KIRKBY LONSDALE. Taking A Walk With Bert.

Mill Brow, heading up into the town from the riverside, a pleasant spot to watch the world go by but not today.

So the morning after my arrival in Morecambe with an uninvited guest by the name of Bert. Yes the stormy one. I had plans to go to the always entertaining Dickensian Christmas Festival in Ulverston, yes the Dickfest, however Bert had other plans.

My plan was to travel up to Morecambe, check into my B&B and then carry on to Ulverston, enjoy the Victorian jollities the head back down to Morecambe to relax for the rest of the weekend. Bert said no to all of this with travel disruption all across Lancashire and Cumbria. Having spent most of Saturday just getting to Lancaster and then on to Morecambe, then drying out, I’m afraid Ulverston was swapped with a couple of drinks in Morecambe, some food and an earlyish night.

Always helps if you know where you’re going.

Swine Market, one of those places that did what it says on the box.

There’s history and heritage on nearly every wall.

So the sun rose again the following day and I thought I would have another attempt to get to Ulverston but Sunday bus services again aided by Bert said no. But as I was weighing up options on Lancaster bus station a service for Kirkby Lonsdale rolled in so I boarded that, I hadn’t been to the town in a very long while and the journey would make better use of my time than watching the rain falling on Lancaster.

The bus route is an entertaining one, following the River Lune inland from Lancaster. The day was not the best for getting the most out of the journey but it’s book marked the trip and the town for me, so whenever the sunshine returns I’ll treat myself top a return visit.

Passing along the valley of the River Lune, it will be a while drying out.

Evidence of Bert’s visit was everywhere, the low lying field along the rivers course where now part of the river with swathes of water providing extra duck capacity. The road is a twisty, windy one and the bus was one of the smaller ones so photo opportunities were a bit limited by the frequent changes of directions. It’s a constant wonder to me as to how a driver manages to remember these rural routes. Tricky enough in the daylight, they must be extra specially interesting in the dark. Even on an inhospitable day like this one the bus was well used, with groups of regulars boarding and leaving all along the way.

The journey is about an hour or so, landing me in the town about noon. First priority was food, there’s no shortage of choice but walking around the Market Square I was hit by an enchanting aroma, the chippy on Jingling Lane was open, that sealed the deal, I’ll have the Sunday roast another day. Cooked to order they were gorgeous, the perfect antidote to Bert and his antics. I ate them in the shelter of the Market Cross, then happy and a bit fatter I went on my wander around.

The days have already started to darken in the afternoon, even more so in the bad weather so I decided to go for a bus about four. That gave me enough time to catch up with what Kirkby Lonsdale had been up to since my last visit, what was still there, what was new etc and make notes for that better weather 2025 revisit. The River Lune curves a little around the edge of the town, passing under the Stanley Bridge, dating from the 1930’s as a replacement for the medieval Devil’s Bridge a little further up stream which was deemed unable to cope with the increasing road traffic. Well the Devil has been getting his moneys worth as the bridge is still there. It was a popular spot for people to dive off though that has now been banned, there’s plenty of rocks in that stretch of river and the changes in water level aren’t always obvious. The cafe at one end is a popular refreshment spot for the motorcycle fraternity who enjoy the roads around the area.

The Stanley Bridge and just a bit of water flowing underneath it.

The Devils Bridge, makes you wonder what constitutes a reasonable excuse?

The light hadn’t lifted much as I headed along a footpath running parallel with the river, making my way back into town, the river was spilling over it’s banks, Bert at it again. I headed up Mill Brow, past Swine Market and back onto Market Street. I had a quick look at St. Mary’s church, Bert was beginning to make it harder to stop and look around and Ruskin’s View was a damp misty outlook. I headed back to where I got off the bus, it was next to a branch of Booth’s, other supermarkets are available, so I picked up a bite to eat for the return journey and hopped down the steps just in time for the bus. Nice timing for a change.

Nobody seems to know whay there’s an old sundial in the bridge.

The path and the river were having a bit of a boundry dispute.

The path was loosing the argument at this point.

Ruskin’s View was also fighting a loosing battle.

St. Mary’s church in the background while the watchtower keeps an eye on the graveyard.

Also good to know how far it is to get somewhere.

Returning was the same as travelling over, though the evening was a little darker and the streets of the villages, Whittington, Arkholme and Hornby with it’s castle were quieter. The bus made it safely back to the bus station in Lancaster through the busy traffic, it was switch on night for the city’s Christmas lights.

All things considered it was a decent day out despite the presence of Grumpy Bert.

https://www.kirkbylonsdale.co.uk/

https://www.visitcumbria.com/yd/kirkby-lonsdale/

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attractions-g315929-Activities-Kirkby_Lonsdale_Cumbria_England.html

https://www.facebook.com/jinglinglanefishandchips/?locale=en_GB

https://www.alamy.com/portfolio/imagesbylachlan

https://lachlan-main.pixels.com/

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