A Guide to Kirkby Stephen: Exploring the Historic Beauty
Kirkby Stephen and its beautiful district are steeped in history. This small town is well worth a visit.
Hikers love Kirkby Stephen with the moors of the north Pennines forming a dramatic backdrop. It is also an important stopping-off point for walkers doing Wainwright’s Coast to Coast walk.
For walkers doing the Coast to Coast, Kirkby Stephen provides a warm welcome and respite after a long, though not the hardest slog over the moors from Shap.
A few miles to the south, in the Mallerstang valley is the source of the River Eden.
Here stand the ruins of Pendragon Castle, one of the dilapidated fortresses restored by Lady Anne Clifford.
The town lies at the head of the Eden valley and is set in some beautiful Cumbrian countryside between Cumbria and the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
The alleged connection with King Arthur is, to say the least, questionable. Closer to hand are the prehistoric earthwork known as Croglam Castle and the ruins of Lammerside Castle.
The ruin of Lammerside Castle (above) is on the west bank of the river Eden. All that can be seen are the remains of the fourteenth-century pele tower.
Although the population of less than 3,000 indicates a village rather than a town, Kirkby Stephen clings to the status by its market charter of 1361. The market is still held every Monday.
For hikers walking the Coast to Coast route, Kirkby Stephen provides a welcome respite.
The coast-to-coast long-distance walk was pioneered by the late Alfred Wainwright and passes through the town with the naming of a fish and chip shop – Coast to Coast.
There are many attractive old buildings that are listed as being of historical importance.
Kirkby Stephen can boast one of the finest churches in the country, St Stephens dating from the 13th-century.
A short walk from Market Place is the River Eden and Frank’s Bridge. For a longer walk through neighbouring Hartley will take you high up into the fells to the mysterious Nine Standards Rigg.
Kirkby Stephen has a railway station that is one and a half miles from the town. It is 300 feet higher than the town centre on the Carlisle to Settle line.
The market town has many attractive nooks and crannies to explore and is 45 minutes away from Lothlorien in Grange-over-Sands. To enquire about staying at Lothlorien click here.
