natural environment of kirkby lonsdale...
Surrounding the town is a rolling landscape of winding lanes and verdant green fields bordered by high hedges and dry stone walls. The broad valley of the Lune contains Casterton, ‘the settlement by a Roman fort', dominated by a prestigious public school.
To the north is Barbon, a cluster of houses next to a tumbling beck and the venue for car and motorcycle hill climbs. Further up the Lune Valley is Middleton, a scattered community with an ancient hall in its midst. To the west is rolling farmland around Lupton, Mansergh and Old Town leading up to the prominent limestone outcrops of Hutton Roof.
Ruskin's View
Church Brow, a promenade on the north side of the churchyard, opens up to a splendid vista over the Lune Valley; a view that was painted by JMW Turner and much admired by John Ruskin, who described it as ‘one of the loveliest scenes in England'. A flight of steps descend to the Lune and a pleasant riverside walk to Devil's Bridge.
Hutton Roof Crags
Some of the best examples of limestone pavement in Britain can be found here. The habitat mosaic of limestone pavement, woodland, scrub, grassland and heath supports a wealth of unusual plants and animals, in particular fritillary butterflies. Access from Hutton Roof village or via footpaths on the Clawthorpe road, with two waymarked trails. The site includes Park Wood National Nature Reserve - a rare example of northern calcareous ash woodland with hazel, wych elm and field maple. Access by footpath from Hutton Roof.
Explore Kirkby Lonsdale by cycle
A series of five short circular cycling routes around Kirkby Lonsdale are available from the Tourist Information Centre. For more ideas on cycling in Cumbria.
On foot
The Limestone Link. A 13-mile (21 km) walk through the limestone country of south Cumbria from Arnside to Kirkby Lonsdale via the limestone fells of Clawthorpe and Hutton Roof.
A series of walks in the local area are available from the tourist information office.
