Cumbrian Coastal Route 200 - Add on 2 - Alston and The North Pennines AONB

Drive Waypoints

1. 1 At the M6 Junction 40 head towards Penrith and pick up the A66
2. 2 Its well worth a little detour along here to visit Brougham Castle or Acorn Bank Garden
3. 3 You should be able to see signs for the castle from the A66
4. 4 Picturesque Brougham Castle is just off the A66 and was begun in the early 13thC by Robert de Vieuxpont, near the site of a Roman fort guarding the crossing of the River Eamont. His great keep largely survives, reinforced by an impressive double gatehouse and other 14thC additions made by the powerful Clifford family, Wardens of the Marches. Today, the site features an introductory exhibition, including carved stones from the nearby Roman fort.
5. 5 Acorn Bank is just a little further up the A66 and off the B6412. This National Trust garden has an outstanding walled herb garden of 250 species of culinary and medicinal herbs – the largest collection in the North of England. Explore the traditional orchards with shrubs, herbaceous plants and roses or visit the working watermill. You could drop in for a coffee or fill the whole day here, but please notes there is limited parking for larger vehicles and the site is only open March to October.
6. 6 Head back along the A66 towards Penrith where you can pick up the A686 from the roundabout.
7. 7 Follow the A686 to the Nearby village of Lazonby.
8. 8 With its outlying campsites Lazonby is a great place to spend a night or so when exploring the area. The C2C cycle route runs nearby and the nearby Langwathby connects you to the scenic Settle to Carlisle Railway, allowing you to explore further by rail.
9. 9 From here you can discover Langwathby (a stop on the scenic Settle to Carlisle Railway) and Little Salkeld with its working flourmill and famous stone circle. Long Meg and her daughters is One of the finest stone circles in the north of England, the circle has a diameter of about 350 feet, the second biggest in the country. Long Meg is the tallest of the 69 stones, about 12 feet high. The stones probably date from about 1500 BC. Legend has it that the stones are petrified witches who, if counted correctly, will be released from the spell that holds them.
10. 10 From here head to Alston via Melmerby. The village is at the western end of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is mainly known for its Bakery, renowned for its wonderful artisan organic breads and cakes baked in wood-fired ovens. Beware of the narrow bridge over the river Eden, passable with care.
11. 11 You can then head over Hartside Pass on the A686 to Alston. This stretch of road has been voted one of the 10 best drives in Britain by the AA. At nearly 2,000 feet above sea level, Hartside Top is known as the roof of Britain and the views are panoramic.
12. 12 From here head on to the dark skies’ friendly town of Alston
13. 13 Pretty Alston’s claim to fame is that, at 1000 feet above sea level, it is England’s highest market town. Yet, its steeply cobbled streets, hidden courtyards and quirky shops are well worth exploring. Its location makes it a great place for stargazing. With a number of campsites nearby you can pitch up and enjoy uninterrupted views of the night sky. The best time for dark skies are October to March. Given the sensitive nature of the landscape we recommend exploring under your own steam, be that by train, bike or on foot. The AONB website has a wealth of walking routes in the area. South Tynedale Railway has a restored Victorian station building in Alston. The trains are hauled by preserved steam and diesel engines and take passengers through the wonderful scenery of the South Tyne Valley. The return journey to Kirkhaugh takes about one hour. Surrounding the town is Alston Moor, part of the AONB or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This diverse area is now known for its rare alpine flora and moorland birds, but 250 years ago it was one of the richest mining areas in Britain. Reminders of this industry are everywhere, especially in the lead-mining villages of Nenthead and Garrigill. When you have finished exploring re-trace your route back to the M6 and head home.