Appleby-in-Westmorland lies in a bend of the River Eden. Together with its historic buildings and annual Horse Fair, the town offers a tangible setting for a range of travel interests. You can plan your stay around the town’s history, the river or the Sea-to-Sea cycle route; the Horse Fair, held at a set time in June, provides a focus of its own.
The Eden and the cycle route
The River Eden winds through Appleby and is designated as a Special Area of Conservation. The course of the river is therefore part of the town’s distinctive geography. The Sea-to-Sea cycle route, which passes through Appleby, offers another connection to the surrounding area. If you are interested in a cycling holiday, you will find a specific route to follow here, while the Eden adds a landscape perspective on the town.
Buildings and places of remembrance
Appleby Castle is listed as a Grade I building. The Parish Church of St Lawrence is also Grade I listed: the church dates from the 12th century and was later extended and restored. It contains memorials to Lady Anne Clifford and Margaret, Countess of Cumberland. The church thus brings together its long architectural history and the remembrance of two women known by name.
Moot Hall is one of the few early town halls that still serves its original purpose: handling the affairs of the borough. St Anne’s Hospital presents a different layout: its 13 almshouses are arranged around a paved courtyard, with a small chapel in one corner. These examples offer different insights into the town’s architectural and local history, showing that Appleby’s historic attractions cannot be reduced to a single type of building.
Smaller buildings and details also add to the picture. The present double-arched structure of Appleby Bridge dates from 1889. High Cross was erected around 1670 and bears the inscription “Retain your loyalty, preserve your rights”. Cheese was sold from its stepped base. Low Cross was built in the 18th century as a replica of High Cross. Comparing the two crosses connects their architectural history with the former use of High Cross’s base.
The Horse Fair and travel planning
Appleby Horse Fair is an annual gathering of Gypsies and Travellers in Appleby-in-Westmorland. It lasts a week, from a Thursday in early June until the following Wednesday. If you are planning your trip around the Fair, use this period as a guide and check directions for the specific days of the event. The fairground and town centre are both a ten-minute walk from the railway station.
The Fair gives your trip a specific purpose and a clearly defined time frame. The town’s history, the river and the cycle route are other themes around which you can plan your stay.
Crafts and local orientation
Appleby Tourist Information Centre has an exhibition room featuring displays by local craftspeople. This adds a perspective on local crafts to the town’s buildings and historic sites. Together, the listed attractions, riverside landscape and route connections offer different starting points: you can plan a stay focused more on cultural history, visit for the annual Horse Fair or make the Sea-to-Sea cycle route your main focus.
Discover more destinations: Bewcastle, Alston, Patterdale, Waterhead, Burneside, Coniston, Cotehill, Winton.
See the main travel overview: Cumbria.
