Holiday rentals in Kirkby Stephen

Tucked between the natural beauty of the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District, Kirkby Stephen is a traditional Cumbrian market town in the Eden Valley. When exploring this historic town, you can explore cobbled yards and old cloisters, browse independent shops and galleries, and stop off in cosy family-owned cafes. Kirkby Stephen’s markets have been running since at least the 14th century, and still take place each week. In the evenings, join the locals by the fire at one of the local pubs for a traditional pie and a pint.

Thanks to its rural uplands and wild landscapes, Kirkby Stephen has been incorporated in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The Lake District UNESCO World Heritage Site is under 30 miles away, making this an ideal launchpad for visiting the deepest lakes and highest mountains in England. The town is also located just south of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Cumbria and the Lake District are known for experiencing all types of weather, often within just a few hours, so pack accordingly. It’s generally colder and windier here than in other parts of the UK, and the town certainly gets its fair share of rain, thanks to the North Atlantic Drift.

Visit in springtime for the best chance of dry days and the first signs of new life in the patchwork of surrounding fields. Book your Kirkby Stephen accommodation for the summer months to enjoy the packed programme of local festivals, fairs, and community celebrations that take place in the nearby towns and villages, including the Keswick Beer Festival in June.

Kirkby Stephen Church

Known as the Cathedral of the Dales by locals, the church is accessed via the cloisters of Market Square. The site was originally home to a Saxon church and contains a rare Loki Stone, an 8th-century carved homage to the Norse god that is a remnant of the Viking heritage of this area.

Kirkby Stephen East

Step back in time and experience this countryside train station as it would have been in the 1950s. The station was built in 1861, and today it’s full of Victorian steam locomotives, carriages, and an elegant buffet car. Passenger steam trains run sporadically throughout the year, and you can even have a go at driving the engine.

Scenic Walks

The famed Coast to Coast route, totaling 182 miles, passes through Kirby Stephen. You can pack a picnic and pick a chunk of the route to explore, following in the footsteps of decades of adventurers. For an alternative experience, follow the Kirkby Stephen Poetry Path, a route marked by 12 flagstones inscribed with a poem dedicated to the local landscape.