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 there. The magnificent cathedral has superb oak carvings and the Citadel, once a prison, is as captivating as ever.

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.

Kirkby Stephen
In its church, the 'Cathedral of the Dales', is one of the few surviving Viking era relics, The Loki Stone, depicting the Norse God Loki. Croglam Castle has prehistoric earth works and neighbouring Mallerstang's Pendragon Castle is built on what is thought to be the site of the castle of Uther Pendragon, King Arthur's father.

Ribblehead
With its jaw-dropping views over the curving 24-arch Ribblehead Viaduct, the train journey between Settle and Carlisle is arguably Britain's most famous. Ribblehead Station Visitor Centre tells the story of the building of the line in the 1870s.

Settle
In the delightful market town's 1679-built Folly you'll find the Museum of North Craven Life, and the historic Shambles overlooking the Market Place has shops on two levels.

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.