Appleby-in-Westmorland is a small town in Cumbria, North WestEngland.
Understand
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.
- 1 Tourist Information Centre, Moot Hall, Boroughgate. Apr - Oct: Mon - Sat: 09:30-16:00, Sun: 10:00-13.00, Nov - Mar: Mon - Sat: 10:00-14:00.
Get in
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.
A tourist train[dead link] runs three times a day until 12 Sept 2020 between Skipton, Settle and Appleby. The train uses diesel-hauled first class coaches and an adult day-trip is £29. This is in addition to the timetabled service by Northern Rail.
Get around
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.
See
- Sites associated with Lady Anne Clifford (1590 – 1676), Countess of Pembroke.
- 1 St Anne's Hospital Almshouses, Boroughgate. Homes for 13 widows which are still occupied, but the chapel may be visited.
- 2 St Lawrence's Church. The church dates from 1150, was damaged by Scots in 1388, and rebuilt by Lady Clifford in 1655.
- The Eden. a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest, partly due to the diversity of wildlife. It is good for bird watching and fishing.
- 3 Appleby Castle. Daily tours of this 12th century castle, which is a private home.Advance booking required. £12.50.
Do
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.
- 1 Appleby Horse Fair. early June. An informal event, an annual gathering of gypsies and travellers, which attracts about 30,000 visitors.
Eat
Appleby has a choice of traditional cafes and small restaurants including Indian and Chinese cuisine.
Drink
The town has several pubs. Some of the cafes are licensed and there is hotel with an open bar.
Sleep
- 1 Royal Oak Inn, Bongate, ☏ 44 17683 51463.
- 2 Appleby Manor Country House Hotel, Roman Rd, ☏ 44 17683 51571.
- 3 Augill Castle, Leacett Lane, South Stainmore, Kirkby Stephen CA17 4DE (off A685), ☏ 44 1768 341937. Victorian cod-castle, but there's nothing make-believe about the quality and comfort of this upscale country hotel. B&B double £180.
Stay safe
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.
Go next
The rest of the Eden Valley is worth touring. Swaledale, the Pennine Way, and the Lake District National Park are nearby.