Vale of Eden
Encyclopedia
The Vale of Eden is formed by the course of the River Eden
, one of the major rivers of Northwest England
. It is however of much greater extent than the actual valley of the river, lying between the Cumbrian Mountains (more usually referred to as the Lake District
), and the northern part of the Pennine Range. It lies entirely within the county of Cumbria
. The river has its source in the peat bogs below Hugh Seat, in the dale of Mallerstang
. At first it determinedly sets off South (as Hellgill Beck) before turning back North for the rest of its course – except just before its outlet into the sea which it enters from the East.
The Eden passes through the market towns of Kirkby Stephen
and Appleby-in-Westmorland
, once the county capital of that area. It then bypasses, but remains close to, Penrith
where it receives the waters of Ullswater
via the River Eamont
, its major tributary. Via some ancient villages and fine bridges it reaches and passes through, though not in any effective way, Carlisle, the major city in this whole area. It there enters the sea where, together with the River Esk, coming down from the North, it forms the Solway Firth
which divides Scotland
from England
on the Atlantic side of the country.
The whole area is gentle and pastoral, undulating and attractive but with bleak, barren and impressive hills on either side.
River Eden, Cumbria
The River Eden is a river that flows through Cumbria, England on its way to the Solway Firth.-Course of river:The Eden rises in Black Fell Moss, Mallerstang, on the high ground between High Seat, Yorkshire Dales and Hugh Seat. Here it forms the boundary between the counties of Cumbria and North...
, one of the major rivers of Northwest England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is however of much greater extent than the actual valley of the river, lying between the Cumbrian Mountains (more usually referred to as the Lake District
Lake District
The Lake District, also commonly known as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous not only for its lakes and its mountains but also for its associations with the early 19th century poetry and writings of William Wordsworth...
), and the northern part of the Pennine Range. It lies entirely within the county of Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
. The river has its source in the peat bogs below Hugh Seat, in the dale of Mallerstang
Mallerstang
Mallerstang is a civil parish in the extreme east of Cumbria, and, geographically, a dale at the head of the upper Eden Valley. Originally part of Westmorland, it lies about south of the nearest town, Kirkby Stephen...
. At first it determinedly sets off South (as Hellgill Beck) before turning back North for the rest of its course – except just before its outlet into the sea which it enters from the East.
The Eden passes through the market towns of Kirkby Stephen
Kirkby Stephen
Kirkby Stephen is a civil parish and small market town in Cumbria, in North West England which historically, is part of Westmorland. The town is located on the A685, surrounded by sparsely populated hill country, and about from the two nearest larger towns, Kendal and Penrith...
and Appleby-in-Westmorland
Appleby-in-Westmorland
Appleby-in-Westmorland is a town and civil parish in Cumbria, in North West England. It is situated within a loop of the River Eden and has a population of approximately 2,500. It is in the historic county of Westmorland, of which it was the county town. The town's name was simply Appleby, until...
, once the county capital of that area. It then bypasses, but remains close to, Penrith
Penrith, Cumbria
Penrith was an urban district between 1894 and 1974, when it was merged into Eden District.The authority's area was coterminous with the civil parish of Penrith although when the council was abolished Penrith became an unparished area....
where it receives the waters of Ullswater
Ullswater
Ullswater is the second largest lake in the English Lake District, being approximately nine miles long and 0.75 miles wide with a maximum depth of slightly more than ....
via the River Eamont
River Eamont
The River Eamont is a river in Cumbria, England and one of the major tributaries of the River Eden.The river is formed by the outflow from Ullswater in the Lake District, later augmented by Dacre Beck from the west and the River Lowther which carries the water from Haweswater north to the Eamont at...
, its major tributary. Via some ancient villages and fine bridges it reaches and passes through, though not in any effective way, Carlisle, the major city in this whole area. It there enters the sea where, together with the River Esk, coming down from the North, it forms the Solway Firth
Solway Firth
The Solway Firth is a firth that forms part of the border between England and Scotland, between Cumbria and Dumfries and Galloway. It stretches from St Bees Head, just south of Whitehaven in Cumbria, to the Mull of Galloway, on the western end of Dumfries and Galloway. The Isle of Man is also very...
which divides Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
from England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
on the Atlantic side of the country.
The whole area is gentle and pastoral, undulating and attractive but with bleak, barren and impressive hills on either side.
External links
- Map and aerial photo sources for: and
- "A virtual walk through Mallerstang"