How to get to Appleby

By car

Appleby is situated just off the A66, 14 miles east from junction 40 of the M6 or 37 miles west from Scotch Corner services on the A1.

The Fair has an impact on traffic in area. Horse-drawn vehicles come to Appleby from all around the country, so there is a concentration of slow moving traffic arriving in and leaving Cumbria in the weeks before and after the fair.

Drivers need to take extra care, respect other road users and please be patient.

Here are some useful tips for motorists:

On main roads look ahead to spot slow moving horse drawn vehicles well in advance.
On rural roads assume that there could be a horse dawn vehicle around the next bend.
Indicate your intention to overtake as the vehicles behind may not be aware of slow moving vehicles in front of you.
Always carry out a “long and wide” overtake to avoid frightening horses.
Take extra care at left-hand bends and on narrow country roads.
Drive slowly past horses, give them plenty of room and be ready to stop.
Do not scare animals by sounding your horn or revving your engine.
There are traffic restrictions and road closures in Appleby during the week of the Fair. Pay close attention to road signs showing diversions rather than relying on your sat nav.

All traffic heading north to Appleby on the M6 should leave the M6 at junction 38 and head north on the B6260. This is the best way to avoid the heavy congestion in the town during the Fair and access the car parks. A one-way system will be enforced in the town, with no waiting restrictions in the centre.

Highways Agency Traffic Officers might also be seen on your route to the fair. Although their main role is to patrol the motorway network they do sometimes respond to requests to help the police along the A66 and A590.

Highways Agency Traffic Officers are there to help keep traffic moving by responding to accidents and incidents which are blocking or are likely to block traffic. They have no police powers - although they are allowed to stop and direct traffic. It is an offence to ignore Traffic Officers if they ask you to stop in the carriageway, slow down or leave the carriageway (for example to take a diversion).

They drive in high-visibility four wheel drive cars - with yellow and black checkers and amber and red light bars (not blue like the police) . They do wear uniforms - with yellow and orange jackets clearly displaying they are Highways Agency Traffic Officers.

Images from the fair...