Let's Go Culture in Westmorland & Furness - North Pennines, Alston and Nenthead 1 Day Itinerary

Get off the beaten track and enjoy some delightful cultural and heritage attractions in this beautiful corner of Cumbria, high up in the North Pennines.

Alston, The North Pennines

The North Pennines National Landscape

Vast open heather moors, wonderful woodlands and tumbling waterfalls await in stunning North Pennines National Landscape. Enjoy a warm welcome in remote, rural communities as you discover the region’s unique industrial heritage and natural environment, together awarding it UNESCO Global Geopark status.

The beautiful road to Alston, via Hartside

Begin your journey with a scenic drive to the pretty village of Alston. On your way you will climb the mountain road to Hartside. Make sure you take a break at the summit viewpoint to enjoy the wonderful views over the Eden Valley, the Lake District hills and the Scottish Borders.

The view from Hartside

Alston

Standing at around 1,000 feet above sea level, Alston shares the title of England’s highest market town. Enjoy a peaceful couple of hours exploring its steeply cobbled streets, hidden courtyards and quaint shops full of local crafts. In the surrounding landscape, you’ll find remnants of the regions mining past but also plenty of great views and distinctive bird and plant life to enjoy.

Explore the pretty town of Alston

Then, take a ride on the heritage railway – South Tynedale Railway. From the station in Alston, you will journey 5 miles north, through picturesque countryside, to the village of Slaggyford. Enjoy a bite to eat at either end of the line, with the Crossing Cafe at Alston and the Little Buffet Car at Slaggyford. For return journeys, purchase a Rover ticket – this will allow you to travel all day if you wish.

Opened in stages from 1851 to 1852, the original railway was designed to transport minerals from the North Pennines and connect the remote communities of the area. After the line was closed in 1976, a voluntary society eventually opened the first stage of a narrow-gauge railway in 1983, with the aim of restoring and preserving the former Haltwhistle to Alston branch railway.

Today, trains run at weekends and on Bank Holidays from April to the end of October, plus some weekdays.

South Tynedale Railway, Alston

Nenthead

In the heart of Nenthead, housed in a beautifully restored Wesleyan Chapel, you will find The Hive. Run by volunteers, this vibrant community centre offers tasty food in a pop-up café (check website for dates) along with an great programme of events, such as music gigs and heritage talks. Soak up the atmosphere and the stunning restoration with its magnificent organ and period features.

Also, in Nenthead, head underground on a mine tour. Across this remote valley, you will see remains from the lead and zinc mining industry of the North Pennines, including mine entrances, watercourses, dressing-floors and buildings.

On mine open days at Nenthead, 90-minute tours will take you down the Carrs Mine, and introduce you to traditional mining techniques, geology and the industrial history of the area. Lamps and helmets are provided, so get ready for a fascinating step back in time to learn how people used to work here.

Nenthead Mines

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This project is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and supported by Westmorland and Furness Council.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus