The Lanercost Countryside

Romantic ruins, mouth watering baked goods, breathtaking scenery. Lanercost Priory and the surrounding area offer up a delightful day out.

Morning:

Begin with a visit to the priory, founded around 1169 as an Augustinian monastery. King Edward the First stayed at Lanercost for several months in the early 1300s and just a few short years later Robert Bruce, King of Scots, did considerable damage. The monastery was eventually dissolved in the 1500s by King Henry VIII. The Lanercost Priory ruins are now an English Heritage site, but the intact portion is still used for services every Sunday.

From now to 16^th February 2014 Lanercost Priory is open on weekends from 10am to 4pm. Days and hours after February 16 will be available shortly. Admission is free for English Heritage members, adults £3.50, children ages 5-15 £2.10, and over 60s and students with valid ID cards £3.20. There is a gift shop, toilets and picnic area.

From the Priory drive to nearby Hadrian’s Wall and Banks East Turret where there is a small car park, ideal for exploring the turret and taking a short walk to Pike Hill Signal Tower and Leahill Turret.

Afternoon:

After exploring Hadrian’s Wall, return to Lanercost and have lunch at the Lanercost Tea Room, well known for locally sources and homemade treats including scones, soups, salads, sandwiches and cakes. The Tea Room also features a gift-shop with locally produced arts and crafts, edibles, decorative items and more, as well as the Hadrian’s Wall Gateway Visitor Information Centre, where you can research your next day’s outings and learn more about the area.

Drive southwest through the village of Brampton, home to a Tourist Information Centre inside Moot Hall, an octagon building circa 1817, and Talkin Tarn Country Park with a 65 acre lake and 120 acres of farm and woodland, available for recreation such as walks, rowing and fishing. Follow the brown signs on the B6413.