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Westmorland
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Explore Westmorland’s historic market towns, southern lakes, castles, abbeys, green valleys and open fells across Cumbria.

Westmorland is a historic county in northern England, now chiefly represented within the modern unitary area of Westmorland and Furness in Cumbria. It stretches from the market town of Kendal and the southern Lake District towards the limestone country of the eastern fells, the broad valleys around Appleby-in-Westmorland and the winding lanes of the Eden Valley. Although it is no longer a county administered separately, Westmorland remains a useful and deeply rooted sense of place, reflected in local institutions, town names, historic buildings and the continuing use of the county name.
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The landscape changes markedly across the region. Kendal sits at the meeting point of the River Kent and the southern Lakeland hills, with stone streets, former woollen mills and the remains of Kendal Castle above the town. Around Windermere and Ambleside, wooded shores, mountain views and busy visitor centres provide access to boating, walking and the cultural landscape of the Lake District. Further east, the Howgills rise in smooth, spacious folds, while the limestone uplands around Shap and Kirkby Stephen lead towards the Pennine fringes and the dramatic escarpment of the Mallerstang valley.
Westmorland's market towns give the region a strong historical spine. Appleby-in-Westmorland, the former county town, follows the River Eden beneath Appleby Castle and preserves a compact historic centre. Kirkby Stephen combines a substantial parish church with old lanes and a lively local identity, while Brough and Shap retain their importance as settlements on historic routes through the north. Stone bridges, dry-stone walls, farmsteads and village greens reveal a landscape shaped by pastoral farming, packhorse travel, monastic estates and long-distance commerce.
The region's heritage ranges from prehistoric stone circles and Roman frontier remains to medieval castles, ruined abbeys and eighteenth- and nineteenth-century industrial buildings. Shap Abbey, Sizergh Castle and the castles at Kendal, Appleby and Brough each illuminate a different aspect of Westmorland's past. The area is also well suited to outdoor travel, with walking on the Howgills, cycling through the Eden Valley, fell routes above the lake country and quieter explorations of villages and river valleys. Weather can change rapidly on exposed ground, so itineraries benefit from flexibility.
Food and local culture are closely connected with the landscape. Kendal mint cake is the region's best-known speciality, while farm shops, village cafés, pubs and markets make use of local meat, cheese, trout, preserves and baked goods. Westmorland is best understood not as a single compact resort but as a sequence of contrasting landscapes: the accessible southern lakes, the historic market towns, the pastoral Eden Valley and the open fells of the east. Travelling between them reveals why the old county remains an important cultural geography within Cumbria.

Getting to and around Westmorland

How to get there

The principal rail gateway is Oxenholme Lake District, outside Kendal but close to the southern part of historic Westmorland, with main-line services linking northern cities and London; Kendal and Windermere are reached by connecting trains. Penrith and Lancaster, both outside the historic county, can also be useful access points for different approaches. By road, the M6 provides the main connection, with the A591 leading towards Kendal and Windermere and the A66 serving Appleby and the eastern valleys. Manchester, Newcastle and Liverpool airports are practical wider gateways, though each requires a further road or rail journey.

Transportation

Rail travel works well between Kendal, Oxenholme, Windermere and Appleby, while buses connect the main towns with selected villages and Lake District destinations. Services are less frequent in the Howgills, around Shap and across the upper Eden Valley, so check current timetables before committing to a rural itinerary. A car offers the greatest flexibility for castles, abbeys, trailheads and farm shops, but narrow lanes, steep gradients, limited parking and seasonal congestion require patience. Walking and cycling are rewarding around the valleys and market towns, while longer fell routes demand proper navigation and weather planning.

Destinations in Westmorland

Resorts, valleys and scenic spots worth a trip of their own.

Best attractions in Westmorland

Westmorland's attractions combine southern Lake District scenery with the quieter heritage and open landscapes of the east. Around Kendal, visitors can explore Kendal Castle, the town's museums and galleries, historic streets and the grounds of Sizergh Castle. Windermere and Ambleside provide access to lake cruises, boating, woodland walks and mountain routes, although the busiest locations can be congested in high season. Shap Abbey offers atmospheric monastic ruins in a rural setting, while Appleby Castle, Brough Castle and the historic streets of Appleby-in-Westmorland reveal the region's medieval importance. The Howgills are suited to walking, cycling and wildlife watching across rounded, spacious hills, and the Eden Valley rewards slower journeys through villages, stone bridges and farm country. Outdoor visitors should distinguish between low-level paths and exposed fell routes, where navigation and weather preparation are important. Museums, parish churches, craft studios, farm shops and local markets add cultural interest to the larger heritage sites, making Westmorland particularly strong for combining landscape with accessible historical exploration.

