Established at a crossing over the River Lune, Kirkby Lonsdale is a historic Cumbrian town and one of the few to be mentioned in the Domesday Book. Since the 13th century, it has been an important market town and is famed for its river view painted by William Turner.
Things to do in Kirkby Lonsdale
One of Kirkby Lonsdale’s most famous landmarks is the Devil’s Bridge, which was originally built in the 14th century across the River Lune. It is said that the Devil promised an elderly woman to build a bridge in exchange for the first soul to cross it, only for her to outwit the Devil by sending her dog across. Now closed to traffic, the three-arched bridge is a popular picnic spot and hosts a motorcycle meet most weekends.
In the centre of Kirkby Lonsdale is St Mary's Church, which has been Grade I listed for its Norman architecture. Its thick stone walls are topped by slate roofs and a square tower featuring an asymmetrically placed clock. Step inside to admire the beautiful stained glass windows, the 17th-century pulpit and the two-manual pipe organ built by Forster and Andrews.
Behind St. Mary’s Church are the “Radical Steps”, which lead down to the banks of the River Lune. They were originally built for Dr. Francis Pearson, who wanted to divert the public from walking through his garden and received backlash for his radical beliefs. From Ruskin’s View, you can enjoy magnificent views across the river valley and the rolling countryside.
Getting around Kirkby Lonsdale
Kirkby Lonsdale is around 1.5 hours’ drive from Manchester and Manchester Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Buses connect from towns and villages throughout the South Lakeland district to Kirkby Lonsdale while the town centre is compact enough to explore on foot.