A delightful market town

Set in the beautiful Lune Valley, which was painted by Constable and Turner, Kirkby Lonsdale was included in the Doomsday Book of 1086, and has a 13th century charter for fairs, as well as a top-performing school dating to Queen Elizabeth 1st.

A former national winner of the Britain In Bloom competition, town pride is evident and there are splendid Georgian buildings around the town centre, along with specialist shops, pubs, cafes and restaurants. The market is held every Thursday.

Main attractions

Devil's Bridge is located on the south-western corner of the town on the A65 near its junction with the A683. Popular with motorcyclists on Sundays, it also leads to a picturesque walking area for the family.

Ruskin's View, of which the poet waxed lyrical in 1816, is worth a visit and takes in the sweep of the river Lune and nearby Calf Top and Crag Hill.

Golf and bowls are available in town, along with visitor permits for fishing. There is also a historic monument commemorating the five maids killed in the Rose and Crown fire of 1820.

And if it's wet...

Visit one of the town's splendid pubs or cafes.

Walks

During summer, there are a series of organised walks around the town which can be pre-booked at the Tourist Information Centre on Main Street.

Short - The Devil's Bridge walk takes in Ruskin's View and continues through woods and fields to Kearstwick, a circular route of three miles.

Long - For the more adventurous, a walk to the nearby village of Whittington along the riverbanks is five miles.

Events for 2004

Lunesdale Agricultural Show, August 10 Kirkby Lonsdale Gardening Association Annual Show, August 28

For further information

Kirkby Lonsdale Tourist Information Centre on 015242 71437 open between March and October between 9.30am and 5pm