A traditional Cumbrian market town with a charter granted in 1262, which still holds a market each Friday in the covered market hall, along with an open air car boot sale which is held at Silloth. Wigton is a popular centre for shopping, pubs and restaurants, and also boasts a theatre, bowls, swimming, tennis and other sports. Lord Melvyn Bragg was a native of Wigton, and used the town (called Thurston in some of his writings) and the surrounding area as the setting for his novels including ‘A Time to Dance’. Located 18 miles from Penrith it is a good base for the attractions of the North Lakes, the cathedral city of Carlisle, 12 miles away, Keswick, just north of Derwentwater and close to Lake Bassenthwaite, and the natural beauty of the West Cumbrian Coast. Hadrian’s Wall is within 25 miles, while the Scottish Borders, and Gretna Green, are within easy reach.
