Once a thriving market town, with the market cross believed to date back to 1200, Ireby is a peaceful unspoilt village situated in the fells to the north of Keswick in the area known as 'Back o' Skidda'. It has one pub and a village school. A couple of miles from Ireby lies Overwater, a small but picturesque tarn. Nearby Dodd Wood offers a network of walking trails aswell as viewpoints to watch the famous Bassenthwaite Ospreys. This area is the ideal place for a relaxing holiday but with the amenities of Keswick only a short drive away. 

Caldbeck is a picturesque traditional fell side village ideally situated for touring the Northern Lakes, Scottish Borders and Hadrian's Wall being situated 16 miles from Keswick and 13 miles from Carlisle. The village is named after the river on which it stands. The river provided water power for the industrial development of the 17th and 18thC - corn mills, woollen mills, bobbin mills, a paper mill and a brewery. Mineral mining was also important, the most significant being lead and copper.

Caldbeck has a selection of gift and specialist shops, ideal for browsing, around the village. There are also a good variety of pubs, restaurants and tearooms in Caldbeck. Priests Mill, an old water mill on the River Caldew was built by the Rector of the Church in 1702 for grinding corn. Two hundred years later it was used as a sawmill and joiners workshop. Today it houses a number of retail units and workshops.