our region the Lune Valley
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our region the Lune Valley...We are going to take you on a journey down the River Lune from it's source to the sea, as we list the areas and their interest we have included links for you to learn more, if you would like to contribute to this page please email us at info@lunevalleyhampers.com The River Lune's original name would have been 'Loyn' or 'Lon' this can still be found in certain place names down the Valley, the Locals also describe The Lune Valley as the 'Vale of Lune' or 'Lunesdale'
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DVD - The Lune Valley - Our Heritage |
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BOOK - The Land of the Lune John Self Presents a guide to the region within the Lune watershed. Its 230 pages (with over 200 photographs) cover parts of the Howgills, the Lakes, the Dales and the Forest of Bowland, and the area between. It travels along the Lune and its tributaries, visiting places of interest along the way, such as Tebay, Sedbergh, Kirkby Lonsdale, Ingleton, Bentham and Lancaster. available on our gift page |
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RavenstonedaleThe River Lune starts in the fells of Cumbria at a village called Newbiggin-on-Lune in the parish of Ravenstonedale an area of outstanding natural beauty. Nestled between the North Pennies, The Yorkshire Dales National Park and The Lake District National park Newbiggin-on Lune is a great place to stay. It is also on the famous Coast-to-Coast walking route so many people use this as a stop off point. |
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FARFIELD MILL Arts & Heritage Centre - SEDBERGH - places to visit Nestling between the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales a rescued Farfield Mill opened its doors in April 2001 to an exciting new life as Farfield Mill Arts and Heritage Centre. This followed extensive refurbishment after Farfield ceased production as a woolen mill which spanned 156 years, 1836 – 1992. Another milestone was achieved at Easter 2004 when Level 4 opened. |
| From the fells of Cumbria the Lune now runs in Middleton-on-Lune, Middleton has many farms rearing the local breed of Sheep called Rough Fell, as the name suggests they are a breed suited to the Fells around Kendal, Howgill, Sedbergh and Middleton Fell. |
THE HEAD AT MIDDLETON - Places to eat and stay The Head at Middleton is a charming country inn situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty. The Head is everything you would expect an English country pub to be. Fine food, open fires and a rustic bar with a fine selection of real ales and malts. The Head also has extensive gardens with seating areas. |
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BarbonFrom Middleton the Lune becomes a vale meandering through the valley, passing small villages and hamlets, such as Mansergh and Barbon, Mansergh Hall Farm has a fantastic farm shop selling their own organic lamb praised by many - Mansergh Hall Organic Lamb is the "tenderest lamb you're ever likely to eat" (The Sunday Times, Oct 2005) Barbon Beck joins the Lune, from it's own vale of Barbondale, a popular beauty spot with locals, great paddling pools, walks and stone circles to explore. Barbon is also well known for the Hill Climb various events throughout the year from vintage cars to bikes. |
THE PHEASANT INN, CASTERTON, places to stay and eat The Pheasant is a traditional 18th century inn nestling beneath the fells in the quiet hamlet of Casterton. Just a mile from the interesting market town of Kirkby Lonsdale and idyllically situated in the beautiful Lune Valley. Casterton lies mid-way between the Lakes and the Dales. |
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| Kirkby Lonsdale | |
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The Lune then passes through Kirkby Lonsdale Golf Club, an 18 hole Golf Course with some amazing scenery, the river flows on to Casterton another small hamlet, the private school having connections with the Bronte Sisters, and also have a 9 Hole Golf Course at Casterton Golf Club The Lune now reaches Kirkby Lonsdale as it dramatically menders it forms some of the most beautiful scenery in England, written by John Ruskin and painted by Turner. Ruskin's View from the churchyard of St. Mary's Church is stunning and as John Ruskin wrote "I do not know in all my own country, still less in France or Italy, a place more naturally divine" Kirkby Lonsdale a lively Market Town derives it's name from Church-Town-of-Lon's-Dale, Kirk being the old norse word for church and By being the norse word for town, and Lon being the original name for the Lune. (The locals do not pronounce the second K, so say as kirby) |
Kirkby Lonsdale's superb location has attracted many notable visitors. The Vale of Lune was greatly admired by the painters Constable and Turner who painted landscapes in and around the town. There are many shops, restaurants and pubs within Kirkby Lonsdale click on the link below to find out more. |
