Things to Do-Scar Side Farm Cottage

Orton is in the centre of a little-known, but very beautiful part of Cumbria bordering the Yorkshire Dales National Park. This is good, wild, walking territory with access to some interesting villages and towns

Orton Farmers’ Market www.ortonfarmers.co.uk This very popular market offers high quality produce, much of it local. It takes place on the second Saturday of each month, from 9.30am – 2pm. Stallholders include:-

Bessy Beck’s Trout for trout and trout products www.bessybecktrout.co.uk
The Pudding Room for traditional puddings www.thepuddingroom.net
Deer ‘n’ Dexter for venison and rare breed beef www.deer-n-dexter.co.uk
Cream of Cumbria for butter, buttermilk and duck eggs www.creamofcumbria.co.uk
Country Fare cakes and biscuits www.countryfare.co.uk
Leagram Organic sheep and buffalo cheeses www.cheese-experience.com
Bluebell Organic veg www.bluebellorganics.co.uk

All Saints’ Church, Orton A large parish church with a lime-washed sixteenth-century tower. New windows were added in the nineteenth century, including a beautiful angel window designed by Beatrice Whistler, the wife of the painter James McNeill Whistler.

Kennedy’s Chocolates, Orton www.kennedyschocolates.co.uk Probably the best chocolate money can buy. Seriously posh stuff – they supply various prestigious hotels – but a visit to Orton would be incomplete without chocolate. Their chocolates are made on site and sold at their little shop here. They also have a coffee shop which sells light refreshments and, of course, Kennedy’s hot chocolate. After your visit, you can keep up your habit by mail order.

Coast to Coast Walk http://www.wainwright.org.uk/coast_to_coast/index.html Wainwright’s walk, recently re-trod for television by Julia Bradbury, passes through Orton on its way to the Lake District and St. Bees Head. Take a stroll along part of this picturesque route.

Castle Folds a remnant of the Border raids, Castle Folds is the remains of a large cattle enclosure and shelter just outside Orton. Gamelands Stone Circle Three miles east of Orton and about a mile from our very own Scar Side Farm Cottage,Gamelands is one of the largest stone circles in Cumbria. It has 35 stones remaining, all but one of which are made from local pink Shap granite. The site is spectacular, on a high limestone plateau under Knott Scar by the River Lune. Orton Scar Excellent, if surreal, walking territory. Orton and neighbouring Great Asby Scar are high limestone plateaux, with ferns and wildflowers growing in the cracks of this lunar-like landscape. Hollin Stump, Great Asby Scar Is the remains of a large, Bronze Age burial cairn, reaching 4 metres high in places.

The surrounding views are striking. The Howgills More good walking territory in these gently rolling hills, some of which is in the Yorkshire Dales National Park (despite being in Cumbria). The hills are roughly bordered by Sedbergh, Kirkby Stephen and Tebay, and have fine views of both the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales.
Mallerstang Edge Is a ridge of land all above 2,000 feet, described by David Bellamy as, ‘England’s last wilderness’. This bare land has fabulous views and many ancient cairns and burial mounds

Kendal This historic town is 18 miles and a half-hour’s drive from Orton. It has many facilities including national shops and supermarkets, and an array of specialist retailers and attractions, including: - Kendal Castle – a 12th century ruin of the ancient home of the Parr family, with superb views across the town. Castle Hill has great picnic areas and a marked walk through woodland.

Holy Trinity Church – Cumbria’s largest parish church can hold 1200 people. 13th century foundation, with 18th century restoration.

Abbot Hall Art Gallery www.abbothall.co.uk – This grade 1 listed Georgian house has an important collection of British art. It also has a gift shop and tea room.

Museum of Lakeland Life www.lakelandmuseum.org.uk – housed in the former stable block of Abbot Hall, this museum includes typical street scenes with old Kendal shop frontages and costumes.

Brewery Arts Centre www.breweryarts.co.uk on Highgate – an arts complex with a theatre, cinema, music, lectures, exhibitions and workshops. Sandes Hospital – almshouses, still functioning as charitable housing for the elderly, built in 1659.

The Fleece Inn – Kendal’s oldest surviving inn was built in 1654, with timber framing and a jetted first floor.

Castle Dairy – Kendal’s oldest inhabited building has been here since the 14th century. Its southwest wing has a floor which is rumoured to be part of an old Roman road. Collin Croft, halfway up Beast Banks – a good example of vernacular architecture. Kendal once had 150 small enclosed areas, known as ‘yards’. This one is 18th century, and was once home to a brass foundry, tobacconists’, iron foundry, joiners, coal merchants and an armourer, amongst others.

Farrer’s Coffee House www.farrerscoffee.co.uk – formerly an inn, Farrer’s have been selling tea and coffee here since 1819. They also have a café – well, two, really – one down the rickety stairs, and another up some equally rickety stairs. This is a building of great character, many unlikely angles and great coffee.

Holmescales Riding Centre, Old Hutton Kendal www.holmescalesridingcentre.co.uk - does what it says on the tin.

