A ramble around Kirkby Stephen and Hartley

An easy walk, starting from the central Market Square in Kirkby Stephen.

Turn right along the lane then immediately left down some steps. At the bottom is Frank's Bridge

1. Who was Frank? He is believed to be Francis Birkbeck, a brewer in the 1800's

Cross the River Eden and bear left through the kissing gate. We shall see more of the river later.

Cross Hills Bottom field by walking diagonally right, keeping the cricket pitch to your left. Stay on the vague footpath along the right had side of the field; it follows an old Roman route. Look back at the fine view of the town before it disappears out of site.

Go through the kissing gate in the far corner of the field over the Coffin Bridge spanning Hartley Beck.

2. This bridge formed part of the Corpse Road along which coffins were carried from the churchless villages of Hartley, Winton and Kaber.

Turn right and walk along the lane beside the beck to Hartley Fold, passing some industrial units. On reaching the road, take care as there may be heavy traffic.

Turn right at the junction and follow the lane to the village rejoining Hartley Beck. Cross the beck by the bridge adjacent to the phone box 3. and continue up the lane until you pass Wearcot and Bankfoot cottages. Climb the stone stile on the right by the footpath sign. Cross the field, aiming right of the church tower to find an awkward squeeze stile in the far corner between two large ash trees.

Join the tarmac path and descend almost to the bottom. Leave this before the gate by bearing left and following the river bank upstream (no definite path). Continue past an isolated barn 4. built of brockram. Brockram is a local stone and is a natural mixture of sandstone and limestone.

A little footbridge will suddenly come into view which you use to cross Pod Gill. Continue up through the mixed wood past some fine beech trees. Signs of the old cart track can be seen to your right.

After the wood the path is contained between hedges and wire fences. This section can be muddy after rain.

Turn sharp right at a junction of paths and continue descending slightly back to the River Eden. Cross the river by the footbridge and, ignoring the gate 5. turn left along the river bank. Cross a stile, and keeping the river on your left, continue to Stenkrith Park.

6. Here the river is a magnificent series of cascades falling over huge slabs of weathered brockram. The sculpture sited here, which functions as a seat, is 'Passage' by Laura White. Paying quiet homage to the river and it is one of the ten Benchmarks' collection, dispersed at various locations along the entire length of the river. A further arch can be seen on the other bank where the road passes over the river. This was to accommodate the now defunct Durham and Lancashire Railway.

Join the road by the kissing gate. Before turning right to return to the town it is worth walking up the road towards the bridge and descending the steps (by the sign 'To Wharton') to see the gorge from a different viewpoint. Retrace your steps to the Nateby Road.

Either .. walk back down the road taking care on the section with no pavement. The road turns sharp left just past the primary school. Turn first right down Mellbecks Lane. Opposite the Gospel Hall a narrow alley should be taken to return to the town centre.

Alternatively... turn first left along Station Road to the T-junction be the Croglin Castle Hotel. Cross the road, with caution, and return back down the main road as far as Potter Brothers Garage. Notice the old cars and motor cycles in the showroom 7.

Turn left by the garage into Rowgate and right at the end. Bear left at the phone box and then right into the unmade back lane. This lane is part of Wainwright's 'Coast to Coast' walk.

Continue down the lane to join Westgarth Road. Pass the dairy on your right and just past the Auction Mart, turn right through the alley and archway to join the Market Square once again.

Getting there

Parking: town centre.

Waypoints