Information for day visitors
Visiting Appleby Fair for the first time can be a bewildering experience. It’s effectively just a big gathering of Gypsies and Travellers who come to the Fair to meet up and trade horses. The Fair and Gypsies and Travellers.
Some people hear the word 'fair' and expect dodgems and
carousels. It’s not an organised event - there’s no entry fees
and no big stage. There are some organised talks held by
Education on the Hoof (click here
to find out more) but really Appleby Fair to the uninitiated
feels like lots of people, lots of horses and lots of hustle and
bustle. There’s several videos of the Fair on You Tube - have a search under Appleby Horse Fair and you’ll get a feel for the place.
We want to hear what you think about the way Appleby Fair 2010 is co-ordinated. Your comments will form part of the public evaluation process that the public agencies hold after the Horse Fair each year. Click here to complete a feedback form.
Read the MASCG Evaluation Reports for:
On Thursday people are arriving and setting up pitches. The main
days for visitors are Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Most people
leave by the Monday.
Appleby Fair is a unique annual event attracting thousands of people from across the country, and indeed the world, with diverse backgrounds, ethnicities and cultures. It is up to each and every one of us to help make Appleby Horse Fair safe and enjoyable for all who attend by respecting and celebrating our differences. Give Respect, Get Respect.
The two main gathering points are at The Sands next to the bridge over the river Eden, where horses are washed in the river, and to the north of the town up on Fair Hill, where there are a number of market stalls. For a map of the town click here.
On the way to Fair Hill is the so-called ‘Flashing Lane’ on Long Marton Road, where horses are run and displayed to prospective buyers. There have been a number of accidents in previous years where horses have collided with pedestrians, so please be careful and stay on the correct side of the wooden barrier away from the horses.
People living in Appleby are proud of their beautiful town, so
please respect them by helping to keep the town clean and tidy
during the Fair by placing rubbish in the bins provided or by
taking it home with you. Eden District Council provides a continuous clean up operation of Appleby town centre and the surrounding road side verges during the Fair’s duration. Street cleansing takes place daily
from 6am to 6pm by the Council’s contractor Enterprise using street cleansing teams and mechanical and mini sweepers.
The clean up of transit and caravan sites is the responsibility of the land owner.
As well as improving toilet facilities on the caravan sites, efforts are being made to improve the toilet facilities in the town.
Control your ‘beerhaviour’ – please drink alcohol responsibly.
Drunken anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated and police
will take action against anyone who refuses to take
responsibility for themselves. Licensing arrangements.
Some other general advice for day visitors:
- Come prepared for the weather. There is little shelter if it is raining and it can be very, very muddy in the fields and car parks if it rains. Wellies/walking boots and anoraks are essential back-up items.
- Please leave your dog at home. The event is first and foremost a Horse Fair and horses can be easily spooked by excited dogs. The RSPCA, working alongside the Police, will be operating a zero tolerance approach to dogs in cars. Any dogs left in vehicles unattended will be removed.
- Please don’t approach a horse unless it’s with its owner and you have permission - horses can kick or bite. Keep children under close supervision near animals.
- Come by train. Stations along the Settle to Carlisle train line provide an excellent alternative to driving and avoid costly parking charges and traffic congestion around the town. Getting to Appleby.
- If you do drive, drive carefully. There’s a number of unusual things to consider when driving in the Appleby area at Fair time. Arriving by car.
- Our main priority at the Fair is public safety, and to do this the control of traffic through the town needs to be carefully managed. The 120m stretch of road known as The Sands will be closed to traffic between 9am and 5pm, with access limited to emergency vehicles only. A one-way system will be enforced in the town, with no waiting restrictions in the centre.
If you’re planning to stay longer, you can find out more about accommodation in and around Appleby at Eden District Council's website and Golakes website - but, beware, during Fair week accommodation is in high demand, so look around the wider area.
We want to hear what you thought about your visit to Appleby
Fair. Click here to complete a feedback
form.
Images from the fair...
