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The River Lune
Route facts
Distance: 4.47 miles / 7.2 km
Duration: 2 -3 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Circular route from: Devil's Bridge, Kirkby Lonsdale
This is English country walking at its best. Rolling Hills with a flowing river, centred on the peaceful village of Whittington.
The River Lune This is English country walking at its best. Rolling Hills with a flowing river, centred on the peaceful village of Whittington.1-2.Stand on Devil's Bridge and face towards the town of Kirkby Lonsdale. Now, walk up the lane (currently used as a car park) for a maximum of 25 yds, then turn left through a gap in the wall. At the foot of the steps, bear right (Public Footpath - Biggins) and proceed across the centre of a small meadow, to aim for a gate in the stone wall 130 yds away. Go straight across the main road and pass through another gate, to enter a field.2-3.Proceed directly ahead for 50 yds, to join onto a footpath that runs between a row of houses. At the far end of this path, cross over the lane and ascend a short flight of steps, to enter a large field, signposted 'Wood End' Climb the hill in front of you, to link up with a wall on your left after 150 yds. Follow the line of the wall to pass through a squeeze-stile after 400 yds, situated in the top left-hand corner of this field.3-4.Walk along the left-hand edge of the next field, to pass through a 2nd squeeze-stile by the side of a gate. Continue in the same direction for a further 100 yds, to locate a 3rd squeeze-stile on your left, with a farmyard on the opposite side. Enter the farmyard, then turn right between the buildings and follow a hard-surfaced track for just over 150 yds, to approach a cottage on your left.4-5.Turn left, down by the side of the cottage, to link up with a narrow, winding footpath. At the far end of this path (which also follows the course of a small beck), go through a gate by the side of a barn. Within 15 yds, turn right and climb over a stile to enter a field. Walk parallel to the fence on your left for a maximum of 125 yds, the turn left through a large field-gate to enter the adjoining field.5-6.Go straight across the field, to aim for another gate seen 50 yds away. In the next field, turn sharp right and proceed parallel to the hedgerow for a maximum of 450 yds, to locate a wooden stile on your right. Cross over the stile, then bear left and follow a grassy path around the edge of the field for a distance of 400 yds, to locate a stile on your left with a 3-way road junction on the opposite side.6-7.Turn sharp left, signposted 'Whittington' and this lane will eventually terminate at a T-junction with another lane in the village of Whittington. Turn left and descend the lane, to reach the main Kirkby Lonsdale/Carnforth road. Turn right, signposted 'Arkholme' and proceed along the road for approximately 500 yds to approach a sharp right-hand bend situated on the outskirts of the village. At this point, bear left to join onto a broad, stony track.7-8.Follow this track for just over 0.5 mile and at the far end, cross over a cattle-grid to enter a field. Turn sharp left, to cross over a 2nd cattle-grid 150 yds distant.8-1.Link up with the* River Lune, then walk parallel to the waters' edge for 1.75miles, to eventually arrive at the main Kirkby Lonsdale/Ingleton road. Cross over the road (with care) to return to Kirkby Lonsdale and the start of the walk.* Please note that after exceptional amounts of rain, the River Lune may flood its banks. On these rare occasions, it may be advisable to return to Whittington, the follow the road to Kirkby Lonsdale in order to complete the walk.
Getting there
Parking: Devil's Bridge
