formed a consumer co-operative and opened a village shop in 2005, that featured on the BBC's Working Lunch. The shop closed in 2008; however, it is now (Jan 2016) open and providing a great service to the village community as a shop, cafe and accommodation.. The area is popular with ramblers. Melmerby Fell is very close and Cross Fell, the highest part of the Pennines, is only three or four miles (6 km) away. The A686 road passes through the village, and was described in AA Magazine by travel journalist Phil Llewellin: "England's great wilderness sprawls across the northern Pennines, where the mountains have fascinating names such as Fiend's Fell and Wildboar Fell. Penrith merits a visit after leaving the M6, and memories of the motorway fade as the A686 crosses the River Eden valley. The mood changes dramatically in Melmerby, where the road starts its long climb to the cafe at the top of Hartside Summit, above sea level, with stunning views of the Solway Firth and Scotland. The road leads to Alston, which claims to be England's highest market town, a charming little place with cobbled streets and quaint buildings. The A686 beyond Alston crosses another breathtaking expanse of windswept upland before running down to the River Allen's beautiful wooded gorge." Melmerby Fell is a prominent feature of the area. See also Listed buildings in Ousby References External links Cumbria County History Trust: Melmerby (nb: provisional research only – see Talk page) www.visitcumbria.com Melmerby page Melmerby Parish Council Website Villages in Cumbria Civil parishes in Cumbria Eden District