Dumfries
Scotland's national poet Robert Burns, spent the last years of his life here, and attractions paying homage include two places where he lived: Ellisland Farm and Burns House where he died in 1796, as well as the Burns Centre and his favourite tavern, the largely unchanged Globe Inn. Other attractions include the Dumfries and Galloway Aviation Museum, Dumfries Museum, Devorgilla Bridge (Scotland's oldest), and the Old Bridge House Museum.

Gretna Green
Couples have been tying the knot here since 1754, and every year over a thousand still flock to the World Famous Old Blacksmiths Shop for an Anvil Wedding. Gretna was built in World War I to house the 30,000 workers at the world's largest munitions factory at Eastriggs, just outside Gretna. The Devil's Porridge was the nickname for the explosives made there and is the name of the exhibition telling the story. Head for the Gretna Gateway Outlet Village for excellent shopping.

Carlisle - The Great Border City
As well as exploring mysterious chambers, stairways and dungeons at Carlisle Castle and seeing the 'licking stones' (once a source of lifesaving moisture for prisoners), you'll also find the Border Regiment Museum here. The magnificent cathedral has superb oak carvings and the Citadel, once a prison, is as captivating as ever. Discover thousands of years of Carlisle and Border History at the award-winning Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery.

Haltwhistle
Nestling beside the River South Tyne, the small market town of Haltwhistle is the closest town to the stunning central section of the Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site and the Northumberland National Park.

Penrith
Once the capital of Cumbria, this attractive town is an important shopping centre with a good mix of traditional shops and sophisticated arcades. The Penrith and Eden Museum is located at the heart of this bustling market town. Opposite the railway station are the ruins of Penrith Castle.

Appleby
Considered one of England's finest, Appleby's wide main street has the 1596-built Moot Hall and Appleby Castle at its ends. June sees the Gypsy Horse Fair - the great annual fair for horses, cattle and sheep - with Fair Hill a sea of caravans and horses being bought, sold, trotted and raced.

Skipton
Dating from the 11th century, Skipton Castle is one of the country's best preserved, and Springs Branch canal runs beneath its ramparts. The broad, tree-lined high street is home to the town's famous market, and Craven Court is an attractive Victorian-style shopping centre. There are other shops and lots more to discover in the cobbled side streets, alleyways and ginnels.

Maryport
Visit the Senhouse Museum to discover the town's role as a Roman fortress, and Maryport's seafaring history can be found in the Maritime Museum. At the Lake District Coast Aquarium, you can discover the amazing underwater world of Cumbria's seas and coasts with its new Wild Solway Centre. Visit The Wave Centre with its cinema/theatre space and visitor centre depicting the history of Maryport with interactive displays.

Whitehaven - an 'England Gem Town'
This Georgian town was one of the first post-renaissance planned towns in the country and is one of 40 Gem Towns in England. The full story of Whitehaven's maritime and industrial history is told at The Beacon. The town's picturepostcard harbour dates back to 1633, and you need to visit the Rum Story to savour the 'Dark Spirit of Whitehaven'.

Barrow-in-Furness
This Victorian-built town is situated at the southern tip of Cumbria, to the north of Morecambe Bay and is set against the spectacular backdrop of the English Lake District mountains. The story of this once small hamlet that became the world leader in iron, steel and a major shipbuilding centre is told in the spectacular Dock Museum.

Windermere
The town of Windermere, less than a mile from Lake Windermere, is sometimes confused with the older town of Bowness-on-Windermere. Lake Windermere is England's largest natural lake at 10.5 miles long and a mile wide. Buses depart from Windermere railway station to Bowness Pier where you can take a cruise to Ambleside or Lakeside to visit the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway or Lakes Aquarium.

Lancaster
Historic Lancaster is a small but vibrant university city. Medieval Lancaster Castle, as well as being a fortification, is also one of Europe's oldest operational prisons. Amongst many alleged witches to be brought to Lancaster Castle, the most famous were the Pendle Witches who were tried, convicted and sentenced to death. The City Museum is housed in the former Town Hall and illustrates the history and archaeology of Lancaster and the surrounding area, from the Neolithic age to the present day.

Workington
This ancient market and industrial town lies at the mouth of the River Derwent. It was in the 18th century, with the exploitation of the local iron ore and coal pits, that Workington expanded to become a major industrial town and port with the steelworks producing railway track that was used all over the world. Find out more about the steelworks and shipbuilding history at the Helena Thompson Museum.