Egremont

About

Tucked between the St Bees Heritage Coast and the western edge of the Lake District National Park, the market town of Egremont is packed full of treasures, including the 12th castle, stunning walking and cycling trails beside the river Ehen, and of course the world famous ‘Crab Fair’.

Rich in heritage, Egremont stands in the ancient region of Cumberland. The dramatic castle ruins which stand at the southern end of Main Street, are the remains of a structure built in around 1130 on the site of an old Danish fort.

In 1266, Henry III granted Egremont a charter to hold a market and annual fair. The annual Crab Fair is still held every September, making it one of the oldest fairs in the world.

The main street comes alive with the traditional ‘Apple Cart Parade’ (crab apples being the origin of the fair’s name), free street concerts, and several sporting events including traditional Cumberland wrestling, which originates from Viking and Irish settlers.

Visitors can try delicious local produce in the food hall, watch equestrian events and enjoy thrilling kids fair rides – and the world-famous ‘World Gurning Championship’ – a face pulling contest -  is always a laugh!

Arts and culture enthusiasts will love a visit to the Florence Arts Centre, a fantastic hub for the arts, with regular events and a gallery featuring a changing programme of exhibitions from local artists.

Discover the studio where the Florence Paint-makers handcraft oil, watercolour, and pastel paints in ‘Egremont Red,’ using iron ore pigment from the local mine. Pick up your artist materials in the shop or browse other beautiful creations such as ceramics, pure wool accessories, jewellery, prints and more. There is also a café, regular workshops and a wildlife garden. The centre is open from 11am –until 4pm, Wednesday to Sunday.

Find out more about Egremont