Lammerside Castle Just to the south of Kirkby Stephen. The ruins, some up to two storeys, of a 12th century defensive tower.

Mallerstang. The castle now consists of 12th century ruins in a circular enclosure. The magic, of course, is in the name – Cumbrians have long claimed Arthurian connections, and this site is supposedly the location of the home of Arthur’s father, Uther Pendragon. It is possible that the castle(s) are on the site of a Roman fort.

Kirkby Stephen A large village currently holding the title of ‘Calor Gas Village of the Year 2009’ in the Upper Eden valley. It has local facilities and some traditional character, with 18th and 19th century buildings

Frank’s Bridge, on the old coffin route from the surrounding countryside, claims to have a ghost, known as ‘Jangling Annas’. Annas was supposedly a prisoner at nearby Hartley Castle who escaped, only to drown in the river. She has been jangling her chains ever since.

Brough Castle Seen by many travellers from the A66, Brough Castle dates back to the 12th century. Owned by English Heritage, it is an attractive riverside site and a great place for a picnic

Appleby-in-Westmorland Is an attractive town ten miles from Orton, and the old county town of Westmorland. It has local facilities – shops, pubs and cafes. Appleby Horse Fair is held each June. It is a traditional gypsy gathering, known locally for raucous fun. Horses are bought, sold and raced in the streets. Appleby Castle – sadly, access to the castle is now rare under its new ownership, but it can be seen from the iron gates at the top of Boroughgate. The castle is Norman, with a fine 17th century house alongside. St. Lawrence’s Church – has areas built in all eras from the 12th century on. It is well-known for the marble bust of Lady Anne Clifford, a benefactress from the 17th century. There is also a fine marble effigy of her mother and a grand 17th century organ. Hospital of St. Anne – almshouses, founded in 1651, still performing their original function. They were built and bequeathed to the town by Lady Anne Clifford.

Sedbergh An Upper Eden town which is both in Cumbria and the Yorkshire Dales National Park. It is now marketed as a ‘book town’. It has several specialist book traders offering antiquarian, transport, textile, art & craft and children’s books. www.sedbergh.org.uk/booktown St. Andrew’s Church – built c. 1130. During restoration, pews, stalls and the pulpit were supplied from Waring & Gillow of Lancaster.

Farfield Mill www.farfieldmill.org – is a mile outside Sedbergh. It houses about twenty craftspeople, with craft sales, exhibitions and workshops

Sedbergh Angling Association www.sedberghanglers.co.uk – have long stretches of nearby river, stocked with trout and salmon. Permits are available at the Three Peaks shop in the town.

Settle & Carlisle Railway www.settle-carlisle.co.uk The famous scenic line runs 72 miles through theYorkshire Dales, Dentdale and the Eden valley. There are daily passenger services stopping at Kirkby Stephen and Appleby. Occasionally, there are tickets available on chartered steam trains.

Penrith Is a market town 21 miles from Orton. It is the ancient capital of the Eden Valley, and commercial centre for the local population. It has a selection of standard national shops, some independent specialists and a weekly market. J&J Graham www.jjgraham.co.uk is a specialist grocer which stocks a range of delicious local cheeses. The Toffee Shop www.thetoffeeshop.co.uk makes old-fashioned fudge and toffee. Allegedly a favourite of HM the Queen! Penrith Castle likes to think of itself as the ‘Castle of Kings’; it was built in 1399 for Richard, Duke of Gloucester, later King Richard III. It sits, ruined, in a dry moat in a pretty park, opposite Penrith Railway Station. St. Andrew’s Church in Penrith is architecturally significant, much of it having been designed in 1720 by Nicholas Hawksmoor, a pupil of Christopher Wren. The church tower is much older, possibly from the earlier 13thc church. The ‘Giant’s Grave’ is in the churchyard of St. Andrew’s Church. The grave seems actually to be a composite of some Viking hogback tombstones and two 11ft Norse crosses, and historians do not actually know who is buried there, but there is a tantalising hint in a nearby monument. A tenth-century Norse cross is dedicated to Owen Caesarius, king of Cumbria from 920-937

Brougham Castle Brougham Castle – not to be confused with Brougham Hall – is an English Heritage ruin just south of Penrith. The castle is of 12th century origin, next to the site of a Roman fort. There is a shop and an exhibition of Roman tombstones. Another great place to picnic. Brougham Hall www.broughamhall.co.uk This largely ruined hall, near Penrith, now houses a number of local businesses and crafts people. It has a café, chocolate shop, glass studio and a brewery. Following a visit by the ‘Most Haunted’ programme, they periodically offer ghost tours.

Slightly further afield… Windermere This Lake District hot spot is a 40-minute drive from Orton. It is a popular boating centre, and has a good range of eating and shopping facilities at nearby Bowness-on-Windermere.

Ullswater Pooley Bridge, another favourite Lake District spot, is 40 minutes from Orton. Ullswater Steamers www.ullswater-steamers.co.uk – offer popular lake cruises and themed events.