Kirkby Lonsdale and the River Lune
Walk directions
From the west bank of the river, a few paces downstream from Devil's Bridge, go diagonally up across a park with picnic tables to a kissing gate near paired conifers. Cross the A65, go through a narrow meadow and between houses and cross the B6254. As you enter another meadow, go uphill, keeping the walled wooded area on your left. Yellow markers help you find the route. Keep on over the brow of the hill and straight ahead through two kissing gates to a metal gate near houses. Bear left to a signpost.
Cross a farm track to the white-painted Woodend Cottage. Turn right here and follow the track to the road. At the road turn left and follow it down. At a junction on the right, the road becomes named as Biggins Lane.
Just before Sellet Hall comes into view on the left, a road branches out to the right. Stay straight ahead towards Whittington village along the road now called Hosticle Lane. The lane is sunken in places and carries very little traffic. The descent steepens as you approach the outskirts of Whittington.
Go left at the T-junction for a few paces, then cross the road and turn right over a pebbled mosaic at the entrance to the Church of St Michael the Archangel. Keep the square bell tower on your left before descending stone steps to go through a narrow stile and the modern graveyard. Follow the hedge to a gate in the left corner and keep straight on to reach a stone stile into a walled path that leads onto Main Street. Turn right and walk through the village past the village hall.
 At a sharp right bend on the edge of the village, turn left along a gritty track, passing a farm and tennis courts. Follow the lane as it winds between fields, eventually crossing a cattle grid and running out at an anglers' hut beside the Lune. Follow the riverbank upstream on the route of the Lune Valley Ramble. There's a short overgrown section but it soon becomes an easy walk through fields, always close to the river. The route is obvious back to the A65 bridge at Kirkby Lonsdale. Go through a gate and up steps to the left of the parapet. Cross the road and drop down the other side to cross the park at the start of the walk.
Additional information
Terrain
- A little overgrown and indistinct in patches, quiet lanes and tracks, 12 stiles
Landscape
- Rolling hills, farmland, riverbank, good distance views
Dog friendliness
- On lead through farmland
Parking
- Devil's Bridge car park, Kirkby Lonsdale
Toilets en route
- At the start
About the walk
It's something of a revelation, to escape the weekend motorcycle congregation on Devil's Bridge and take this circular walk over rolling hills, through farmland and woods, to the worthy village of Whittington, then to return along the banks of the lovely Lune. You pass close to Sellet Mill – its... huge waterwheel, incorporated within the building, was reputedly once the second largest in the country. Corn was ground at the mill until its closure in the 1940s. Sellet is a word you'll come across often on this walk and is apparently an old local word for drumlin (a small rounded hill formed by glacial deposits). Your next Sellet is Sellet Bank, which appears to be a large drumlin. The walk takes you around its base and eventually to Sellet Hall. Built as a farm in 1570 by the Baines family, the hall was possibly used at one time as a hospital, as it is situated at the end of Hosticle Lane – hosticle is an old dialect word for hospital. You return to Kirkby Lonsdale along the banks of the River Lune, following part of the Lune Valley Ramble. Devil's Bridge A simple spring in a field at Newbiggin-on-Lune is the source of the beautiful River Lune, which eventually flows into Morecambe Bay and the Irish Sea to the north of Cockersand Abbey. The river has inspired many artists, most famously J M W Turner, who visited Kirkby Lonsdale in 1818 and subsequently included the river in two of his paintings. The riverbed is rocky under Devil's Bridge, so called because it was supposedly provided by the Devil to enable a poor widow to reach her cow on the other side of the river. In return for this, the Devil was to acquire the soul of the first being to cross the bridge. The widow's only other possession was a small dog. According to a popular poem from the 1820s, she threw a bun across the bridge and the poor hound scampered after it, thus thwarting the Devil and saving her own soul. This graceful, three arched monument probably dates from the 14th century and no longer has to support the busy A65, which has had its own river crossing a short way downstream since the 1930s.
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Been on this walk?
Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.
Walking in Safety
Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.
Get an AA guide
Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.
About the area
Cumbria's rugged yet beautiful landscape is best known for the Lake District National Park that sits within its boundaries. It’s famous for Lake Windermere, England’s largest lake, and Derwent Water, ‘Queen of the English Lakes', but other lesser-known areas in the south, such as the Lune Valley and the coastal towns, are secret gems of wide cobbled streets and rolling hills.
Nearby places to stay
View all (8)
Holiday Park
Woodclose Park
★★★★★
"Spacious park in peaceful spot with local attractions on hand...."
- Launderette
- Picnic Area
- Shop onsite
- Wifi available
Restaurant with Rooms
Plato's
★★★★★
"Luxury bed and breakfast in historic town of Kirkby Lonsdale...."
Restaurant with Rooms
The Sun Inn
★★★★★
"Old and new come together here, with an enthusiastic team at the helm...."
- Rooms 11
- Free TV
- Direct Dial
- Wifi
Nearby places to stay
Woodclose Park
Located in the beautiful valley of the River Lune in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, Woodclose Park has an abundance of walking and cycling routes on the doorstep. The River Lune and...
★★★★★ Rating
Plato's
Tucked away in the heart of this popular market town, Plato's is steeped in history. The bedrooms have a wealth of thoughtful extras and personal touches. Imaginative food is available ...
★★★★★ Rating
The Sun Inn
The Sun is a 17th-century inn situated in the destination market town of Kirkby Lonsdale, and overlooks St Mary's Church. The atmospheric bar features stone walls, wooden beams and log ...
★★★★★ Rating
The Pheasant Inn
The Pheasant is perfectly situated near the picturesque market town of Kirkby Lonsdale and is a friendly, family-run dining pub with rooms. Real ales are a key feature here along with h...
★★★★ Rating
New House Caravan Park
Colourful floral displays greet new arrivals, creating an excellent first impression at this former farm, which has been carefully changed to provide well-spaced pitches, with hardstand...
★★★★ Rating
Bronte School House
Perfectly located for exploring both the Yorkshire Dales and The Lake District, Bronte School House is a beautiful period holiday cottage simply steeped in history: it was the old Clerg...
★★★★ Rating
Bronte School House
Perfectly located for exploring both the Yorkshire Dales and The Lake District, Bronte School House is a beautiful period holiday cottage simply steeped in history: it was the old Clerg...
★★★★ Rating
Plough Inn
This delightful inn is well situated, ideal for exploring all parts the Cumbrian and Yorkshire countryside. The public areas are spacious, open plan and comfortable and blend modernity ...
★★★★★ Rating
Places to eat nearby View all






