Vale of Eden and Kendal in Cumbria

The River Eden flows through a fertile valley. A roman road follows the river. To the north are the brooding fells of the Pennines, and to the east the Yorkshire Dales National Park

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Temple Sowerby
Known as the queen of the Westmoreland villages, Temple Sowerby. It is at the foot of the fells, and close by are Acorn Bank, a red sandstone manor house built in 1730 with the National Trust Gardens around, Lowther Castle, now a ruin but with an imposing facade, and the site of the Roman fort of Bravoniacum
 
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Appleby
Nine hundred years ago, Appleby-in-Westmoreland to use its full name, was transferred from Scotland to England. A castle with a Norman keep, restored by Lady Anne Clifford in 1653, stands at the top of the main street. The town is closely packed with interesting houses, many bearing the imprint of the same Lady Anne. St Anne's Hospital was founded by her in 1651 as an alms house, St Michael's church was restored by her, and at each end of the main street is a cross with her motto "retain your loyalty, preserve your rights"
The town is an excellent walking centre, and is also known for its annual Horse Fair in June, which is a meeting place for gypsies from all over Britain
 
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Brough
The castle here was built by William II on the site of Verterae, a Roman fort. It was the home of Lord Clifford from 1435 to 1461 and known as "the butcher" for obvious reasons. Then restored by Lady Anne Clifford in the 17th century, then fell into ruins again
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Penrith
A bustling market town with many old Cumberland houses. The castle (only the curtain wall remains) was built around 1400 after the town had been burnt by the Scots in 1345.
The churchyard contains the grave of Wordsworth's mother, and also the Giant's Grave, said to be that of the King of Cumbria in 937, and a man of fifteen feet in height!
There is a large traditional agricultural show held here every July
 
Kendal
The "gateway to the lakes", Kendal has been settles by the Britons, Romans and Saxons before the Norman castle was built. This castle was later in 1512 the birthplace of Katherine Parr, the sixth and surviving wife of Henry VIII
Kendal grew as a wool town in the middle ages, and no self respecting bowman would go forth unless he was wearing "Kendal green" cloth - even Shakespeare refers to it in Henry IV ptI.
The grow, life and times of the town can be followed in the Museum of  Lakeland Life and Industry and also in the Kendal Museum of Archaeology and Natural History
There are two town walks, and you get details from the town hall information centre.
The other thing associated with Kendal is Mint Cake, a hard, mint flavoured sugar slab, much loved by fell walkers and Everest climbers
 
Sedbergh
Sedbergh moved from Yorkshire to Cumbria in 1974!
A market town and home of a famous Public school founded in 1525. The Howgill fells which surround the town are of the same rock as the southern lake district.
Sedbergh though tends to look east to the Dales National Park, rather then west to the Lakes National Park, and the National Park Centre here provides the tourist with information on the Dales
 
Kirkby Lonsdale
An attractive market town on the River Lune. The writer John Ruskin visited the town in 1835 after seeing a Turner painting of the Lune, and pronounced "the valley of the Lune at Kirkby Lonsdale is one of the loveliest scenes in England - therefore in the world" . You cannot say fairer than that.
A beautiful three arched 14th century bridge, Devils Bridge, spans the Lune here, and is one of the most photographed bridges in the north of England
 
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