location and directions

Getting to Carlisle and Cumbria by road or rail couldn't be easier, whether you wish to conference in Keswick, meet in Maryport, appraise in Ambleside, attend a seminar at Sellafield or join a board meeting in Barrow, you'll find most areas of Cumbria are much closer than you think.

By Rail:

There are fast and regular rail services on the West Coast mainline between London and Scotland, with stations at Carlisle, Penrith and Oxenholme (for the Lake District). From London or the west Midlands it takes less than 3 hours to reach Cumbria, and from Glasgow or Edinburgh it can be achieved in little over 1 hour.

For further information on services, tickets and journey times, take a look at the Virgin Trains website.

Virgin Trains are pleased to offer travel assistance to those passengers with mobility problems and offer disabled access priority seating onboard its trains.

For full details on this service, please contact JourneyCare on 08457 44 33 66.

The Tyne Valley line links Newcastle with Carlisle, and the famous Settle to Carlisle Railway provides a scenic means of travelling to Cumbria from Leeds through the heart of the Yorkshire Dales and the Eden Valley. For full details on these and other operators, please visit the National Rail website.

By Road:

The M6 motorway provides easy access to the north and south of Cumbria with good trunk roads linking to the main towns. The A590 is the main route to Barrow-in-Furness and Ulverston, while the A591 branches off towards the central Lakeland towns of Windermere, Ambleside and Keswick. The A66 provides the main cross-country route from the Pennines to Cumbria's West Coast, linking Appleby and Penrith with Keswick, Cockermouth and Workington. The A595 links Carlisle with Cockermouth, Whitehaven and Barrow, enabling you to arrive at a castle for breakfast, a lakeshore for lunch and a city centre for dinner. The A69 provides easy access from Newcastle in just over 1 hour, whilst the A74 (M)/M74 provides convenient road access from Glasgow.

the crown hotel

Situated in the picturesque village of Wetheral - just 4 miles from Carlisle and a short walk from Wetheral train station - this 51 bedroom hotel can host up to 140 delegates, with a choice of 6 flexible rooms of varying size and capacity. more...

latest news

British Ports Association confirm Cumbria for 2012 event

Michelin stars retained for 2011

The Crown Hotel awarded an AA rosette

why cumbria

5 Destination Spa Hotels

4 Michelin Star Restaurants

3 Mainline Railway Stations (Carlisle, Penrith, Oxenholme)

2 Much to see in just one visit

1 Perfect place to meet up

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city and town, countryside, lake district, coastal