For History Fans

For history fans, go all the way up to Carlisle and visit Carlisle Castle, once home to Mary Queen of Scots, with its medieval dungeons, passageways and chambers.  Have dinner at the Hallmark Hotel adjacent to the Carlisle Citadel Railway Station. Or stop off at Skipton to explore the imposing medieval castle and the museum; take a boat trip on the Leeds-Liverpool Canal to see the breathtaking views of the Dales.  At Appleby, see the 17^th century Hospital of St. Anne almshouses in Boroughgate on the way up to the castle or the 12th Century St. Lawrence's Church.  In Lancaster, discover lore and legends at Lancaster Castle, or uncover a wealth of history at the Judges' Lodgings, Maritime or City Museums.

For movie fans - Made famous by the 1946 David Lean film ‘Brief Encounter’, the Visitors Centre at Carnforth (closed on Mondays) has a refreshment room, fascinating exhibitions, a gift shop and specialist outlets here. Admission is free.   Stroll through the compact but welcoming town centre which offers high street shops and cafés, plus a well-established bookshop offering new, classic, second hand and rare books.