Lorton comprises two villages - High and Low Lorton, which combine to create an attractive community of houses between 150 and 300 years old. The valley lies alongside the River Cocker, which flows from Cockermouth to the lakes Crummock Water, Buttermere and Loweswater. George Fox, founder of the Quakers, preached here under an ancient yew tree, which is also famous for having a poem written about it by Wordsworth.