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Best landmarks in Westmorland

Kendal Castle is one of Westmorland's most recognisable sites, standing above the River Kent and recalling the power of the medieval Barons of Kendal, whose descendants included the Parr family. Appleby Castle, with its Norman keep and later buildings, overlooks the former county town and embodies the strategic importance of the Eden Valley. Brough Castle, built beside the Roman road and near the old fort at Verterae, marks the eastern approach through the Pennine countryside. The ruins of Shap Abbey provide a contrasting landmark: its medieval church and monastic remains are set within open farmland rather than an urban centre. Sizergh Castle south of Kendal combines a medieval tower house with later domestic ranges and a long-established estate landscape. Around Windermere, the lake itself is the defining geographical landmark, while Orrest Head above Windermere offers a recognised elevated viewpoint over the water and surrounding fells. Dry-stone walls, packhorse bridges and stone parish churches are less monumental but equally important features of Westmorland's historic landscape.

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Best restaurants in Westmorland

Dining in Westmorland is shaped by pastoral farming, market-town commerce and the produce of the wider Cumbrian landscape. Kendal, Windermere, Ambleside, Appleby-in-Westmorland and Kirkby Stephen offer the broadest choice, from cafés and bakeries to contemporary restaurants, traditional pubs and informal dining rooms. Local lamb, beef, game, trout, farmhouse cheeses and seasonal vegetables appear frequently, while village pubs and rural inns remain useful places to eat after walking. Kendal mint cake, a compact sugar-and-mint confection traditionally associated with the town, is sold in several styles and is often taken on fell walks. Farm shops and markets provide regional preserves, cakes, breads and drinks, with menus varying according to season and locality. In the lake country, advance planning can be helpful at busy times; in the eastern valleys, opening days and evening service may be more limited, so check arrangements before making a long rural journey.

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Best bars in Westmorland

Westmorland's evening life is centred on pubs, restaurants, inns and live entertainment rather than a large club scene. Kendal has the widest choice of traditional pubs, bars, cafés and cultural venues, with a more active evening atmosphere than the smaller market towns. Windermere and nearby Bowness-on-Windermere offer pubs, hotel bars, restaurants and seasonal lakeside activity, while Appleby-in-Westmorland and Kirkby Stephen provide quieter evenings built around local pubs and dining. Craft beer, cask ale, cider and non-alcoholic drinks are commonly available, and some venues host live music or community events without operating as formal nightclubs. Rural villages can become very quiet outside peak periods, with limited late transport, so visitors should plan a taxi or overnight stay rather than rely on a final bus. Evening culture is best approached as a social extension of the towns and inns, not as a continuous nightlife district.

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Best nightclubs in Westmorland

Westmorland's evening life is centred on pubs, restaurants, inns and live entertainment rather than a large club scene. Kendal has the widest choice of traditional pubs, bars, cafés and cultural venues, with a more active evening atmosphere than the smaller market towns. Windermere and nearby Bowness-on-Windermere offer pubs, hotel bars, restaurants and seasonal lakeside activity, while Appleby-in-Westmorland and Kirkby Stephen provide quieter evenings built around local pubs and dining. Craft beer, cask ale, cider and non-alcoholic drinks are commonly available, and some venues host live music or community events without operating as formal nightclubs. Rural villages can become very quiet outside peak periods, with limited late transport, so visitors should plan a taxi or overnight stay rather than rely on a final bus. Evening culture is best approached as a social extension of the towns and inns, not as a continuous nightlife district.

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Best shops in Westmorland

Shopping in Westmorland is concentrated in traditional market towns rather than large retail complexes. Kendal has the widest range of independent shops, outdoor retailers, galleries, bookshops, cafés and everyday services, alongside its long-established town-centre markets. Windermere and Bowness-on-Windermere focus more heavily on outdoor clothing, gifts, art, books, food products and practical items for visitors. Appleby-in-Westmorland and Kirkby Stephen have smaller high streets with independent retailers, antiques, crafts and local services, while rural farm shops sell cheese, meat, preserves, baked goods and seasonal produce. Kendal mint cake is the most recognisable local edible purchase, and regional ales, chutneys and confectionery travel well. Craft studios and galleries may offer ceramics, textiles, woodwork and landscape-inspired art, particularly around the Lake District fringe. Opening arrangements can be more limited in villages and outside the main season, so market days and independent shop hours are worth checking before making a special journey.

