Egremont: Castle, art and riverside walks

Egremont brings together castle and mining history, art, a long-standing festival and riverside walks. These themes offer different ways to shape your stay, ranging from the development of a Norman castle and historic architecture to wildlife watching and cycling routes along the River Ehen.

Castle, architecture and mining heritage

Egremont Castle began as a Norman motte-and-bailey castle and later developed into a shell keep. This sequence shows how the castle’s form changed over time. The castle is also a Scheduled Monument, giving it formal monument status. Its specific history of development and its formal designation as a monument offer two distinct points of interest for anyone interested in historic buildings.

Lowes Court also connects architectural history with present-day use. The house dates from the late 17th or early 18th century and is now used as a shop. In the centre of Egremont, it also houses a tourist information centre and an art gallery. At Lowes Court Gallery, you can see local crafts. This site thus combines a historic connection with visitor facilities. St Mary & St Michael's Church is a Victorian Gothic building made of local red sandstone. Here, architectural style and material are the defining features; at Lowes Court, by contrast, the focus is on the house’s age and its present-day use.

The Florence iron mining pit head is part of the area’s industrial heritage, retaining most of its machinery and equipment at the original site. The preserved equipment gives the mining heritage a tangible, material connection. Florence Arts Centre is a participatory arts centre on the site of a former iron ore mine in Egremont. It has its own artistic focus, while the preserved machinery takes centre stage at the Florence iron mining pit head. If you plan to visit the gallery, tourist information centre or Florence Arts Centre, check the latest visitor and opening information.

Egremont Crab Fair

The Egremont Crab Fair takes place every September. The festival features competitions, live music and family attractions. Recurring traditions include the Apple Cart Parade and traditional Cumberland wrestling as part of the sports programme. The festival offers different types of events, from entertainment to sporting competitions. Specific event dates and programme items may change, so check the information for the year of your visit if you are travelling specifically for the Crab Fair.

Riverside walks, wildlife and getting there

Egremont offers scenic riverside walks and plenty of opportunities to enjoy nature and observe wildlife. Walking and cycling routes run alongside the River Ehen. Otters, kingfishers and dippers can be spotted on the Egremont (north) Trail. Sightings are seasonal and not guaranteed. Walking and cycling routes offer different ways to spend time outdoors; the wildlife mentioned here is something you might see, not a guaranteed outcome of a trip.

When choosing when to travel, it is helpful to distinguish between the festival and wildlife watching: the Crab Fair takes place every September, while wildlife sightings are seasonal and cannot be guaranteed. If you are travelling for the festival, check the specific date and programme, as both may vary. Egremont is accessible by car via the A595.

Discover more destinations: High Harrington, Hawkshead, Alston, Gleaston, Appleby-In-Westmorland, Wellington, Kirkoswald, Thirlmere

Return to the main travel overview: Cumbria.