In the unspoilt heart of the north pennines, Alston represents everyone's ideal of a picture postcard Cumbrian market town. But visitors to this reigion are rewarded with much more than just scenic beauty. From every direction, Alston is approached over a broad, heather clad Pennine landscape which has been designated an area of ouutstanding natural beauty. Set on the upper reaches of the South Town River, it lies within the Eden district of Cumbria. Alston moor grew as a lead mining community over four centuries ago, and Alston town served the mining families, many of whom also had small holdings. Today the mines are silent, but the scattered hill farms are still very much in evidence, their dry stone walls marking the surrounding valleys and hillsides.