and the Eden Valley.
About the Eden Valley
Covering an area from Sedbergh to Penrith, the Valley is full of picturesque walks and historic buildings to explore. People have been calling this area home since at least the Viking period and it remains a popular place to relax today.
One of the main features of the Eden Valley is the River Eden. Flowing for over 90 miles into the Solway Firth, it was once called ‘Itouna’ by the Romans. Since then it has gone on to define the boundary between North Yorkshire and Cumbria, creating a natural divider.
Over the years the area has been featured on several TV programmes, including ‘Best Walks with a View with Julia Bradbury’ as well as ‘Coast to Coast with Tony Robinson’.
Villages To Explore
One of the best things about this area are the number of historical villages to visit. Some of those to consider going to include:
- Ainstable
- Armathwaite
- Croglin
- Gamblesby
- High Hesket
- Kirkoswald
- Langwathby
- Lazonby
- Little Salkeld
- Low Hesket
- Melmerby
- Plumpton
- Renwick
You can find out more about these places on the Visit Eden website.
Appleby-in-Westmorland
With a small population of around 3,000, the town of Appleby-in-Westmorland is well known for it’s annual Horse Fair. This has been taking place since 1775 on the outskirts of the town. The town is also home to a Norman Castle and Lady Anne Clifford lived here during the 17th Century.
If you do decide to visit, then there are plenty of places to explore. These include The Courtyard Gallery, St Lawrence’s Church, and St Anne’s Hospital.
Penrith
As the closest town to our Eden Valley lodges, Penrith is full of history and home to 15,000 people. It is the central meeting point for those living in the surrounding countryside and can be traced back into the Roman period.
There are plenty of places worth visiting, including the Castle as well as the Penrith and Eden Museum. Penrith also holds regular events and activities, providing you with more options.
Kirkby Stephen
With a population of around 2,000, the small town of Kirkby Stephen is a quiet and peaceful place to visit. Here you can find quaint cobbled streets as well as historical buildings, perfect for a day out. As it is in a remote location it is the ideal place to relax and unwind.
There are plenty of places to visit, including Winton Park, Franks Bridge, Podgill Viaduct, and the Stainmore Railway Company.
Travelling In and Around
When it comes to travelling around the Eden Valley you can either drive or take public transport. The largest roads which run through the area include the M6, A6 and A66, all of which link to small local roads.
The main train line which runs through the Valley is the Settle to Carlisle Railway. This stops at a number of locations including:
- Settle
- Horton-in-Ribblesdale
- Ribblehead
- Dent
- Garsdale
- Kirkby Stephen
- Appleby
- Langwathby
- Lazonby
- Armathwaite
- Carlisle
Alongside this, buses do also operate. Although, it is worth checking on the main County Council website for more guidance on which routes and times are available for where you need to go.
Find Out More
If you are interested in Eden Valley lodges, please do not hesitate to call our team today. We have 26 luxury, modern lodges available for sale, offering you the perfect place to rest and unwind.