Tuesday 23 August 2016

#CountryKids in Kirkby Lonsdale #WhateverTheWeather

Country Kids from Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays Cornwall
Monkey and Mouse

Family up from the south gave us an excuse for Sunday lunch at Kitridding Farm near Kirkby Lonsdale. This little gem is so popular you need to book a table. All the food is locally produced and three generations found something to suit our taste buds. Have to say I just about squeezed in this sundae after my lamb roast: 


On the way back out through the award winning Farm Shop there were plenty of local temptations (good job I hadn't got any money on me!). This well loved carved pig sits on the patio outside the entrance:



After a big lunch we all needed to burn off some calories so headed to the historic market town of Kirkby Lonsdale:


Kirkby Lonsdale

 It is a town full of alley ways and little gems like this gateway:



What it is most famous for is the Devil's Bridge which spans the River Lune:


Kirkby Lonsdale, Devils Bridge

My children couldn't believe that anyone was stupid enough to defy the no jumping order from the bridge into the water below:


Kirkby Lonsdale, Devils Bridge

It is a relief that the bridge wasn't one of the many that were destroyed by Storm Desmond. As we headed to the river path we could appreciate the height of its medieval arches:


Kirkby Lonsdale, Devils Bridge

The river path has only been completed in the last few years and there were plenty of signposts and information boards along the route:



The Lune was looking very calm and placid but we could see where damage had been done to the bank along the path during Storm Desmond:


Kirkby Lonsdale, River Lune


We finally reached the Radical Steps which were a steep climb up to the church on the top of the hill:


Kirkby Lonsdale, Radical Steps

The Radical Steps were built in 1819 by Francis Pearson. They were called Radical by the locals, due to Pearson's radical political persuasion. There are 86 steps of seemingly different sizes:
Kirkby Lonsdale, Radical Steps

At the top of them was Ruskin's View which inspired both Turner to paint and Ruskin to write:


‘I do not know in all my country, still less in France or Italy, a place more naturally divine.’
 ‘one of the loveliest views in England, therefore in the world’. 


Kirkby Lonsdale, Ruskin's View


It was then a short stroll through the churchyard back into the town:


Kirkby Lonsdale, Church

I managed to use information from Pokestops to discover more about some of the intriguing places we passed such as the Swine Market:


Kirkby Lonsdale, Swine Market

The town has some wonderful street names like this one:


Kirkby Lonsdale, Salt Pie Lane

At some point one of the flag stones had been etched with a graphic of the name:


Kirkby Lonsdale, Salt Pie Lane

The local civic society plaque gave an explanation of how the name had come to exist:


Kirkby Lonsdale, Salt Pie Lane

The last intriguing street name we came across was this one but I haven't found out why it is called this:



We ended our walk with ice creams under the market canopy (well the members of the family who had room in their tummies unlike me!):



We have every intention to go back and explore the town more and I want to find out what is in the Enchanted Chocolate Mine:


Kirkby Lonsdale, Chocolate Mine

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