THE EDGE
VACATION & HOLIDAY GUIDE TO
CUMBRIA & THE LAKE DISTRICT
APPLEBY, CUMBRIA
Boroughgate, Appleby.
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THE EDGE VACATION & HOLIDAY GUIDE TO CUMBRIA & THE LAKE DISTRICT APPLEBY, CUMBRIA |
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Appleby Location: OS ref NY 685205 Sheet 91. In the middle of the Eden Valley. Nearest Towns: Kirkby Stephen SE on the A685 via the A66. 12mls/20km. Penrith NW on the A66 12mls/21km. Kendal SW on the A685 via the B6260 23mls/37km. Hotels: |
The ancient town of Appleby straddles the River Eden in the middle of the beautiful Eden Valley. It is one of the most pleasant towns in the county and therefore in Britain. The town is distinguished by its much admired Boroughgate, a charming street in the centre of the west side of the town, it is unusually wide and lined with mature trees in front of attractive old houses. At the top of Boroughgate is the castle and at the bottom the main shopping area, which has been the market since 1174. Appleby is not only worth visiting for its chocolate box appearance, there are is much to do and see in the area and plentiful accommodation in and around the town offers all that could be wished for by the visitor, and all budgets are catered for.The shopping is not on the scale of that in Penrith or Kendal but provisions for a day away can be purchased and there are antique shops to tempt you.
In the surrounding countryside, some of the best in England, you will find many villages to explore and walks to enjoy for the less adventurous. If you take your walking seriously you could drive to the village of Dufton and climb the steep slopes of the imposing Pennines dominating Appleby's eastern horizon. To the west of the town are the magnificent Lake District fells and mountains famed the world over for their beauty. Not only is Appleby an ideal base for exploring the area, it also hosts the most famous horse fair in the Great Britain, Appleby New Fair, (don't let the 'New' fool you, in fact it dates back to 1685 when King James II granted the town its second Charter). This Royal patronage hints at Appleby's past. For many centuries it was the county town of Westmorland and at one time boasted two Members of Parliament. Appleby has its beginnings with the Celts, Romans and Vikings. Ranulph de Meschines was given the town by King William II around 1092 and it was Ranulph who is mainly responsible for the town's development as a centre for trade and administration of the surrounding area. He was responsible for the castle in the town and he also established fortifications at Brough to the south and Brougham to the north near Penrith. Both those castles were built next to former Roman Forts.
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