Things to do in Kirkby Lonsdale
Kirkby Lonsdale is a pretty market town on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District. The village is unspoilt and filled with history, attracting visitors from near and far due to its charming cobblestone streets, independent shops and restaurants and picture perfect cottages; there’s plenty to explore here…
Ruskin’s View
A walk to Ruskin’s View is a must do activity when in Kirkby Lonsdale. 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.’ Since then, tourist flock to the viewpoint to see what all the fuss is about! The image is deserving of its high plaudits and is still as remarkable today as it was then.
Devil’s Bridge
Spanning the River Lune to the south and east of Kirkby Lonsdale is Devil’s Bridge. This magnificent three-arched bridge, probably dates from the 12th or 13th century, and is a popular tourist spot in the area. The bridge is closed to traffic making it a peaceful spot perfect for picnics and riverside walks. At the apex of the bridge, there is a deep impression in the stone locally known as the ‘devils handprint.’ The ancient folklore tale associated with the bridge tells a story of an old woman who lived on the riverbanks with her animals. One night, her cow strayed across the river, when she went to retrieve it, the devil appeared over the river offering to build a bridge to her cow in exchange for the soul of the first body to cross it. The devil built the bridge leaving a handprint in the wet stone. The next day, the women agreed and urged her dog to chase a bread bun cross the bridge; the devil was so angered that he was outwitted by the old woman, he vanished in a cloud of brimstone. Despite the tale, it’s a very pretty bridge and we promise you won’t be sold to the devil if you walk over it!
Kirkby Lonsdale Brewery
Established in 2009, the Kirkby Lonsdale Brewery is situated in the Old Station Yard and is open to the public to explore including a taproom bar, kitchen and coffee shop. The brewery also sells bottled beers on site alongside coffee and merchandise. The brewery produce beers themed around the area, naming their first beer ‘Ruskins’ after the iconic Ruskin’s View.
St Marys Church
Kirkby Lonsdale’s parish church, St Mary’s, is an ancient building of Norman origin and was likely built between 1093 and 1130. The archaic building boasts a range of architectural styles, some dating back to the early 12th century, which are still visible today. The north aisle has three magnificent Norman columns, similar to ones in Durham Cathedral, with a diamond pattern on the stone.
In the churchyard are ten monuments that have been listed at Grade II, including a monument to the Burrow family, dating from the middle of the 18th century. Also there is a table tomb from the early 18th century and a monument to John Dent dated 1709 and a table tomb to Rowland Tarham dated 1716. Despite the age of the church, it is still in use today with active services and community events taking place throughout the year.
