Glassonby is a small Cumbrian village in the Eden Valley located around 10 miles outside of the
Lake District National Park. With the Lake District nearby, there is plenty for walkers, hikers and keen cyclists to discover and enjoy. What's more, with tree lined streets and plenty of greenery, the village is a natural choice for a country cottage holiday or rural retreat stay.
Information on Cottage Holidays in Glassonby
The village also has some mystical attractions. Near to Glassonby, thirty ancient stones, known as the Glassonby Stone Circle, form an interesting feature. As the stones are situated on private land, anyone wanting to visit is requested to ask for permission first. Also nearby is Long Meg and her Daughters, which is Cumbria’s largest stone circle and the second largest in the country. These stones, which were excavated in 1900, have been dated at approximately 1500BC. Again, this is on private land and anyone wanting to visit needs permission from the landowner. The poet, William Wordsworth wrote that Long Meg and her Daughters’ significance was second only to Stonehenge. Legend has it that Long Meg was a witch and having broken the Sabbath, along with her daughters, they were turned to stone.
Glassonby is about three miles from Kirkoswald, which many people describe as a picturesque village. In fact, it has been voted first in several Best Kept Village competitions and has also won first place in the Cumbria in Bloom competition for the large village category. Well worth a visit on a cottage holiday, Kirkoswald’s Georgian buildings are very much part of the attraction for visitors, as is the College building, built in 1450. St. Oswald’s Church is another fine village building, well known for its unusual feature of a bell tower from the 1800s, which sits on top of a hill approximately 200 yards from the actual church. This bell is thought to have had another purpose other than the usual summoning of villagers to church services. It may have served as a warning to the local people of an imminent raid by Scots from over the border.
Another nearby village worth visiting on a self-catering break includes Lazonby, another village of note, boasting the attractive church of St. Nicholas, constructed in 1863. For a typical village in a rural idyll, look no further than Melmerby, whose stream runs through the 11-acre village green and pretty sandstone buildings grace the landscape. One of the red sandstone buildings is the 13th century St. John the Baptist Church. At the southern end of the village, the world of conceptual art is on show in the form of one of Andy Goldsworthy’s ‘sheepfolds’. This work, by the famous sculptor working in natural materials, is accessed by walking over a small footbridge.
History, local folklore and beautiful countryside in the area surrounding Glassonby make the village a worthwhile place for a self-catering holiday. Add to this, the attractions and stunning scenery of the Lake District National Park and a cottage stay in this part of the country has plenty to recommend it. Whether you need to find a
pet-friendly cottage, a
romantic retreat or a
large country house we trust that you will enjoy browsing through the available choices and that you will have a fantastic time in this area of England.
Whether you choose to book a holiday cottage in Glassonby, an apartment, a lodge or another type of self-catering holiday accommodation, we hope you have your best holiday yet in Cumbria.
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