Stories from the town
History, food, walks and the people behind our independent high street.
Ghyll Scrambling in the Lakes: Dowdales Students Complete Year-Long BAE Systems Programme
Students from Dowdales School in Dalton-in-Furness have completed the year-long BAE Systems VIPER Coaching Programme with a three-day outdoor residential at The Outward Bound Trust on Ullswater, finishing months of professional mentoring with ghyll scrambling, rock climbing and kayaking in the heart of the Lakes.
Shot Puts, Sprints and School Records: Dowdales Marks a Brilliant Annual Sports Day
Dowdales School in Dalton-in-Furness held its annual Sports Day on 15 July with the whole school community cheering on competitors, a day that produced new school records in the shot put and on the 200 metre track.
Shakespeare Comes to Dalton: Dowdales Hosts the RSC Playmaking Festival
Dowdales School in Dalton-in-Furness hosted the Royal Shakespeare Company's Playmaking Festival this summer, with students from across a Cumbrian cluster joining together to perform The Winter's Tale at the school that serves as the RSC Lead Associate School for the region.
On the Map: New Visitor Leaflet Celebrates Dalton-in-Furness
A new promotional leaflet for Dalton-in-Furness has been launched by Westmorland and Furness Council, Dalton with Newton Town Council and the Dalton Borderlands Town Team, offering visitors a walking trail and guide to the ancient capital of Furness.
The Extra Mile: New Bookable Bus Service Opens Up the Furness Peninsula
A new demand-responsive bus service called The Extra Mile launches across the Furness peninsula on Monday 20 July, letting residents in rural villages book a shared ride by app or phone rather than fitting their journey around a fixed timetable.
A Festival First: Dalton's Church Organs Take Centre Stage at Regional Music Event
The Ulverston International Music Festival brought events to Dalton-in-Furness for the first time this year, with a free Organ Trail at St Mary's Church and Dalton Community Church giving the town a place in a regional classical music programme.
George Romney: Dalton’s Master Painter
Born at Beckside in 1734, Dalton’s own George Romney went on to become one of Georgian London’s most celebrated portrait painters, and he came home to rest in the town.
Dalton: The Town That Iron Built
For centuries a quiet market town, Dalton and the wider Furness peninsula were transformed by the rich red haematite beneath their fields and the railway that came to carry it away.
Furness Abbey: Eight Centuries in Red Sandstone
Founded in 1123 and once among the wealthiest monasteries in England, the romantic red-sandstone ruins on Dalton’s doorstep have drawn pilgrims, poets and pioneering photographers alike.
The Cistercian Way: A Pilgrim Route Through the Heart of Dalton
A waymarked long-distance walk runs right through Dalton, tracing the footsteps of the Cistercian monks from Grange-over-Sands to Piel Island by way of Furness Abbey. Quieter now than it once was, it is one of the finest ways to see the peninsula on foot.
The Story Behind Dalton Castle
How a modest pele tower became the beating heart of medieval Furness, courthouse, gaol and symbol of the Abbey’s power.
5 Best Sunday Roasts in Dalton
Crispy potatoes, proper gravy and Yorkshires the size of your head, our entirely subjective ranking of the town’s finest roasts.
A Spring Walk to Furness Abbey
Bluebells, birdsong and red sandstone ruins, why the Castle to Abbey Trail is at its very best in May.
Meet the Maker: Country Candles
We sat down with the team behind Gifts by Country Candles to talk scent, sustainability and small-town making.
What’s New on Market Street 2026
New shopfronts, a refreshed market square and exciting plans for the autumn, here’s what’s changing in town this year.
Five Free Things to Do in Dalton-in-Furness
You do not need to spend a penny to have a brilliant day in Dalton. Here are five of our favourite free days out in and around the town.
The Story of St Mary’s Church
Its soaring spire crowns the Dalton skyline. A short look at the grand Victorian church at the heart of the old town.
A Perfect Weekend in Dalton-in-Furness
Two days, one historic market town, and the southern gateway to the Lake District. Here is how to make the most of a weekend in Dalton.