Lying just outside the 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 of Buttermere, Crummock Water and Loweswater meets the River Derwent on its journey from Derwentwater and Bassenthwaite Lake to the sea.

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. The large Georgian house in the Main Street where they were born, is now in the care of the National Trust. John Dalton, born in 1766, the originator of the Atomic Theory, and Fletcher Christian, born in 1764, of Bounty fame, were born in Eaglesfield, near Cockermouth.

Market Place, seen on the left, contains many interesting places to visit. Jennings Brewery offers excellent 1.5 hour tours which explain the various processes involved in brewing traditional beer. The Kirkgate Centre nearby, is Cockermouth's centre for art, theatre and music

The old ironmongers shop on the left with a gilded key above the door, is worth a visit. It has been on 'Collector's Lot' and also featured in 'Cumbria Life' and several other publications.

Within a short distance of Cockermouth are some of the Lake District's most attractive lakes - Loweswater, Crummock Water, Buttermere and Bassenthwaite Lake. The towns of Keswick and Whitehaven are only some 12 miles away, and both contain a variety of places of interest.