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Westmorland essentials

Currency and Payment
Westmorland uses the pound sterling, written as GBP or £, like the rest of the United Kingdom. Contactless cards and mobile payments are widely accepted in towns, hotels, visitor attractions and established cafés, although a small amount of cash remains useful for rural honesty boxes, occasional market stalls, car parks and smaller businesses. Cash machines are more common in the principal towns than in remote villages, and some independent premises may have a minimum card-payment threshold.
Safety
Westmorland is generally a straightforward destination for visitors, but outdoor conditions deserve serious attention. On the fells, rain, wind, low cloud and poor visibility can develop quickly; wear suitable footwear, carry a map or reliable navigation device and allow daylight for the return journey. Take care on narrow roads, around cyclists and near deep or fast-moving water. Lake shores, reservoirs and rivers can be cold and hazardous even in summer. In busy areas such as Windermere and Kendal, use ordinary precautions with valuables and avoid leaving belongings visible in vehicles.
Emergency Situations
For police, fire or ambulance emergencies, call 999; 112 is also available throughout the United Kingdom. Give a precise location, especially on a fell, remote lane or lakeshore, and use the What3words reference only as an additional aid rather than a substitute for a clear description. Mountain rescue can be requested through 999, asking for Police and then Mountain Rescue, while the coastguard is relevant around coastal waters rather than inland Westmorland. For less urgent medical needs, use NHS 111 or seek advice from a local pharmacy or medical service.
Do's and Don'ts
Do close gates, keep dogs under control near livestock and follow the Countryside Code on paths, farms and open access land. Do give walkers, cyclists and horses room on narrow roads, and treat historic ruins and churchyards respectfully. Do not climb on fragile walls, remove stones or enter private land without permission. In pubs and cafés, queue patiently and check whether service is at the bar or the table; tipping is discretionary rather than a fixed regional rule. At religious sites, dress and behave quietly, particularly during services.
Local Tips
Kendal is a practical base for southern Westmorland, while Appleby-in-Westmorland and Kirkby Stephen suit visitors interested in the Eden Valley and eastern fells. The landscape around the Howgills is often less crowded than the central lake districts but has few facilities, so carry food and water. Market days and local events vary by town and season, making it sensible to check local visitor information before travelling. Allow time for independent galleries, bookshops, farm shops and village pubs rather than treating the region solely as a route between major attractions.
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From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloAye up[ai ʌp]
GoodbyeTa-ra[təˈrɑː]
YesAye[ai]
NoNaw[nɔː]
Please/You're welcomePlease[pliːz]
Thank youCheers[tʃɪrz]
Excuse me/SorryS'cuse me[sɪˈkjuːz mi]
How are you?How's it going?[haʊz ɪt ˈɡoʊɪŋ]
Fine. And you?Reet. And thee?[riːt. ənd ðiː]
Do you speak English?D'ye speak English?[dʒə spiːk ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ]
I don't understandAh don’t get it[ɑː doʊnt ɡɛt ɪt]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseCan I see the menu, please?[kæn aɪ siː ðə ˈmɛnjuː pliːz]
I don't eat meatAh don’t eat meat[ɑː doʊnt iːt miːt]
Cheers!Cheers![tʃɪrz]
I would like to pay, pleaseI’d like to settle up, please[aɪd laɪk tə ˈsɛtl ʌp pliːz]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Help![hɛlp]
Go away!Clear off![klɪr ɔf]
Call the Police!Ring the bobbies![rɪŋ ðə ˈbɒbiːz]
Call a doctor!Get a doctor![ɡɛt ə ˈdɒktə]
I'm lostAh'm lost[ɑːm lɔst]
I'm illAh'm poorly[ɑːm ˈpʊəli]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...I’d like to buy...[aɪd laɪk tə baɪ...]
I'm just lookingJust having a gander[dʒʌst ˈhævɪŋ ə ˈɡændər]
How much is it?How much's that?[haʊ mʌtʃz ðæt]
That's too expensiveThat's a bit pricey[ðæts ə bɪt ˈpraɪsi]
Can you lower the price?Can ye knock it down?[kæn ji nɒk ɪt daʊn]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?Wot time is it?[wɒt taɪm ɪz ɪt]
It's one o'clockIt's one o'clock[ɪts wʌn əˈklɒk]
Half past (10)Half past ten[hɑːf pɑːst tɛn]
MorningMornin'[ˈmɔːrnɪn]
AfternoonAfternoon[ˌɑːftərˈnuːn]
EveningEvenin'[ˈiːvnɪŋ]
YesterdayYest'day[ˈjɛstdeɪ]
TodayTo'day[təˈdeɪ]
TomorrowTomorra[təˈmɒrə]
1One[wʌn]
2Two[tuː]
3Three[θriː]
4Four[fɔːr]
5Five[faɪv]
6Six[sɪks]
7Seven[ˈsɛvən]
8Eight[eɪt]
9Nine[naɪn]
10Ten[tɛn]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Where's a/the...?[wɛrz ə/ðə]
What's the address?What's the address?[wɒts ðə əˈdrɛs]
Can you show me (on the map)?Can ye show me on t' map?[kæn ji ʃoʊ mi ɒn ðə mæp]
When's the next (bus)?When's the next bus?[wɛn's ðə nɛkst bʌs]
A ticket (to ....)A ticket to....[ə ˈtɪkɪt tə....]

