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

- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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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