Askham: Discover Village History, Walking Routes and Nature

Askham combines the character of a historic village settlement with a rural landscape and varied opportunities for walking, nature watching and cultural exploration. Those planning a trip can choose between village history, open landscapes and active days here. Askham is particularly interesting when looking for a holiday apartment or holiday cottage if these different aspects of the village are to be the focus of the stay.

Historic Villagescape and Notable Buildings

Askham developed as a medieval planned settlement in connection with Askham Hall, a residential tower believed to date from the 14th century. To this day, a distinctive linear settlement pattern shapes the village: farmhouses, barns and cottages from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries face one another across the village green areas. There are 44 listed buildings in Askham. Together with other historic structures, they make a major contribution to the village’s distinctive appearance.

Among the notable buildings is St Peter’s Church, built in 1832 and designed by Sir Robert Smirke. Askham Hall probably originated as a residential tower in the 14th century and is listed as a Grade I building. The village pub, The Queen’s Head, has also preserved much of its 17th-century character. Those wishing to combine local dining with a historic setting have another option at the Allium restaurant in Askham Hall, which welcomes both overnight guests and external visitors.

Walking Between River, Meadows and Ridges

Askham lies in a rural setting between Askham Fell and the River Lowther on the western side of the Lowther Valley. Open fields surround the village to the north and south. This landscape can be experienced on the 12 km Lowther Castle Loop. The circular walking route passes through the estate’s parkland, follows paths along the river, crosses meadows, runs through village streets and continues into the open terrain of Askham Fell.

The Lowther Castle Loop climbs onto Askham Fell. From there, extensive views open up across Ullswater and the Helvellyn Range. For planning your day, this makes the choice between visiting the village and taking a longer walk with elevation gain particularly appealing. The main entrance to the Lowther Castle grounds is accessed from Askham via Askham Bridge. This makes it possible to combine orientation around a specific access point with the landscape experience of the circular route, without suggesting that the two experiences offer the same thing.

Nature Experiences and Routes for Active Days

There are also distinctive points of interest for visitors wishing to explore Askham from a nature-focused perspective. More than 300 bird species have been recorded in Askham; deer and squirrels are also found here. Moor Divock and Askham Fell are crossed by an extensive network of bridleways, allowing off-road mountain biking on predominantly low-technical surfaces. Depending on your interests, this means you can plan a day of walking, landscape observation or mountain biking.

The cultural range also includes the monument on Skirsgill Hill. It is a rare example in Cumbria of an associated Romano-British enclosed stone hut circle settlement, a Romano-British farmstead and a regular aggregate field system. The monument comprises these three elements and lies on the east-facing slopes of Skirsgill Hill. For travellers who wish to discover older settlement and land-use history alongside nature, this aspect adds another historical layer to the picture of Askham.

Askham as a Base for Finding Accommodation

When choosing a holiday apartment in Askham, you can consider what combination should shape your trip. The village itself offers historic architecture and specific cultural attractions, while Askham Fell, the paths along the River Lowther and the Lowther Castle Loop provide different landscape experiences. For a quieter itinerary, the stay can equally be complemented by individual cultural discoveries, dining and birdwatching.

As additional destinations for planning your trip, you can explore Wetheral, Haverthwaite, Grasmere, Sedbergh, Cartmel, Rusland, Kirkby Lonsdale and Silloth.

For the overarching travel overview: Cumbria.