Carlisle

Understand

Caer Liwelyδ means the fortress of Luel or Luguwalion. It was a Roman garrison town from about 72 AD, and when they left after 300 years it was contested between petty kingdoms such as Strathclyde, Northumbria and Rheged. The Scots were holding it when the Normans arrived, but in 1092 William Rufus captured it for England and built the castle and city walls, which resisted re-capture by Scotland except for a brief Jacobite occupation in 1745. Between the organised military campaigns was continual banditry by the infamous Border Reivers. This era faded in the 18th century and was romanticised by Sir Walter Scott in the 19th. Carlisle then became a middling sort of market town, with textile mills and the arrival of the railway. It now has agricultural and food related businesses supplied by the surrounding lowlands.

Tourist information is in the old town hall on Market St, open M-Sa 10AM-4PM.

Get around

Most sights are within walking distance of the centre.

Stagecoach Bus 93 follows the route of Hadrian's Wall west of town, running 2-3 times a day to Glasson, Port Carlisle, Bowness-on-Solway, Anthorn and Kilbride.

A dozen taxi firms ply the town and nearby countryside.

Car hire is available from Glenrental, Europcar, Budget, Avis and Enterprise.

See

thumb | 300px | The Citadel Carlisle Citadel is a bastion just north of the railway station, built in 1541 to replace the medieval Botchergate portal through the walls into town. It was later a prison, law courts and council offices but is now looking for a use. No interior access. Cursing Stone is a modern artwork, a boulder by the walkway between Tullie House and the castle. In 1525 the Archbishop of Glasgow put a curse upon the thieving Border Reivers, at such length that they'd probably come back and stolen more cattle before he was done cursing. The boulder bears an excerpt from the curse and the names of prominent Reiver families. Since it was installed in 2001, it's been blamed for every misfortune in town.

Do

thumb | 300px | Avro Vulcan Bomber at the Aviation Museum

Bitts Park is next to Carlisle Castle and has access to the river along with a children's play area and walking paths