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in the county of Cumbria

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About Lorton Vale

Famed by Wordsworth in his famous poem 'Yew Trees', the Vale of Lorton is one of the prettiest parts of the Lake District.The vale runs in a threadwork of highly scenic valley's from the small town of Cockermouth to Keswick. Cockermouth is renowned as the birthplace of William Wordsworth who was born there in 1770 and Keswick, lying beside picturesque Derwentwater has been a favoured holiday resort since Victorian times.

The valley is ringed by dramatic scenery, it is overlooked by Carling Knott and Grassmoor, and contains the lakes, Loweswater, Crummock Water and Buttermere. At the lower end of the valley there is access to Keswick via the Honister Pass and Borrowdale.

This is a region popular with walkers. As well as challenging hikes there are delightful walks for the novice walker, one of the prettiest taking you to the waterfall at Scale Force. There is also old scattered villages to wander. Of these Lorton village, immortalised through Wordsworth's poem, is one of the most interesting. Wordsworth's ancient Yew Tree can still be seen in the village, it lies just behind the village hall on the bank of Hope Beck and interestingly, it was featured in the BBC's recent production Fascinating Trees. John Wesley, founder of Methodism, preached from the shadow of the tree in 1752, as did George Fox, who founded the Quaker movement, at this time the crowd beneath the tree included soldiers from Cromwell's army. Lorton has some attractive buildings and although not open to the public, Lorton Hall, a manor house dating from 1663 attached to a pele tower, is well worth a glimpse. Another place deserving of your time is Lorton village church built in the early part of the 19th-century to replace the old St. Cuthbert's of C1200. The church is a simple, yet graceful building which somehow seems to perfectly reflect the quiet mood of this peaceful village.

With its clusters of tiny hamlets and villages, lakes, tarns, rivers and dramatic passes, the tranquil Vale of Lorton offers visitors a place of sheer enchantment in which to tour lovely countryside or simply tarry enjoying the crystal clear air of the region and a pace of life far removed from the chaos of everyday life.

The area offers a good choice of accommodation and there is the added bonus of the close proximity of St. Bees Head Heritage Coast, Whitehaven and the old fishing village of St. Maryport.

YEW TREES

William Wordsworth, composed in 1803

There is a Yew-tree, pride of Lorton Vale,
Which to this day stands single, in the midst
Of its own darkness, as it stood of yore:
Not loth to furnish weapons for the bands
Of Umfraville or Percy ere they marched
To Scotland's heaths; or those that crossed the sea
And drew their sounding bows at Azincour,
Perhaps at earlier Crecy, or Poictiers.
Of vast circumference and gloom profound
This solitary Tree! - a living thing
Produced too slowly ever to decay;
Of form and aspect too magnificent
To be destroyed But worthier still of note
Are those fraternal Four of Borrowdale,
Joined in one solemn and capacious grove;
Huge trunks! - and each particular trunk a growth
Of intertwisted fibres serpentine
Up-coiling and inveterately convolved, -
Nor uniformed with Phantasy, and looks
That threaten the prophane; -a pillared shade,
Upon whose grassless floor of red-brown hue,
By sheddings from the pining umbrage tinged
Perennially - beneath whose sable roof
Of boughs, as if for festal purpose, decked
With unrejoicing berries, ghostly Shapes
May meet at noontide - Fear and trembling Hope,
Silence and Foresight - Death and the Skeleton
And Time the Shadow, - there to celebrate,
As in a natural temple scattered o'er
With altars undisturbed of mossy stone,
United worship; or in mute repose
To lie, and listen to the mountain flood
Murmuring from Glaramara's inmost caves.
Please see below for other recommended attractions and towns to visit near Lorton Vale.

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Recommended attractions near Lorton Vale

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Recommended towns near Lorton Vale

Cockermouth in the county of Cumbria (2.9 miles, 4.6 km, direction NW)
Cockermouth is ideally placed to be used as a centre for touring the Lake District National Park. It has a High Street seemingly unaltered, and is ringed by some of the finest scenery in England.
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Loweswater in the county of Cumbria (3.4 miles, 5.4 km, direction S)
Loweswater is centred in a landscape of grandeur, it is surrounded by Mellbreak Fell, Carling Knott Fell and Burnbank Fell, all excellent climbing and walking country giving views of a mountainous landscape reflected in sun-kissed pewter waters.
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Buttermere in the county of Cumbria (6.2 miles, 10.0 km, direction S)
Even when swirling mist rolls in over the stark fells surrounding Buttermere, the little hamlet remains serene in its simplicity and beauty.
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Bassenthwaite in the county of Cumbria (6.4 miles, 10.3 km, direction NE)
This is the most northerly of all the lakes, it resembles beaten silver nestling between the sun dappled heights of soaring fells...
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Keswick in the county of Cumbria (8.1 miles, 13.1 km, direction E)
Keswick is a pretty Market Town that nestles between the spectacular Skiddaw Mountains and the northern end of the serene...
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Grange in Borrowdale in the county of Cumbria (8.8 miles, 14.1 km, direction SE)
A picturesque village in the Borrowdale valley, one of the most beautiful valleys in England.
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Workington in the county of Cumbria (8.9 miles, 14.3 km, direction W)
Ancient market town of quintessential English charm, where you could easily swap the modern day cars parked in gracious tree-lined avenues for the horse and carriage of Victorian times.
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Castlerigg in the county of Cumbria (9.0 miles, 14.5 km, direction E)
Castlerigg is a favoured destination for tourists, it is easily accessible from the market town of Keswick and is within easy reach of the snaking waters of the pretty River Greta, picturesque becks and fells.
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Maryport in the county of Cumbria (9.2 miles, 14.8 km, direction NW)
Today, first and foremost Maryport is a splendid resort town on the beautiful Solway coast, it is steeped in the maritime history of two thousand years of sea.
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Seatoller in the county of Cumbria (10.0 miles, 16.1 km, direction SE)
Seatoller, set in one of the most beautiful and exciting landscapes to be found in the lakes, gains its prosperity as a centre for climbers and walkers.
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Aspatria Station

Maryport Station

M6 Junction 41

M6 Junction 40

Blackpool Airport

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Accommodation & Hotels near Lorton Vale

Hotel Name
Shepherds Hotel
Allerdale Court Hotel
Broughton Craggs Hotel
The Melbreak Country Hotel
The Castle Inn Hotel
Highfield Hotel & Restaurant
Hunday Manor Country House Hotel
The Kings Arms
Skiddaw Hotel
Queens Hotel
All of our hotels are available to book online & with special discounts