Penrith can be explored through very different layers of history: medieval castle and defensive history, Georgian church architecture, and archaeological finds sit alongside opportunities to explore the town centre on foot or take cycling tours starting from Penrith. For planning, it is helpful to distinguish between these options: “Explore Penrith” is a self-guided walk around the town centre, while five designated cycling tours offer day routes with specific distances. The farmers’ market also follows a set seasonal schedule.
Castle and Church: Different Building Phases
Penrith Castle comprises the sandstone ruins of a 15th-century castle and a 14th-century pele tower built by Bishop Strickland. A later phase is marked by the year 1471: Richard, Duke of Gloucester, the future Richard III, expanded Penrith Castle into a royal castle at that time. The tower and castle thus tell the story of different periods in the town’s history.
St. Andrew’s Church also brings together several eras. The tower is all that remains of the original 13th-century church. It was built to defend the townspeople against Scottish attackers. The Georgian church building was constructed in 1720 and 1722. Looking at the building’s history, visitors can distinguish the medieval defensive tower from the later Georgian architecture.
Museum Collection and Penrith Beacon
The “Ages of Eden” exhibition at Penrith and Eden Museum includes natural history and archaeological finds. These include the fossilised footprint of an early reptile that lived before the age of the dinosaurs. It was found at Bowscar Quarry near Penrith. The exhibition also displays rough and polished stone axes from the Lake District, as well as arrowheads from the Neolithic and early Bronze Age. A very early fossil find and later human tools thus offer different ways of exploring the past. Exhibition content may be updated; if particular objects are important to your visit, check in advance what is currently on display.
Penrith Beacon crowns the summit of Beacon Hill, a fell rising to the northeast behind Penrith. The beacon was built in 1719, replacing an earlier structure on the same site. Beacon Hill refers to the landscape, while Penrith Beacon is the landmark built on its summit.
Town Walk or Cycling Tour
“Explore Penrith” offers a self-guided walk around the town centre. The C2C cycling route, also known as Sea to Sea, also passes through Penrith. In addition, Visit Eden has created five circular day tours from Penrith, each accompanied by OS maps. They range from 15 to 31 miles in length. Penrith was designated Cumbria’s first Cycling Hub; for choosing among the five day tours, their route lengths and maps provide the specific planning information.
The options therefore differ in mode of travel and route scale: the self-guided walk covers the town centre, the C2C route passes through Penrith, and the five day tours have stated distances of between 15 and 31 miles. Cycling route maps and availability may be updated. Check the latest information if you are planning one of these tours.
Farmers’ Market and Planning Your Visit
From March to December, a farmers’ market offering fresh local produce takes place in Penrith on the third Tuesday of each month. You can therefore plan a visit to the market around the season and day of the week. If it is important to your trip, check the relevant date in advance. Alongside the historic sites and varied tours, this gives you another opportunity to include a fixed event in your plans.
Discover more destinations: Whitehaven, Bampton, Dockray, Bewcastle, Kirkby Lonsdale, Glenridding, Whitbeck, Milnthorpe
For the broader travel overview: Cumbria.