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As the Lune passes Kirkby Lonsdale it flows through a rocky channel, medieval engineers saw this as the perfect platform for building a stone bridge, which was listed in the Doomsday book of 1086, now fondly known a Devils Bridge, this has become a tourist attraction on it's own, now a listed monument this bridge still stands strong. Around Devil's bridge there are picnic areas, local football and cricket clubs, and not forgetting on a Sunday the visiting Bikers. There is a great snack bar by the bridge, so a great stop off point for a cup of tea or bacon sandwich. |
The Lune now crosses the Cumbria border into Lancashire, the Vale expands to a flat bottom Valley, fertile in rich grass meadows ideal for grasing cows and sheep. |
THE LUNE VALLEY IN LANCASHIRE...This part of the Lune journey will take you down the River Lune from Kirkby Lonsdale to the Sea, as we list the areas and their interest we have included links for you to learn more, if you would like to contribute to this page please email us at info@lunevalleyhampers.com Burrow-with-Burrow |
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At Nether Burrow, the east side of the river, the remains of a Roman Fortress built by Agricola in 79 AD built on the same route as the Tebay site. To the west is the small village of Whittington, it holds Point-to-Point steeplechases each Easter Saturday since 1936 by the Vale of Lune Hunt. The Local Pub The Dragon's Head in Whittington not only serves great food and drink, but it is also home to the local post office. |
THE HIGHWAYMAN INN, NETHER BURROW - places to eatAs with all good legends, sometimes it's difficult to separate fact from fiction. That the Highwayman started life as an 18th century coaching inn, is generally accepted as true. Whether it was ever the midnight haunt of Lancashire’s notorious Highwaymen is a little less certain. But what is undoubtedly a fact is that The Highwayman is now tempting thousands of people to venture along Nether Burrow’s charming byways to enjoy some of the best regional food ever served in this landmark inn. |
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LeckLeck Beck now joins the Lune, Leck Beck is a breeding river for Salmon, and the Salmon Jump at Cowan Bridge is a sight to be see in the spawning season in October and November. Leck Beck has it origins on Leck Fell, the highest point in Lancashire at 2058ft. The Fell is well worth visiting for its limestone scenery, archaeological sites and the 'Lancaster Pot System' on the Fell. There is a point on the fell where 3 counties meet of Lancashire, Cumbria and Yorkshire and on a clear day you see out over Morecambe Bay the Cumbrian Fells and the 3 peaks of the Yorkshire Dales. To learn more about walking the Leck Fells and the surrounding area go to www.wildcardwalks.co.uk
Cowan Bridge is well known for the Bronte Sisters attending the Local Clergy Daughters School, for more information and photos go to Bronte Sisters - Haworth |
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HIPPING HALL HOTEL & RESTAURANT, COWAN BRIDGE - Places to Eat and Stay We’ve created something really special here at Hipping Hall. |
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TunstallThe Lune now pass the small hamlet of Tunstall, where the river Greta joins from the village of Burton-in-Lonsdale, which is in North Yorkshire, Burton-in-Lonsdale is a pretty village ideal for holidays being so close to the 3 counties. Near to Tunstall is Thurland Castle which dates to 1402 when Sir Thomas Tunstall, knighted by Henry V at Agincourt, was granted a royal licence to crenellate his manor house. It comprises a circuit of walls and towers, surrounded by a moat. The castle has recently been refurbished and converted into seven private luxury apartments. For more information on Castles in The Lune Valley please click here CASTLES The river now passes Arkholme to the West and Melling to the East, Melling is mentioned as "Mellinge" in the Domesday Book, a pretty village with fantastic views across the valley. |
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DOCKER PARK FARM, ARKHOLME - Places to visit Geoffrey and Hilary Ford invite you to enjoy a marvelous day out at Docker Park Farm Visitor Centre in Arkholme, Lots to see: Pigs and Piglets, Rabbit World, Cows and Calves, Ponies & Horses, Feathered Friends, Pygmy Goats and much much more. |
GressinghamThe Lune now travels on towards Hornby, before reaching Hornby it passes under the Loyn Bridge at Gressingham, next to the bridge is a well preserved Norman “Motte and Bailey” fortification shown on the ordinance survey maps as “Castle Stede”. There are some fantastic walks along the edge of the river at this point. Gressingham is famous for it's ducks, The Gressingham Duck was created by crossing the Wild Mallard with the Pekin variety of duck, as Delia quotes " in my opinion, the very best type of duck available at the moment, the Gressingham duck" also renowned in top Restaurants. Originally farmed in the valley, farmers all over the country now rear the Gressingham Duck, and we are proud to stock the Smoked Duck Breasts in our Large Hampers. |
