Pictures of Abbey Town

in the county of Cumbria

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About Abbey Town

When the sun starts to slip and shadows lengthen, the beauty of the red sandstone building of St.Mary's Church becomes bathed in a golden glow. This splendid building is all that remains of a once great Abbey built by monks, centuries ago. Holme Cultram Abbey was founded as a Cistercian Monastery in the year 1150. The monks grew grain, traded in salt from the estuary's along the Solway Firth and raised sheep and cattle. At the time of the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 16th-century, the Abbey was ripped apart, stones were stolen to build houses, its treasures plundered. Fortunately, its beautiful church remained and in spite of restoration and alteration work carried out over centuries, the church is as inspiring to the congregations of today as it must have been to the holy men who built it.

In the church there are 12th-century Oak beams, an 18th-century Bellcot with a bell from the 15th-century. A Norman doorway exists with an early 16th-century porch and because of alterations in the 18th-century the aisled nave which once had nine bays, is reduced to six. Treasures of the church include two 17th-century chests, a medieval font and the tomb of Robert Bruce's father. Interestingly, this is England's only remaining Cistercian abbey with a nave still used as a house of God.

Abbey Town lies on the River Waver, it is typical of the town's and villages lying amongst vast agricultural lands watered by the Waver as it snakes its way towards Moricambe Bay and the open waters of the Solway Firth. The people here are warm and friendly, proud to talk of the old abbey and their historic links with the sea. It is a pleasant village to wander around, there is a graceful three arched bridge built in 1770 and a fine collection of attractive cottages, some overlook the river where lovely river-side walks reveal a wealth of wildlife.

At nearby Silloth you will find the newly opened Solway Coast Discovery Centre where you can discover 10,000 years of Solway history.

A visit to this part of Cumbria will reap rich rewards. There are spectacular views of the distant Galloway Hills with a dramatic backdrop of Lakeland fells adding to the enchantment. Given that this is an area of outstanding natural beauty it is not surprising to find that in recent years Abbey Town and neighbouring places have become all year round tourist destinations, for in this special corner of England there is truly something for everyone. Especially the walker, for whom the land opens up in a glorious panorama of natural beauty where nature and wildlife flourish.

Planning a visit? Please see below for other recommended towns, attractions and recommended hotels nearby.

Distances and directions below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Abbey Town

Holme Cultram Abbey	(0.1 miles, 0.2 km)	Pictures
Silloth Point Lighthouse	(4.6 miles, 7.4 km, direction NW)	Pictures
Lees Scar Lighthouse	(5.0 miles, 8.0 km, direction W)	Pictures
Trotters World of Animals	(11.5 miles, 18.4 km, direction S)	Pictures
Comlongon Castle	(12.7 miles, 20.5 km, direction NW)	Pictures
Maryport Lighthouse	(12.8 miles, 20.6 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Cockermouth Castle	(12.8 miles, 20.6 km, direction S)	Pictures
Wordsworth House	(12.9 miles, 20.8 km, direction S)	Pictures
Caerlaverock Castle	(13.3 miles, 21.4 km, direction NW)	Pictures
Carlisle Castle	(14.2 miles, 22.8 km, direction E)	Pictures
Carlisle Cathedral	(14.3 miles, 23.1 km, direction E)	Pictures
Skiddaw Forest	(14.8 miles, 23.8 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Lorton Vale	(15.1 miles, 24.3 km, direction S)	Pictures
Whinlatter Forest Park	(17.0 miles, 27.3 km, direction S)	Pictures
Derwentwater	(18.0 miles, 29.0 km, direction S)	Pictures

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Recommended towns near Abbey Town

