Kendal the Gateway to Cumbria and The Lake District

The largest town in the County of Westmorland famed for Kendal mint cake amongst many other things(however not the capital Appleby), now know as Cumbria, this is where the Westmorland shopping centre gets its name. Kendal was one of the country's main manufacturing towns in the 14th Century up until the late 19th Century housing mills on the River Kent. Kendal is great place for biking in the norh west, why not ride down the side of the River Kent, a peaceful scenic cycling route.

Kendal is undoubtedly characterised by its narrow yards and lanes branching from the main street in Kendals town centre. Kendal is a mere 0.5 mile from the Lake District National Park boundary, however Kendal is widely overlooked by the thousands of Lake District tourists heading for Windermere, Grasmere and beyond, this is mainly due to the Kendal bypass.

Kendal is great for shopping, riverside walks along the River Kent, Kendal also has many restaurants and bars and clubs. Kendal is also world renown for Kendal mintcake, the mint cake is available in many different varieties from chocolate covered kendal mint cake, dark chocolate covered kendal mint cake to just plain kendal mint cake. You can be sure to see Kendal Mint cake in every confectionery shop in Kendal and most probably the rest of Cumbria.

Moutain biking is a popular pastime for the people of Kendal, ideally located on the edge of the Lake District, many people mountain bike from kendal to windermere taking in the Kentmere Valley and the famous Garburn Pass. There are many cycling routes in Kendal and around North Kendal near Burneside.

Places of interest in Kendal

Kendal Castle, a late 12th Century building, now a ruin,however very worth exploring. Offering breathtaking views over the town. Kendal Museum houses an exhibition sharing the hisory of Kendal Castle, Kendal people, and the life of Kendal itself you will also find a reconstruction of Kendal Castle.

Abbot Hall Art Gallery, set beside the River Kent. The Kendal gallery houses Major art exhibitions here.

The Museum of Lakeland Life, displaying traditional rural trades of Cumbria, farm machinery and tools, how Cumbrian people lived, worked and lots more. The Cumbrain exhibition spans over the last 300 years, well worth a visit.

Museum of Natural History and Archaeology the oldest museum in Cumbria, with many natural history and archaeology artifacts, both local and global.

The Brewery Arts Centre in Kendal, housesexhibitions, a bar and a cinema.

Why not take a look at the Quaker Tapestry a tapestry of community art, more than 4000 people in 15 countries. Over 300 years of beautifully illustrated social history.

Alfred Wainwright,a great author of famous guidebooks, born in Blackburn, however lived in Kendal in Cumbria from 1941 till 1991. The Kendal Museum houses an exhibition 'The Wainwright Gallery',where you can find a recreation of his office.

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