Appleby

Introduction

A pretty and historic market town, Appleby is probably best known for the Appleby Horse Fair, an annual travellers fair that draws visitors from across the UK. The town's principal attraction is the picturesque main street, leading uphill from the notable church cloister past the old market hall to Appleby castle.

Sights and Activities

Historic Buildings

There are many Historic Buildings around the town centre, not least the 12th Century Church (which houses the oldest working organ in Britain) and market hall. The extraordinarily well-preserved keep of Appleby Castle is unfortunately now part of a private residence and is no longer open to the public, but may be viewed from a distance.

Hiking

Being based on the River Eden and at the foot of the Pennines there are plenty of attractive Hiking options nearby. The start-point for walks to High Cup Nick, Cross Fell and Dufton Pike start from near the town.

Railways

Appleby hosts probably the best preserved station on the whole of the scenic Settle-Carlisle line. The recently restored Eden Valley Railway, from Appleby to the village of Warcop, is another attraction.

Events and Festivals

Appleby Horse Fair

Probably the best attended Roma fair in the UK, Appleby Horse Fair draws travelling families from across the country. It's a great spectacle for the rest of us too, with hundreds of horses paraded (and raced) around town and many attractively decorated traditional caravans.

2nd week in June, Appleby

Appleby Jazz

Also in Appleby, the annual Jazz Festival is the Eden Valley's biggest cultural event, attracting some top names.

Dates vary annually, Appleby

Getting There

By Train

The principal rail route into Appleby is the Settle-Carlisle line, connecting to destinations including Carlisle, Kirkby Stephen and Leeds.

By Car

Appleby is connected to the main north-south arterial routes by the A66 transpennine road. Note that the section of this road approaching Appleby from the East (between Bowes and Brough over Bowes Moor) is closed more often than any other 'A' road due to snow in winter - check that the road is open before you travel if it's been snowing heavily.

By Bus

Regular bus services connect to Penrith, Kirkby Stephen and Brough, as well as less regular services to neighbouring villages. Check the Travelline for details.

Getting Around

The centre of Appleby is small enough to easily and pleasantly explore on foot.

Eat

• The Royal Oak, Bongate, Tel: 017683 51463. The Royal Oak serves hearty pub food, using fresh local ingredients where possible.

Drink

• The Crown and Cushion, Boroughgate. A proper old-fashioned Cumbrian pub, bang in the centre of town. The building dates from the 15th century.

• The Aboard, Boroughgate. Another 15th Century pub, virtually opposite.

Sleep

Budget

• Wild Rose Camping and Caravan Park, Tel: 017683 51077. A highly rated campsite on the edge of town.

There are no hostels in Applebly - the closest is in the village of Dufton nearby.

Mid-Range

There are plenty of Bed and Breakfast options in the area. The Royal Oak (see above under 'Eat') rents out comfortable rooms.

Upscale

• Appleby Manor Country House Hotel, Tel: 017683 71571. One of the few real luxury options in the Eden Valley, Appleby Manor was the winner of Cumbria Tourism's Small Hotel of the Year award in 2008.

Keep Connected

Internet

There are no public access Internet terminals or Internet cafes in Appleby. There is a Wi-fi hotspot at the Appleby Manor Hotel.

Phone

See also International Telephone Calls

There are plenty of public phone boxes in the town centre.

Post

You should have no trouble finding a post box. The town's Post Office is located on Boroughgate in the centre.
The Royal Mail provides postal services in the United Kingdom. The Royal Mail's store fronts are called Post Office and offer services ranging from sending letters and packages to foreign currency exchange. Use the branch locator to find the nearest Post Office branch. An alternative includes TNT Post.
It's common for a post office to be incorporated into a grocery store, where there will be a small counter located at the back of the store for dealing with post related matters. All post offices are marked with signs that say 'post office' in red lettering. Post boxes can be found at any post office and standalone large red post boxes on the streets or red boxes in the sides of public buildings.