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Last modified:
March 03, 2004
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Circular Tour Brampton - Eden Valley - Alston
Bonnie Prince Charlie stayed in Brampton in 1745 during his
failed uprising to restore him to the throne, the house in which he was handed
the surrender of Carlisle is now a shop just off the main square.
Brampton has a rail station on the Newcastle - Carlisle line
located just a few miles south of the town towards Talkin Tarn Country Park near Castle
Carrock, where
Tottergill Farm is located offering
Self Catering accommodation with a history.
The cobbled streets lead to the square in the town
where the meeting place Moot Hall is in the centre, it is an octagonal
building with a bell tower on top.
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For those interested the church
built in 1874 has a stained glass window by Sir Edward Burne-Jones and is worthy
of a close inspection.
Leaving town on the A69 Carlisle road through Little Corby to
Warwick Bridge where after crossing the bridge bare left to Wetheral which is
overshadowed by Corby Castle with its stone lions on the roof. There was a
Benedictine Priory here of which the gatehouse remains and St Cuthbert was said
to have been buried here in the 7th Century.
Continuing down the Eden valley as it winds it's way
down the west side of the Pennines to Armathwaite where the castle started as a
pele tower against the Scottish Marauders. Continuing through Kirkoswald
and Glassonby to Robberby turning left for Melmerby. Alternatively Penrith is
also a short drive west
Quiet rural accommodation is available at
Newby End Farm in Newby, just off the M6
Motorway south of Penrith, where B&B, Self Catering and small Touring Camp
Site can be found. An ideal location to explore the Pennines, Eden Valley or
the North Eastern Lakes.
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The vale of Eden continues it's way south alongside the Pennines from Carlisle to Kirby Stephen in the Yorkshire Dales
and has
a Art Sculpture Trail, which has 10 distinctive works by various local Artists,
giving an interesting route to follow.
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Alas we should take refreshments in Melmerby where there is an Art
Studio to wander through before climbing the pennines
onto Gamblesby Fell for majestic views into the Eden Valley with the Lake
District Fells in the Distance.
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The Cafe on the summit of Hartside is often open for refreshments before
descending down to Alston a town steeped in the history of lead ore mining. The
rail station has opened as a museum and head of the line for the restored
Alston Railway
Alston nestled in the Northern
Pennine hills was the centre of Lead Mining in the area and is a pleasant place
to stop, eat and view the local crafts in the shops in the cobbled streets. The
disused Victorian Rail Station has been brought back to life by the South
Tynedale Railway, who run Steam Trains down the valley. |
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The
Kilhope Riding Centre offers Stabling
and Holiday Accommodation at Low Cornriggs Farm, Cowshill.
Also in the area are the Nenthead
Mines Heritage Centre and Kilhope Lead Mining Centre at the head of the Wear
Valley, which gives a feel for the
hard life endured by the miners who worked in the hills and down the Weardale
Valley. |
Leaving Alston by returning over the bridge on which we entered and
turning sharp right at The Raise where the
Greycroft Guest House is located, a pleasant area on the Pennine
Way to be based to explore the South Tyne and Northern Pennines.
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We are now heading down the South Tyne Valley past Whitley
Castle which is located a short walk west of the road before Slaggyford on
Knarsdale Common, although well south of Hadrian's wall it was built by the
Romans to police the hills within their domain.
 Lambley
Viaduct
Through Slaggyford to Knarsdale the road follows the river
and restored railway to a turn off for Coanwood where there is a Car Park and
footpath to the Lambley Viaduct a majestic sight worth visiting. The hardy can
picnic and swim in the South Tyne under the bridge.
Returning to the road towards Greenhead we pass Blenkinsopp
Castle before turning west on the main A69 Highway between Newcastle and
Carlisle. after less than a mile we turn off into Greenhead where there is a
Youth hostel and refreshments available.
Greenhead is on Hadrian's Wall with the remains of a roman
Camp their, at this point you may wish to take a detour east and follow the wall
to Chollerford. This being the main stretch were the remains have been excavated
and access provided, an area covered in detail on another page.
Click Here
Taking the back road out of Greenhead to
Gilsland, also on the Roman Wall where Sir Walter Scott proposed to Charlotte
Carpenter by a rock known locally as the Popping Stone. (Popping the Question)
Nearby the remains of Gamboglanna Fort
at Birdoswald is the largest preserved stretch of wall open to view, covering
five acres it was built to house between 500 - 1,000 cavalry and infantry
troops, making it the largest garrison at this end of the wall.
Turning off the main road to follow the
wall to Banks where the East Turret remains are found, a two storey observation
post of which there were two between each mile castle located every 1,620 yards
along the wall.
Getting nearer to Brampton we pass
Lanercost Priory located by the river Irthing it was founded in 1166, some 700 years after the Romans left
leaving an ample source of ready to build rocks.
It was a home to King Edward I due to
a sudden illness while traveling past, as we hope you will soon, it was also
raided by the Scottish leader William Wallace. Today it is maintained by
English
Heritage, you don't have to visit many Heritage sites to recover your yearly
membership fee.
Photos and Maps are to follow
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