Kendal

Situated at the main southern gateway to the Lake District , Kendal is a bustling Cumbrian market town with a workmanlike charm.

Known locally as the ‘Auld Grey Town’ much of Kendal is made up of grey limestone buildings and slate roofs that are ubiquitous in Cumbria. Kendal is the thriving administrative centre for the Lake District and a busy market town, perhaps most famed for its sugary climber’s treat Kendal Mint Cake that sustained Sir Edmund Hilary and Sherpa Tensing on their long ascent to Everest.

Kendal is a charming town, a mix of broad streets and intricate networks of alleyways and narrow courtyards with many interesting features. The castle ruins in the town, were once owned by the family of Katherine Parr, the last wife of Henry VIII . Kendal also has the splendid Museum of Lakeland Life, illustrating local industries such as copper and slate mining and ‘bobbin-making’ as well as an exhibition of local writer Arthur Ransome. The Abbot Hall, a Palladian mansion in the centre of town is lauded as one of the finest small art galleries in Britain with a collection of watercolours and portraits from local artists alongside works from Turner

and Constable. Kendal’s Museum is another fascinating feature with an interesting exhibit of Kendal man Alfred Wainwright’s illustrated and hand written guides to the Lakeland Fells.

Weekly markets are held on Branthwaite Brow, which are well worth a visit, a place where you can pick up anything from tourist trinkets to essential items and locally produced food.

Close to Kendal is Sizeburgh Castle a romantic 14th Century castle set among gardens and ancient woodlands, owned by the Strickland family for over 760 years, who still live there today.