The Venue: Cumbria and J36 Rural Auction Centre

Cumbria

Cumbria is one of the largest and most beautiful counties in England, with a long history of wool production. We decided to add a new wool festival here when we found the venue. It's in a fantastic location and has great facilities. It’s also surrounded by stunning countryside.

The closest town to the show is Kendal, though we’re also not far from Lancashire and North Yorkshire. We really recommend spending some time exploring the landscape if you can.

For more information about the area, you might want to visit the following sites:

    J36 Rural Auction Centre

    We’ll be in the purpose built exhibition hall at the Rural Auction Centre. The complex includes a cafe and free parking. It also offers full disabled access and free WiFi.

    The closest town is Kendal, which isn’t within walking distance. It’s about a twenty minute drive away. Parking in Kendal is mostly Pay and Display, and there are plenty of places to eat.

    We're also only a few junctions away from the legendary Tebay services.

    Please note there is no cash machine on site. While many stallholders can accept card payments, not all will. We recommend bringing plenty of cash with you. There are cash machines in Kendal town centre for you to use. You can pay for tickets on the day in cash or via card.

      Accommodation

      You might be travelling from a while away and need a place to stay for the weekend. Or you might want to make the most of it and come for an extended trip.

      Luckily, there are plenty of B&Bs, guest houses and hotels in the local area. Plus there are lots of camping and glamping options. We recommend looking at the Visit Lake District website for more information.

      We aren’t affiliated with any of the websites listed on this page. While we’ll do our best to answer your questions, official channels will be able to provide impartial, detailed advice better than we can. For example, Cumbria tourist information has a lot of resources.

      Directions and travel

      The venue is just off junction 36 of the M6, in the south-east corner of Cumbria. It’s not far from Lancashire or North Yorkshire. The M6 makes it a straightforward journey from almost anywhere in western England or southern Scotland. 

      Public transport

      The closest train station is in Oxenholme, which is about a 15 minute drive away. There's no local bus connection but you can get a taxi. We definitely wouldn't recommend trying to walk as you'd need to cross a busy junction.

      We’ll provide a shuttle bus service between the station and the venue for anyone arriving by train. It will run every fifteen minutes after 9.30am on Saturday and 11am on Sunday, and it'll be timed to make sure you won't have to wait long no matter what train you arrive on.

      You can get to Oxenholme on Northern Trains, Transpennine Express, or Avanti West Coast. That means there’s a direct service from Manchester, London, Glasgow, and more.

      You can also catch the train to Kendal but that has less services and destinations. From there, a train or a bus to Oxenholme will link you with our shuttle bus.

      Parking

      Parking is at Westmorland County Showground with free shuttle buses to the venue. It's about a five minute trip. 

      You can walk, but it'll take you around half an hour. If you want to do this, please use the canal towpath, not the roads. Some of the road crossings can be dangerous.

      The map shows the route of the canal in blue. Exit the canal towpath after the canal crosses under the A65.

      Accessible parking

      Accessible parking is at the venue itself. If you or a member of your party would struggle to get on and off a coach, please use the accessible parking.

      Follow the AA road signs which will direct you where to go. All parking is free.

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