With a population of around 4000 people, you'd be forgiven for thinking that Brampton should be missed out in favour of it's larger neighbours of Carlisle, Haltwhistle and Hexham. However, Brampton is a definite must visit for any visitor to our area.
Whether you're a lover of heritage, history, architecture, or wildlife, there is plenty going on at Brampton to pique your interest.
Positioned near Birdoswald Roman Fort, Brampton is also near Banks Turret, the best-preserved turret or observation tower in the western sector of Hadrian's Wall. Originally there were two such turrets to every Roman mile along Hadrian's Wall, each manned by a few soldiers watching over the frontier. Banks East Turret remained in use until late in the 4th century AD.
To the East is Lanercost Priory, founded about 1166 by Henry II and completed in 1220. Although it lies in ruins following the Dissolution of the Monasteries by Henry VIII, you can still find plenty to give a sense of what this monastery would have looked like when in use - with the east end of the noble 13th century Church surviving to its full height, with some fine monuments within its dramatic tripe tier of arches.
If you have an interest in either ecclesiastical matters or architectural history, then St Martin's Church is famous as the only church designed by the Pre-Raphaelite architect Philip Webb, and contains one of the most exquisite sets of stained glass windows designed by Sir Edward Burne-Jones, and manufactured by William Morris.
Talkin Tarn is a glacial lake and country park two miles south-east of Brampton. The 65-acre lake is a kettle hole, formed 10,000 years ago by mass glacial action, and is set amond 120 acres of farmland and woodland, and is a stunning place for a quiet stroll, or to just to explore.
Roughly 2 miles south of Brampton is Gelt Woods, a lovely walk, an historic Roman Quarry, whose stone was used to either build or repair nearby Hadrian's Wall, and also an RSPB nature reserve.