HornbyThe Lune now reaches Hornby a very old Market Town, the name Hornby has it's origins from a supposed Viking Chief called "Horni". In the centre of the village the River Wenning joins the Lune, from North Yorkshire market town of Bentham passing the village of Wray. The River Wenning formed a natural moat to Hornby Castle, which was built in the 13th Century as a replacement for Castle Stede at Gressingham. Hornby Castle is a private residence. Hornby is on the edge of the Forest of Bowland an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) covering 312sq miles of rural Lancashire and North Yorkshire and includes the famous landmark Pendle Hill. The Forest of Bowland is home to some of Britain's rarest birds, and much effort is put in to keep this jewel of Britain un spoilt. From Hornby the river follows onto Aughton to the east and Claughton to the west, Aughton is made famous every 21 years when the gigantic Aughton Christmas Pudding is baked over a celebratory festival weekend, in 1992 it weighed 3.28 tons, a world record. |
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Fenwick Arms - places to eat The Fenwick Arms, situated in Claughton near Lancaster, is a unique 'gastro-pub' combining a warm and friendly atmosphere with fine cuisine. Upon entering the Fenwick Arms, you are welcomed by a majestic open log fire and the inviting smell of home-cooked food that is all sourced from local suppliers. |
CatonThe River now comes to the villages of Caton & Littledale, a cluster of villages with an active community, a good starting point for exploring Littledale, Caton Moor and Quermore all part of the Forest of Bowland. Just South of Caton the River comes to one of it's most scenic points the Crook-of-Lune |
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The Crook of Lune is a popular and attractive spot, where the River Lune meanders in a big curve through tree-lined banks. The river passes under Penny Bridge (formerly a toll bridge) and the bridge which carried the former Lancaster to Hellifield railway line, which is now part of an extensive network of cycleways and footpaths. There is a fantastic Picnic Area so you can sit and enjoy the beauty of the Crook O' Lune which was captured by the artist JMW Turner, and described by the poets Thomas Gray (of Gray’s "Elegy") and William Wordsworth |
The Lune Valley is famous for many artists in history but we have a thriving artist community within the Valley to learn more about the current working artists in the Lune Valley click here LUNESDALE STUDIO TRAIL HaltonThe Lune now reaches Halton. Halton was an important Anglo-Saxon manor held by Earl Tostig, the brother of King Harold before the Norman Conquest of 1066. However, Halton’s prominence was lost in the 12th century when favour shifted to Lancaster, and while Halton castle was abandoned the castle at Lancaster was rebuilt in stone. The earthworks of the motte and bailey castle at Halton are located at Castle Hill from where there are extensive views east and west along the Lune Valley. This can be viewed from the road, it is privately owned with no public right of way Within St Wilfrid's Church, Halton there are several cross fragments of the Halton Cross which tells the tale of the Viking Sigurd the Volsung. The Lancaster Canal now crosses the Lune via the Lune Aqueduct which opened in 1797. The aqueduct, which is is 664ft long by 51ft high. The architect was John Rennie and the engineer was Alexander Stephens. The aqueduct is regarded as one of the finest examples of canal engineering in the country, combining great strength with great elegance. The railway that once passed under one of its arches is now part of the Millennium Ramble Trail. |
LancasterThe Lune reaches it's final part of it's journey the City of Lancaster, named from "Lune Castle", Lancaster has a long and established history from Romans, Anglo-Saxons and the Normans. Lancaster Castle has an interesting history, famous for hanging the Pendle Witches. The Duchy of Lancaster, still held by the reigning monarch, who owns the castle through that office, came into being in 1351. The castle is still a working court and prison. To learn more about the history of Lancaster click HERE Next to the Castle is Lancaster Priory it dates from the 11th century though there has been a church on this site from 630 A.D. and maybe in Roman times. |
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The Lune now becomes tidal, as it nears it's end at Morecambe Bay, it passes by Salt Aire and through Marsh land, as it becomes an estuary it passes the village of Glasson Dock still a working fishing and shrimping village it is also the point where the Lancaster Canal meets the sea, in the past a busy port with a railway station. At Glasson Dock you can leave your car and begin a walk along the Estuary. Finally the Lune passes Sunderland Point, a small village which is cut off at high tide and can only be reached at low tide along a single track road from Overton. Once a thriving port with cotton for the Lancashire Mills and slaves from America. There is still evidence of its former days, including the 'Cotton Tree' and Samboo's Grave a slave boy's grave. |
To learn more about Lancashire please click on the following links www.visitlancashire.com/food-and-drink/home www.citycoastcountryside.co.uk To learn more about the churches in Lancashire please click here LANCASHIRE CHURCHES |
For more information on Cumbria please click on the following links... |