Kirkby Lonsdale, Devil's Bridge and Ruskin's View
A short loop from the medieval Devil's Bridge into Kirkby Lonsdale, to Ruskin's View over the Lune, and back along the river.
- Distance
- 2.2 km
- 1.4 miles
- Ascent
- 47 m
- High point 65 m
- Time
- 30 minutes
- Walking time, no stops
- Grade
- Easy
- Circular
Take this walk with you
This route is on paths Google Maps knows, so the walking link follows it closely. The GPX is still the exact line. To see the line in Google Maps, open Google My Maps, create a map, choose Import and pick the KML file. It then appears in the Google Maps app under Saved, Maps.
Weather on this walk
Loading the forecast
Kirkby Lonsdale packs a lot into a very small walk. Devil's Bridge, three tall stone arches over the River Lune dating from around 1370, is the start, and a walled lane leads up into a handsome market town of old inns and yards.
Behind St Mary's Church is Ruskin's View, the prospect over a great bend of the Lune that Turner painted and Ruskin praised as one of the loveliest in England. From there the Radical Steps, 86 of them, drop to the riverbank, and a gentle path follows the water past the island back to the bridge.
It takes about an hour and suits almost anyone. The only real effort is the steps, and you can reverse the loop if you would rather climb them than go down.
The route
- 1
Over Devil's Bridge
From the car park cross Devil's Bridge, now closed to traffic, and follow the high-walled lane up into Kirkby Lonsdale.
- 2
St Mary's Church
Walk through the town to St Mary's Church. Look up at the tower: the clock face sits in the bottom left corner rather than in the middle.
- 3
Ruskin's View
Follow the path behind the churchyard to the viewing area at Ruskin's View, high above a big bend in the Lune.
- 4
Down the Radical Steps
Descend the 86 paved Radical Steps to the river. They are uneven and can be slippery, so take your time.
- 5
Back along the Lune
Turn downstream along the riverside path, past The Island and across a grassy field lined with trees, back to Devil's Bridge.
Questions people ask
How old is Devil's Bridge at Kirkby Lonsdale?
It is generally dated to around 1370 and is thought to have been built by the monks of St Mary's Abbey, York.
What are the Radical Steps?
A flight of 86 paved steps linking Ruskin's View and the churchyard with the riverbank of the Lune.
Where do you park for Devil's Bridge?
There is a car park opposite the bridge. Roadside spaces on the bridge side fill quickly.
Is the Kirkby Lonsdale riverside walk suitable for pushchairs?
Not the full loop, because of the Radical Steps. Pushchairs can reach Ruskin's View through the town and the riverside from Devil's Bridge.
