Other features of Melmerby

(http://www.thelocalchannel.co.uk/ousbyandmelmerby

www.thecumbriadirectory.com/Town_or_Village/Melmerby/Melmerby.php)

Whilst visiting the shop a stroll round the attractive village is worthwhile.

The varied village green is one of the largest in the country (13 acres (6 Ha) with several becks and a pond, and is managed ecologically. A sheep dub (wash) lieson Melmerby beck by the road, and contains a sculpture by Andy Goldsworthy. The church of St John (13th century) (www.visitcumbria.com/pen/Chp18.htm) liesbeyond the New Village Hall opened in 2004 by HRH Prince Charles (www.ruralcumbria.org.uk/cumbria_record2005/Melmerby.pdf). Melmerby Hall incorporates the remains of a 12th century pele tower and is for let. A circular walk up the fellside (3.4 miles) via the 16th century farm Gale Hall is repaid by glorious views of the Eden valley and the Lakeland fells beyond, Blencathra and Helvellyn ranges being especially prominent. The A686 is one of the finest drives, motorcycle or cycle routes in the country, and ascends to 1900 feet at Hartside top direct from the village (www.hartsideepics.com).

The shop is only 100m from the well-known Shepherds Inn, (01768 881217 www.shepherdsinn.net) open for lunches and evening meals, and nearby is the
nationally famed Village Bakery (tel 01768 881 811, www.village-bakery.com) where breakfast, lunch and teas are served and a range of organic produce, especially bakery products including gluten-free foods, are available.

The Pennine cycleway runs through the village, and the famed C2C cycle route runs nearby up and over Hartside (www.c2c-guide.co.uk). The Pennine bridleway is planned to traverse the village, which will provide the only road acess to it in the North Pennines.

Bed and breakfast is available in several sites within the village of which the hopcarries details, and at Gale Hall up the Fell.

There is a caravan park with static caravans and touring spaces (01768 881311).