Appleby in Westmorland

Appleby in Westmorland began life as a planned mediaeval borough. It has retained its castle and street layout and a very few extremely old buildings. It is famous today for the annual Horse Fair in June but is quietly picturesque for the rest of the year. The town has a population of 3,000.
Appleby was the county town of the former county of Westmorland. When local government was re-organised in 1974, Appleby became part of the county of Cumbria, and the town's name was changed to Appleby in Westmorland to preserve the county name.

• Tourist Information Centre

  address: Moot Hall, Boroughgate

Appleby is off the A66 trunk road from Penrith to Scotch Corner, about 15 minutes drive from Penrith. It is at the north end of the B6260 road which provides a scenic route to Kendal 28 miles away via Tebay. Appleby has a fully operational railway station on the historic Settle Carlisle Railway with several trains per day running between Carlisle and Leeds via Settle.

Public transport is scarce. There are occasional buses each day between Kirkby Stephen and Penrith but own transport is necessary to see the area properly.

• Sites associated with Lady Anne Clifford (1590 – 1676), Countess of Pembroke.

• St Anne's Hospital Almshouses

  address: Boroughgate
  Homes for 13 widows which are still occupied, but the chapel may be visited.

• St Lawrence's ChurchThe church dates from 1150, was damaged by Scots in 1388, and rebuilt by Lady Clifford in 1655.

• The Edena designated Site of Special Scientific Interest, partly due to the diversity of wildlife. It is good for bird watching and fishing.

• Appleby CastleDaily tours of this 12th century castle, which is a private home.Advance booking required.

Appleby is a very quiet town in which visitors can experience traditional Westmorland life by spending time in the area. There is excellent countryside within energetic walking distance of the town centre. Walking leaflets are available from the Tourist Information Centre. There is an indoor heated swimming pool and a library.

• Appleby Horse FairAn informal event, an annual gathering of gypsies and travellers, which attracts about 30,000 visitors.

Appleby has a choice of traditional cafes and small restaurants including Indian and Chinese cuisine.

The town has several pubs. Some of the cafes are licensed and there is hotel with an open bar.

• Royal Oak Inn

  phone: +44 17683 51463
  address: Bongate

• Appleby Manor Country House Hotel

  phone: +44 17683 51571
  address: Roman Rd

The crime rate in the Eden Valley is extremely low. The busy A66 bypasses the town but is dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists. The river is not normally very deep and children sometimes play in it. At night, some pubs are quieter than others.

The rest of the Eden Valley is worth touring. Swaledale, the Pennine Way, and the Lake District National Park are nearby.