Pictures of Alston

a Historic Market Town in the county of Cumbria

Take a picture tour of Alston

Alston Picture Tour Alston Hotels Submit a history of Alston Alston Attractions Nearby Towns Alston Reviews Submit Pictures Alston Map Add to favourites

About Alston

At a height of over 1,000 feet in the far reaches of the Pennines, this is one of England's highest market towns. Alston is a lively bustling place of steeply rising narrow streets, several still slippery with ancient cobbles. It is very picturesque with a stunning market square and a distinctive covered market cross. Much of its charm lies in its many stone buildings dating from the 17th-century.

The stone built Angel Pub dates from 1611 with an adjoining stone cottage thought to be from around 1687. Behind these buildings lies St.Augustine's Church built in 1869, this occupies the site of an earlier church. It is a handsome church building with a decorative tower and spire. The church is surrounded by a gently sloping grassed tree lined churchyard covered with graves and tombs from hundreds of years. Inside there is some spectacular stained glass and the chancel screen is interesting in that it serves as the War Memorial to the men of Alston who fell in World War I. There is an interesting 16th-century clock from Dilston Hall, the home of Earl Derwentwater. The clock has only one hand, and a bell which came from Earl Derwentwater, it was recast in 1845, and now has a peel of ten bells. The church is the focal point of the village, its churchyard being skirted with ancient cottages and terraced houses.

Alston is on the River South Tyne, and a track of the South Tynedale Heritage Railway. It is wonderful walking country with part of the Pennine Way passing through the town taking you to Greenhead and Hadrian's Wall. The beautiful Gilderdale Forest, Troutbeck and Milburn Forest offer some of the most glorious scenery in Cumbria, they are also renowned as habitats for many species of wildlife.

This is a wonderful place to be at any time of year, the air is crisp and clean, and there are memorable views in every direction. It is a place to get far from the madding crowd and enjoy a slower pace of life that seemingly forgotten in the every-day hurry of today's modern society.

For further information, please visit www.visitcumbria.com

Planning a visit? Please see below for other recommended towns, attractions and recommended hotels nearby.

Distances and directions below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Alston

Killhope Lead Mining Museum	(6.8 miles, 11.0 km, direction E)	Pictures
Burnhope Reservoir	(8.9 miles, 14.3 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Kirkoswald Castle	(10.3 miles, 16.6 km, direction W)	Pictures
Long Meg & her Daughters	(10.9 miles, 17.5 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Langley Castle Hotel	(12.3 miles, 19.8 km, direction NE)	Pictures
Weardale	(12.3 miles, 19.9 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Talkin Tarn Country Park	(12.9 miles, 20.8 km, direction NW)	Pictures
Naworth Castle	(14.1 miles, 22.7 km, direction NW)	Pictures
Housesteads Roman Fort (Vercovicium)	(14.4 miles, 23.3 km, direction N)	Pictures
Whinfell Forest	(15.0 miles, 24.2 km, direction SW)	Pictures
High Force	(15.1 miles, 24.3 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Blanchland Abbey	(15.7 miles, 25.2 km, direction E)	Pictures
Brougham Castle	(15.9 miles, 25.5 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Appleby Castle	(16.4 miles, 26.3 km, direction S)	Pictures
Penrith Castle	(16.6 miles, 26.7 km, direction SW)	Pictures

All attractions in Alston
All attractions in Cumbria
Complete A to Z of attractions in England

