Six Walks to do from Kirkby Lonsdale

Kirkby Lonsdale sits on the spot where Lancashire, Yorkshire and Westmorland meet, making it a perfect base for exploring some of Britain’s most beautiful countryside…

  • Devils Bridge River Loop  

Distance: 8km Time: 2 hours Difficulty: Easy

Explore a loop of Kirkby Lonsdale’s cobbled streets, passing by woodland and the riverbank ending at the iconic Devil’s Bridge. Start in the Market Square and head up the hill towards New Road until you reach Wood End Farm. A footpath sign directs you past a little white cottage, with the path running alongside a stream towards Sellet Mill. Follow the main road to Whittington and head down to the riverbank. Follow the River Lune upstream until you reach Devils Bridge. Cross the bridge and go uphill passing the public toilets, the path then loops back round at the top of the hill back to the Market Square.

  • Ruskin’s View 

Distance: 2.4km Time: 1 hour Difficulty: Easy

A visit to the famous Ruskin’s View cannot be missed on a trip to Kirkby Lonsdale. The short but rewarding route starts at the parking area nearby Devil’s Bridge. Head downhill towards the bridge and follow the green footpath sign for ‘Town Centre and Ruskin’s View.’  Follow the sign through the gate, which follows a footpath along the edge of the River Lune. The path leaves the river and heads up the ‘Radical Steps’.  The steps were built in 1819 by Francis Pearson and called Radical by the locals, due to Pearson's radical political persuasion. At the top of the 86 quirky, steps, turn right following the sign for Ruskin’s view which is around 100 yards from here. The view consists of a breath-taking panoramic across the Lune Valley and Underley Hall. The scene was pained by an artist in 1822 and impressed the 19th century art critic, painter and poet John Ruskin so much that he wrote ‘I do not know in all my country, still less in France or Italy, a place more naturally divine’. In 1875, he described the view as ‘one of the loveliest views in England, therefore in the world.’

  • Hutton Roof 

Distance: 9km Time: 3 hours Difficulty: Medium

Hutton Roof is a hidden-away village in that hinterland country between the M6 and the River Lune, around 4 miles away from Kirkby Lonsdale. This walk begins from the little village and explores some unique limestone scenery. The footpath visits the Limestone Link; a cross-country trail from Arnside to Kirby Lonsdale. A narrow path past here then leads you to Hutton Roof Crags. As you gain height, the wonderful countryside views open up. The path along the crags turns into woodland and leaves the Limestone Link heading gradually downhill until you reach a beck. To return to the village, cross the little wooden footbridge and continue over a field until you join the main Kirkby Lonsdale road. Pass by The Plough pub at Lupton and return to Hutton Roof village via the two nearby meadows.

  • Levens Park

Around 10 miles from Kirkby Lonsdale, the stunning grounds of Levens Hall provide endless opportunities for beautiful, countryside and garden walks. The park is open all year round and has a number of marked footpaths that make their way through the park, which is the home to a herd of black fallow deer and a herd of rare-breed Bagot goats. Keep an eye out for these beautiful creatures when you explore the park, but try to stay on the footpaths to avoid disturbing them. The most popular route around the park is a 3-mile hike that takes in country lanes, riverscapes, waterfalls and parkland packed with wildlife. Once you’ve explored the park, you could visit the magnificent hall and gardens. 

  • Barbon

Distance: 13km Time: 3 hours Difficulty: Medium

Barbon is a tiny picturesque village just north of Kirkby Lonsdale. It boasts incredible countryside and sits on the banks of Barbon Beck. This circular walk starts from the village and visits Barbon Beck which runs through the village to the River Lune, about one mile to the west. After leaving the village you climb to Eskhome Pike, Castle Knott Hill and Calf Top Hill. It's a challenging climb with Calf Top Hill reaching a height of 609m (2000 ft). From the high points there are splendid views of the surrounding fells and countryside. The route then descends from Calf Top to Hanging Clint and Rowel Gill. Here you pick up the much easier path along the beck through Barbondale. On the way you'll pass a series of pretty waterfalls and a woodland section at Barbon Manor. For an easier walk you can just take the southern section of the path along the Beck which is very flat.

  • Yorkshire Three Peaks 

Distance: 38km Time: 12 hours Difficulty: Challenging

Kirkby Lonsdale is a great base for completing the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge. The village is less than 8 miles from the starting point in Horton-in-Ribbleside. The challenging involves the climbing to the summits of Whernside, Ingelborough and Pen-y-ghent in the Yorkshire Dales. Rich in historical interest, the summit of Ingleborough has the remains of a huge Iron Age hill fort, while the Settle-Carlisle Railway runs between the mountains, crossing Ribblehead Viaduct at the foot of Whernside. The classic walk covers 24 miles, visiting the summits of three mountains all within 12 hours. Of course, you can choose to hike these mountains separately or explore the Ribblehead area, if you want something a little easier.