History of Westmorland

Prehistoric and Roman Westmorland

Westmorland's earliest history is visible in stone circles, cairns, settlement traces and ancient routeways across the uplands. The region later lay close to the Roman frontier zone, and Roman roads connected forts and settlements across northern England. The fort at Low Borrowbridge, near the western edge of the historic county, and the Roman site at Watercrook south of Kendal illustrate the military and transport networks that linked the mountains and valleys with the wider empire. Archaeology shows that Westmorland was not an isolated upland, but a landscape crossed by people, livestock, soldiers and goods.

Anglian and Norse Settlement

After Roman administration receded, Westmorland developed within the shifting political landscape of northern England. Anglian influence was followed by Norse settlement, especially in the valleys and uplands of what later became Cumbria. Place names containing elements associated with Old Norse, such as fell, beck and thwaite, survive across the region. Farming communities adapted to the terrain, creating the dispersed settlements, enclosed fields and routeways that remain characteristic of the Eden Valley and the southern Lakeland margins.

The Medieval County and its Castles

Westmorland emerged as a county and political territory during the medieval period, divided broadly between the baronies of Kendal and Westmorland. Castles at Kendal, Appleby and Brough represented aristocratic power and helped control routes through the valleys. Appleby became the county's administrative centre, while Kendal grew as a regional market and textile town. Churches, bridges, manor houses and fortified sites from this period reflect the county's position between the Scottish borderlands, Yorkshire and the central Lake District.

Monastic Estates and Shap Abbey

Religious foundations played a substantial role in medieval Westmorland. Shap Abbey, founded for Premonstratensian canons in the twelfth century, became a major landholder and spiritual centre before its dissolution under Henry VIII in the sixteenth century. Its surviving ruins stand in a rural valley near the old north-south routes. Other churches, estate boundaries and agricultural patterns preserve the influence of medieval religious institutions, whose lands supported farming, hospitality and local administration as well as worship.

The Wool Trade and Market Towns

From the late medieval period into the early modern era, sheep farming and wool shaped Westmorland's economy. Kendal became particularly known for cloth production, with water-powered mills and merchant wealth transforming the town. Markets at Kendal, Appleby, Kirkby Stephen and other settlements connected upland farms with buyers from neighbouring counties. Packhorse routes, fairs and bridges were essential to this trade, and the resulting prosperity can still be read in town houses, former warehouses, churches and the street plans of the principal market towns.

Turnpikes, Railways and Industrial Change

Road improvements and the arrival of railways altered Westmorland's relationship with the rest of England during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Turnpike roads improved movement through difficult terrain, while railway lines brought passengers, coal, manufactured goods and agricultural produce. Kendal, Oxenholme, Windermere and Appleby became important points in changing transport networks, although some historic routes and branch lines later declined. Quarrying, brewing, milling and small-scale manufacturing supplemented pastoral agriculture, while tourism began to grow around the lakes and mountain scenery.

Tourism and the Modern Lake District

Improved transport, guidebooks, Romantic landscape writing and the expansion of leisure travel made the southern lakes increasingly popular from the nineteenth century onwards. Windermere, Ambleside and nearby valleys became associated with boating, walking and picturesque scenery, while Kendal developed as a practical gateway. The later creation of the Lake District National Park strengthened landscape conservation and visitor infrastructure, although only part of the national park lies within historic Westmorland. Today the region balances farming, heritage and outdoor tourism within the wider administrative framework of Cumbria.

Westmorland in Photos

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Evendo: Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Westmorland

Discover Westmorland with Evendo - a 100% free app-based travel guide covering attractions, landmarks, restaurants, and more. Plan your trip effortlessly with rich details and local tips.

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Explore Westmorland like never before with Evendo, the ultimate free travel guide app. From landmarks to restaurants, plan and book your perfect trip today!

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Welcome to Westmorland, a land of breathtaking landscapes, historic landmarks, and vibrant local culture. With Evendo, your ultimate travel guide, you can explore everything this magnificent region has to offer. Imagine visiting the stunning Sizergh Castle, wandering through the picturesque Kendal Castle, or getting lost in the serene beauty of the Lake District National Park. Evendo makes it easy to discover these and many more hidden gems.

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