Some visit to take part in adventure sports, others to relax in some of the finest rural scenery in England or ride the Carlisle to Settle railway. 
Find out about this rugged paradise, where there is space to play and room to breathe …

WHATEVER their reason for coming to the Eden Valley, visitors soon realise they have arrived in the middle of something special – and that’s not just because England’s Lake District is a few minutes west, with the glorious Yorkshire Dales a few minutes east.

No, the Upper Eden is a place of breathtaking beauty in its own right. The terrain is rolling hills and tumbling valleys,  the horizon is filled with magnificent fells and mountains,  and all around are the trappings of an England many visitors are surprised still exists.

Kirkby Stephen, one of Eden’s most important towns, sits in the middle of some very old country indeed.

This is a rugged paradise, not so far from Scottish border country to have been spared violent raids from the north in ancient days.

These days the atmosphere is utterly peaceful, the air is clean.  In high summer as the crowds flock into nearby Lakeland,  here there is a calming feeling of remoteness. No wonder Eden is so special to nature lovers.

They relish the low level river valley routes, the fabulous views and lovely sandstone villages.  The wildlife of Eden – still a sanctuary for the red squirrel – and its abundant flora make a walker’s visit even more rewarding.  

For serious ramblers, Kirkby Stephen is the midway point on Wainwright's Coast to Coast walk. It is linked to the  Pennine Bridleway and the Cumbria Cycle Way.

AND it’s all so easy to get to. A few minutes after leaving the motorway you can wind down a back country lane to your cottage, guest house, hotel or campsite feeling a healthy distance away from the hustle and bustle.

The Eden Valley can be reached via the M6 in the west or by using the A66 from Scotch Corner and the A1 in the east. Kirkby Stephen is roughly central in the narrow neck of northern England, just east of the northern Pennines, with the Howgils to the south.

By rail, Kirkby Stephen is served by England’s most picturesque line, the Carlisle to Settle railway. It runs along the Eden Valley and trains stop throughout the area.