10 of the best villages in Cumbria that you should visit

Cumbria is blessed with dozens of beautiful villages that offer exceptional quality of life, history and culture, sporting facilities and visitor attractions, award-winning places to eat and unique shopping opportunities. Here is our pick...

Askham ASKHAM

A Michelin-star restaurant, an open air, public swimming pool and a skeleton castle, Askham is another of Cumbria’s extraordinary villages that offers outstanding quality of life. Beautiful 18th century properties lie along the edges of its long village greens, which drop down towards the River Lowther, there is a vibrant shop Askham Stores and two pubs, the Punchbowl Inn and Queen’s Head.

Askham Hall is a hotel and wedding venue and home to Allium, which has held a Michelin star since 2019. Home reared fresh meat is available from Lakeland Valley Wagyu nearby.

The Health Barn offers a range of complementary therapies by professional practitioners and there are riverside and field paths around the village.

St Peter’s Church was designed by Sir Robert Smirke while working on the design for Lowther Castle up the hill from the village.

Beetham [Charlie Wearden/Cumbria Tourism] BEETHAM

Beetham lies on the A6 just inside the Cumbria-Lancashire border but to drive past is to miss its charms. The pretty village is small and centred around St Michael's Church and a pub, The Wheatsheaf, but it also has some unique features. The village boasts The Heron Theatre with a vibrant programme of shows, screenings events; the Heron Corn Mill, a grade II* working 18th-century water mill on the River Bela; and one of the county’s most highly regarded garden and plant centres, Beetham Nurseries. Just outside the village are the Fairy Steps, a natural staircase in a limestone crag – legend has it that anyone who climbs or descends the steps without touching the limestone sides of the narrow gully will have their wish granted by fairies. Beetham lies within the Arnside and Silverdale National Landscape, close to coast and within pretty countryside.

Caldbeck Image: Jenny Woolgar Photography CALDBECK

Caldbeck is often referred to as one of Cumbria’s hidden gems. Tucked away among the northern fells, it is slightly off the beaten track for Lake District visitors which means it never gets terribly busy, but it does have plenty to offer those who seek it out. The village is on cycle routes and there are lots of walks in the area from gentle riverside strolls and The Howk to fells including Skiddaw and Blencathra which can be reached from the north along quieter footpaths than the usual approaches.

The 12th century St Kentigern's Church is the resting place of the famous local huntsman John Peel immortalised in the song Do ye ken John Peel?. Nearby Priest’s Mill has a café, gift shop, interior designer Sharon Lomas and The Wool Clip, which is packed with the artisan work of local makers. There is plenty of accommodation from hotels to holiday cottages, a popular pub The Oddfellows Arms, The Muddy Duck and Midtown Milkhouse for takeaway.

Just down the road is Hesket Newmarket, another attractive village known for the traditional Old Crown pub – a finalist in this year’s Cumbria Life awards – and brewery.

Cartmel [Charlie Wearden/Cumbria Tourism] CARTMEL

Simon Rogan is to Cartmel what Rick Stein is to Padstow with three restaurants (L’Enclume, Aulis and Rogan & Co), holiday accommodation and, on the edge of the village, Our Farm that provides the group with fresh, seasonal produce grown using biointensive, biodiverse and organic principles. However, there is more to Cartmel, not least its 800-year-old priory. The monks of Lindisfarne, in Northumberland, first took ownership of the land on which it stands in around AD 680 and it was not until 500 years later that William Marshal founded the priory.

Monks on mules probably started the racing tradition at Cartmel in the 12th century, a forerunner to its unique horseracing meets today, which began in 1856. Originally a flat race, the move to jumps happened in the late 1900s, reflecting the hunting and farming roots of the local community.

Holker Estate, home of the Cavendish family, has always owned the racecourse. Lord Cavendish bought the business in 1998 and has continued to develop the facilities, including a new grandstand, and hospitality venue in 2004.

Crosthwaite CROSTHWAITE

Crosthwaite is in the Lyth Valley, between Kendal and Bowness-on-Windermere, and is famous for damsons that grow throughout the valley and are celebrated at a regular festival. People travel to eat at the multi award-winning Punch Bowl Inn, but it is largely a residential village with a strong community centred around the primary school, Argles Memorial Hall, St Mary’s Church and community sports, which include a tennis club that hires out its newly resurfaced, all-weather court, a bowling club, football pitch and children’s play area.

The Crosthwaite Exchange was set up in February 2007 as a place for local people to buy and sell local produce, home baked goods, books and to meet up with other villagers. Run by volunteers, the exchange runs lunches and afternoon tea events throughout the year and twice monthly meetings for tea, coffee and cake.

