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Lying on the North Western
boundary of the Lake District National Park,
Cockermouth is an attractive market town not
overwhelmed by the tourist atmosphere of Keswick and
Ambleside. Cockermouth grew up at the junction of
the two most important rivers in the area. Here the
River Cocker, flowing out of the lakes Buttermere,
Crummock and
Loweswater meets the River Derwent.
The Romans built the fort of
Deventio at Papcastle, about a mile from the present
town. The majority of today's ruins date from 1360 to 1370, though
there have been some modern additions. The castle is
privately owned, and not normally open to the
public, but tours are often available during the
Cockermouth Festival in July.
Today's visitors are
attracted by the town's calm, its nearness to some
of the more peaceful lakes and mountains, and the
fact that Dorothy and William Wordsworth were born here.
Wordsworth
House
The large Georgian house in
the Main Street where they were born, is now in the
care of the Nat ional
Trust and is open to the public.
In 2003, after a long period of research and planning,
the National Trust subjected the house to a £1m
revamp in order to return it to a more authentic
18th-century setting.
Lakeland
Sheep and Wool Centre Here is a hands on opportunity to meet Cumbria's
most famous residents. Visitors are guaranteed a
wonderfully woolly experience as they are brought
face-to-face with 19 different breeds of live sheep
during the indoor presentation.
Western Lake District Visitor Centre
From the highest mountain in England to the deepest lake, gentle valleys and villages to the dramatic coastline and scenery - West Cumbria offers countless leisure opportunities for all ages and interests. The Western lake District Visitor Centre is housed in the Lakeland Sheep and Wool Centre.
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