Recommended towns near Alston

Garrigill, in the county of Cumbria (3.5 miles, 5.7 km, direction SE)
This delightful place can be found on the banks of the South Tyne River, it is also on the route of the arduous Pennine Way...
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Nenthead, in the county of Cumbria (4.2 miles, 6.8 km, direction SE)
Nestling beside the sparkling River Nent, Nenthead lies on Alston Moor, in a lonely remote North Pennine Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, between the pleasant market town of Alston and the Killhope lead mining museum.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Whitfield, in the county of Northumberland (8.2 miles, 13.1 km, direction NE)
This is a picturesque village lying amongst sprawling open countryside criss crossed by dancing streams, tributaries of the River West Allen.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Allendale Town, in the county of Northumberland (9.5 miles, 15.4 km, direction NE)
This picturesque Northumberland village enjoys a lovely location in the fine hill and dale countryside of the beautiful East Allen Valley.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Dufton, in the county of Cumbria (13.3 miles, 21.4 km, direction S)
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Forest-in-Teesdale, in the county of County Durham (14.1 miles, 22.7 km, direction SE)
It's landscape, possessed of a wild untamed beauty, highlighted by the meandering River Tees, has a few ancient farmhouses and old stone cottages.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Brampton, in the county of Cumbria (14.9 miles, 24.0 km, direction NW)
One of the loveliest features of Brampton is its octagonal Moot Hall, built by the Earl of Lancaster in 1817.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Blanchland, in the county of Northumberland (15.9 miles, 25.6 km, direction E)
Blanchland, Northumberland is a village located close to the Derwentwater reservoir in Durham and Hexham in Northumberland.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Appleby-in-Westmorland, in the county of Cumbria (16.3 miles, 26.2 km, direction S)
Appleby, is situated in the valley of the River Eden near to Hoff Beck, stunningly beautiful, it is an ideal centre for both walking and touring.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Penrith, a Historic Market Town in the county of Cumbria (16.3 miles, 26.2 km, direction SW)
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Hexham, a Historic Market Town in the county of Northumberland (17.1 miles, 27.5 km, direction NE)
Historic market town where for centuries the sheep and cattle farmers of Northumberland gathered for the Tuesday market beside Hexham Abbey.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Stanhope, in the county of County Durham (17.6 miles, 28.4 km, direction E)
This is a lovely, bustling little town is set amidst the charm of Weardale, it is almost entirely built of stone particularly around the old Market Square, dominated by a fine stone cross.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Wall, in the county of Northumberland (18.5 miles, 29.8 km, direction NE)
The village of Wall lies in the high uplands of Northumberland in spacious countryside bordered by the rivers South Tyne and North Tyne, close to Chester's Fort on historic Hadrian's Wall.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Askham, in the county of Cumbria (19.2 miles, 30.8 km, direction SW)
Snow tinges the broad grass verges of tree lined streets and a weak, late afternoon sun, filters down across the view of Lowther Castle situated at the edge of the village.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Chollerford, in the county of Northumberland (19.4 miles, 31.2 km, direction NE)
Chollerford is a delightful village destination. It is a popular base for tourists visiting Hadrian's Wall and Chester Fort. ...
Info | Pictures | Hotels

All towns in Cumbria
Complete A to Z of towns in England

Nearby travel help

Haltwhistle Station	(10.9 miles, 17.6 km, direction N)
Lazonby & Kirkoswald Station	(11.4 miles, 18.3 km, direction W)
M6 Junction 41	(16.4 miles, 26.4 km, direction SW)
M6 Junction 40	(16.9 miles, 27.2 km, direction SW)
Newcastle International Airport	(33.5 miles, 53.9 km, direction NE)
Teesside International Airport	(45.5 miles, 73.2 km, direction SE)
Alston to London	(247.8 miles, 398.7 km, direction SE)

Hotels & Accommodation in Alston

Hotel Name	Approximate distance from Alston center
Victoria Inn	(0.0 miles, 0.0 km)
Cumberland Hotel	(0.1 miles, 0.2 km)
Alston House Hotel	(0.1 miles, 0.2 km)
Lowbyer Manor Country House	(0.3 miles, 0.5 km)
Nent Hall Country House Hotel	(2.3 miles, 3.7 km, direction E)
Edenhall Country Hotel	(12.9 miles, 20.8 km, direction SW)
Temple Sowerby House Hotel	(13.8 miles, 22.2 km, direction SW)
The Roundthorn Country House	(14.8 miles, 23.9 km, direction SW)
George Hotel	(16.2 miles, 26.1 km, direction SW)
Royal Oak Appleby	(16.6 miles, 26.8 km, direction S)
All hotels in Alston