Stories from the town
History, food, walks and the people behind our independent high street.
A Brand-New 120-Mile Walking Route Ends Its Journey at Furness Abbey
The Westmorland and Furness Way, a new 120-mile long-distance walking route linking the North Pennines with Furness Abbey, launches officially on 15 September 2026, with its final stage tracing the Furness coastline before arriving at the great red-sandstone ruins on Dalton's doorstep.
New Grizebeck Bypass Opens Up the A595, Bringing Smoother Journeys into Furness
A new 0.8-mile bypass on the A595 at Grizebeck opened to traffic on 2 August 2026, relieving the notorious pinch points that have long slowed the main road into the Furness peninsula, as part of a £23.3 million improvement that also saw 31,000 trees and shrubs planted along the new route.
Furness Community Garden Project Wins National Award for Helping Pollinators
A community garden initiative across the Furness region has won the Bees' Needs Champion Award from DEFRA, recognising the effort of more than 700 local volunteers who have helped create 22 wildflower sites and 4.2 hectares of pollinator-friendly habitat since 2023.
The Furness Abbey Medieval Fair Returns to the Ruins on 5 September
The annual Furness Abbey Medieval Fair returns on Saturday 5 September 2026, bringing living history groups, musicians, craftspeople and family activities to the red-sandstone ruins just a short drive from Dalton, running from ten in the morning until five in the afternoon.
Nature Writer Karen Lloyd Leads a Full Day of Writing at Sandscale Haws in September
Sandscale Haws National Nature Reserve is hosting a full day of nature writing on 12 September, led by Karen Lloyd, Lake District author of The Gathering Tide and Abundance: Nature in Recovery. It is a rare chance for local writers to spend a whole day in one of Cumbria's most remarkable coastal habitats, writing from the landscape itself.
New 34-Mile Coastal Trail Opens Up the Furness Shoreline to Walkers
A 34-mile section of the King Charles III England Coast Path around the Furness Peninsula officially opened on 29 July 2026, giving walkers a continuous route from Foxfield to Greenodd and including a stretch through Sandscale Haws National Nature Reserve, just a short drive from Dalton.
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.