Explore an interactive experience that explains the Norman occupation intertwined with the history of Appleby Castle. Visitors, families, and schools can explore The Norman Centre’s four floors and follow an interactive family trail while enjoying an immersive audio experience. The museum informs visitors about the Keep’s Norman heritage and the Castle’s history dating back to Roman times. The museum features timelines, historical display boards, manikins, and artifacts, including limited-edition reproductions of the Domesday Books.

See the alleged ruins of Uther Pendragon’s legendary castle. The historic town of Kirkby Stephen is home to myth and legend: It is said that Uther Pendragon, King Arthur’s father, was poisoned in the nearby Pendragon Castle—its ruins can be visited to this day.

Explore the area by bicycle. The local town of Alston is the perfect base for any walking and cycling holiday. The C2C, Walney to Wear, and Pennine cycle routes are all accessible. The only challenge is deciding which is the most scenic. Visitors can also walk to the nearby Whitley Castle, which boasts a fascinating Roman Fort.

Admire “Long Meg and her daughters” stone circle. One of the finest stone circles in the north of England, the circle has a diameter of about 350 feet, the second biggest in the country. Long Meg is the tallest of the 69 stones, about 12 feet high. The stones probably date from about 1500 BC, and they were likely to have been used as a meeting place or for some form of religious ritual. Legend has it that the stones are petrified people who, if counted correctly, will be released from the spell that holds them.