It lies on the A685 and is surrounded by sparsely populated hill country, about 25 miles (40 km) from the nearest larger towns, Kendal and Penrith.

The River Eden rises 6 miles (10 km) away in the peat bogs below Hugh Seat and passes the eastern edge of the town.

[3] In 1352–1353, Roger de Clifford, Baron of Westmorland, obtained a charter from King Edward III for a market and two annual fairs to be held in the town.

This was reaffirmed by a charter granted in 1605 to George, Earl of Cumberland, by King James I, for "one market on Monday and two fairs yearly; one on the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday after Whitsuntide and the other on the two days next before the feast of St Luke."

There is a Kirkby Stephen Mountain Rescue Team to assist those not fully prepared for harsh conditions on the fell tops.

The earliest fabric in the current building is Norman, however most dates from c. 1230 and the nineteenth century, when the chancel and other parts of the church were rebuilt or restored.

Local news and television programmes are provided by BBC North East and Cumbria and ITV Border.

[13][14] Other scenic features in the area include Nine Standards Rigg to the north-east Pendragon Castle and Wild Boar Fell to the south.

However, there are many traces of much more ancient eras in the area, including remains of a large Iron Age earthwork or hill fort known as Croglam Castle, on the south-eastern edge of the town.