Set on the edge of the Upper Eden Valley, Kirkby Stephen is proudly recognised as a Walkers are Welcome town – a place where boots by the door, maps on the table, and stories from the great walks are all part of everyday life. From here, some of the North’s most iconic long-distance routes unfold, including the Coast to Coast Walk, the Westmorland Way, and the Roof of England Walk, drawing walkers who value both challenge and quiet beauty. There’s a natural rhythm to walking here – shaped by weather, landscape, and the simple pleasure of covering ground at your own pace – and it’s something the town has long embraced.

For over thirty years, Augill Castle has quietly become part of that rhythm, welcoming solo walkers, couples, and groups who arrive with muddy boots and well-earned appetites. Days begin with generous, thoughtfully prepared breakfasts and end with suppers that feel both restorative and a little indulgent – the kind that mark the difference between simply stopping for the night and truly settling in. There’s a sense of ease here: a place to stretch out, dry off, and feel looked after, without losing the spirit of the walk itself. It’s not about formality, but about a kind of understated, home-from-home comfort that understands exactly what a day on the fells requires.