Silloth, in the county of Cumbria (4.4 miles, 7.0 km, direction NW)
Silloth lies at one of the widest points along the estuary, it was established as a harbour for coastal shipping during the 19th-century.
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Caldbeck, in the county of Cumbria (11.3 miles, 18.1 km, direction SE)
An old brewery stands beside the Caldbeck - a tribute to the cold clear waters which gave the village its name. Caldbeck, which...
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Bassenthwaite, in the county of Cumbria (12.0 miles, 19.3 km, direction S)
This is the most northerly of all the lakes, it resembles beaten silver nestling between the sun dappled heights of soaring fells...
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Maryport, in the county of Cumbria (12.2 miles, 19.7 km, direction SW)
Today, first and foremost Maryport is a splendid resort town on the beautiful Solway coast, it is steeped in the maritime history of two thousand years of sea.
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Cockermouth, a Historic Market Town in the county of Cumbria (13.2 miles, 21.2 km, direction S)
Cockermouth is ideally placed to be used as a centre for touring the Lake District National Park. It has a High Street seemingly unaltered, and is ringed by some of the finest scenery in England.
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Carlisle, in the county of Cumbria (14.5 miles, 23.3 km, direction E)
For over 1700 years this town occupied an important position on the Scottish-English border, few town's have experienced such...
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Workington, in the county of Cumbria (17.3 miles, 27.8 km, direction SW)
Ancient market town of quintessential English charm, where you could easily swap the modern day cars parked in gracious tree-lined avenues for the horse and carriage of Victorian times.
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Threlkeld, in the county of Cumbria (18.1 miles, 29.1 km, direction SE)
This is a magical area of sparking lakes, tumbling waterfalls, high peaks and vast moorland regions.
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Keswick, in the county of Cumbria (18.1 miles, 29.2 km, direction S)
Keswick is a pretty Market Town that nestles between the spectacular Skiddaw Mountains and the northern end of the serene...
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Loweswater, in the county of Cumbria (18.5 miles, 29.7 km, direction S)
Loweswater is centred in a landscape of grandeur, it is surrounded by Mellbreak Fell, Carling Knott Fell and Burnbank Fell, all excellent climbing and walking country giving views of a mountainous landscape reflected in sun-kissed pewter waters.
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Castlerigg, in the county of Cumbria (19.1 miles, 30.7 km, direction S)
Castlerigg is a favoured destination for tourists, it is easily accessible from the market town of Keswick and is within easy reach of the snaking waters of the pretty River Greta, picturesque becks and fells.
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Buttermere, in the county of Cumbria (21.0 miles, 33.7 km, direction S)
Even when swirling mist rolls in over the stark fells surrounding Buttermere, the little hamlet remains serene in its simplicity and beauty.
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Grange in Borrowdale, in the county of Cumbria (21.2 miles, 34.2 km, direction S)
A picturesque village in the Borrowdale valley, one of the most beautiful valleys in England.
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Watendlath, in the county of Cumbria (22.3 miles, 35.9 km, direction S)
A place of great beauty, Watendlath's dramatic landscape inspired writer Sir Hugh Walpole to choose it as the setting for his Rogue Herries series.
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Whitehaven, in the county of Cumbria (23.7 miles, 38.1 km, direction SW)
This attractive, historic Cumbrian resort owes much to the ingenuity of the Lowther family, who developed Whitehaven as a port for shipping and the export of Cumbrian coal.
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Nearby travel help

Wigton Station	(4.7 miles, 7.5 km, direction E)
Aspatria Station	(6.3 miles, 10.1 km, direction S)
M74 Junction 21	(13.8 miles, 22.1 km, direction NE)
M74 Junction 22	(13.9 miles, 22.4 km, direction NE)
Newcastle International Airport	(64.8 miles, 104.2 km, direction E)
Prestwick International Airport	(69.2 miles, 111.4 km, direction NW)
Abbey Town to London	(265.3 miles, 426.9 km, direction SE)

Hotels & Accommodation in Abbey Town

Hotel Name	Approximate distance from Abbey Town center
Wheyrigg Hall Hotel	(1.7 miles, 2.8 km, direction SE)
Armathwaite Hall Hotel	(11.5 miles, 18.5 km, direction S)
The Castle Inn Hotel	(12.0 miles, 19.2 km, direction S)
Allerdale Court Hotel	(12.8 miles, 20.6 km, direction S)
Broughton Craggs Hotel	(13.2 miles, 21.2 km, direction SW)
Cavens	(13.3 miles, 21.4 km, direction W)
Smiths At Gretna Green Hotel	(13.7 miles, 22.1 km, direction NE)
Days Inn Hotel Gretna Green	(13.9 miles, 22.4 km, direction NE)
Shepherds Hotel	(14.0 miles, 22.5 km, direction S)
Gretna Hall Hotel	(14.1 miles, 22.7 km, direction NE)
All hotels in Abbey Town