A community support group, regular newsletter, outreach post office service and even an annual pantomime add to the village experience.

Walks around the village include Lord’s Lot and there are many more popular places to eat nearby including The Black Labrador at Underbarrow, the Hare & Hounds at Bowland Bridge and the Brown Horse, at Winster.

Grasmere GRASMERE

Grasmere village is many visitors’ favourite Lakeland location at what many consider to be the heart of the Lake District. Nestled beneath Helm Crag – the Lion and the Lamb – the area is criss-crossed by popular walks, including Easedale Tarn, Loughrigg Fell, Silver Howe, Alcock Tarn, the coffin route to Rydal and the path around Grasmere itself.

The village is famously associated with William Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy, who lived at Dove Cottage and whose stories are told at Wordsworth Grasmere. St Oswald’s Churchyard in the village is the siblings’ and other family members’ final resting place.

Allan Bank on the edge of the village is the former home of National Trust co-founder Canon Hardwicke Rawnsley and is the home of a population of red squirrels.

The home of Sarah Nelson’s Grasmere Gingerbread, Heaton Cooper Gallery, Sam Read’s bookshop, Grasmere Distillery and Forest Side luxury hotel, it is one of the most visited villages in Cumbria.

Great Salkeld GREAT SALKELD

It is about quality of life at Great Salkeld where the residents live in attractive and quiet surroundings; smart periods homes with cottage gardens of hollyhocks and foxgloves.

The Highland Drove and St Cuthbert’s Church are at the centre of the village, along with the children’s play area, football pitch, village hall and book swap in the old telephone box. From this idyllic scene, visitors have quick access to Penrith and the A66 and M6, while a short trip along the road to Lazonby train station puts cities like Carlisle and Leeds within easy reach. The village is also close to Long Meg and her Daughters and Lacy’s Caves attractions, and Rowley’s Raspberries, at Glassonby.

Hawkshead [Sheenah Alcock] HAWKSHEAD

For many Hawkshead is the Lake District in miniature and has everything that characterises quintessential Lakeland: close to a lake and surrounded by fells and rolling green fields; quaint, narrow streets, yards, ginnels and squares with ancient slate and whitewashed buildings; and connections to both Beatrix Potter and William Wordsworth. It is home to Hawkshead Relish and now has only the second Grasmere Gingerbread shop in the business’ 170-year history.

Originally owned by the monks of Furness Abbey, Hawkshead was a busy centre for wool in Medieval times, developing into a thriving market town and later drew visitors who come for its attractions that also include the 15th century St Michael's Church and museum at the former grammar school attended by Wordsworth.

Melmerby MELMERBY

Melmerby is perhaps best known for its Old Bakery, which is now a café, gift and interiors shop, and surely Cumbria’s biggest village green, complete with stream, picnic tables and football pitch.

It is the first village travellers arrive into after dropping down 1,903ft Hartside summit and isn’t far from Cross Fell, the highest peak in the north Pennines.

The village is also home to The Toy Works, which has been making toy farms, castles, doll’s houses and commissions, together with a rocking horse and doll’s house restoration service, since 1985.

St John’s Church dates from the 13th century, a village hall that hosts events including a bimonthly coffee morning, a bus stop book swap and the Shepherd’s Inn, which serves local beer from Tirrel Brewery among others.

Like Great Salkeld, it’s possible to catch trains at the neighbouring village, in this case Langwathby.

Ravenglass RAVENGLASS

Where the Lake District meets the sea and history meets modern tourism, Ravenglass was recognised as far back as Roman times for the importance of its natural harbour at the estuary of three rivers, the Esk, the Irt and the Mite. The empire’s most southerly outpost in Cumbria, the Roman fort of Glannoventa was built to guard this harbour and there is evidence that soldiers stationed there served in Emperor Hadrian’s fleet. The remains of the fort’s bath house, established around AD 130, are among the tallest surviving Roman structures in northern Britain with walls at almost four metres high.

Much later came the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway in 1875 to transport iron ore from workings near Boot to the coast. Steam trains still run on the narrow-gauge line.

On Fridays until September 6, one child can travel for free with a full-fare paying adult on full-line return journeys and train fans can stay overnight in a heritage Pullman camping coach or the former railway station manager's cottage overlooking the railway line. There is also the Ravenglass Railway Museum and ice cream from Ravenglass Handmade.

This is just a selection of Cumbria’s best villages and we know there are many more. If you have a favourite, let the Editor know at sarah.french@cumbrialife.co.uk