TRAVEL GETAWAY
EDEN VA LLEY wandering
This aptly named Lake District location is heavenly for keen walkers and photographers, says Andria Massey
Wherever you go in the beautiful Lake District, there are fabulous views! This is Derwentwater
Andria Massey is Footpath Secretary and Access Officer for Ynys Mon Ramblers Group, and a freelance photographer
THIS WAS OUR final tour of the year, so we decided to visit Cumbria, opting to base our trip in Penrith, just a few miles north of the beautiful Lake District.
We booked into Thacka Lea Caravan Park, a small site within walking distance of this historic market town. Once pitched on-site, we decided to head out in the car to explore.
Our first stop was the city of Carlisle; it lies at the confluence of three rivers, the Eden, Caldew and Petteril, and is just 10 miles south of the Scottish border.
We headed into the city centre to park and wander around. The first place to find was a café, to satisfy the need for morning coffee – there are plenty to choose from around the bustling Green Market.
Historic architecture
An outstanding sight in Carlisle is the Old Town Hall, now the Tourist Information Centre. This fine Grade I-listed building, medieval in origin, dates mainly from the 17th and 18th centuries.
Over the years, the grander public rooms on the first floor have hosted a number of civic functions, including the Court Assize until 1881, the Magistrates Court until 1941, the Council Chamber, and the offices of the City of Carlisle Corporation until 1964. A statue of local dignitary James Steel can also be found here.
Steel was born in 1797 and started work as an apprentice at the Carlisle Chronicle before moving to the Carlisle Journal, where he remained until 1819. He then moved to Whitehaven, to work as a printer and publisher of the Whitehaven Gazette, becoming editor of the Kendal Chronicle for a couple of years before returning to Carlisle.