Devil's Bridge, Kirkby Lonsdale - Barbon Low Fell

I have not walked in this area before, so some time spent navigating may be required.

OS map OL2

Devil's Bridge - Blindloss Farm - Brownthwaite - Blindbeck Bridge - Barbon - Casterton.

https://www.kirkbylonsdale.co.uk/discover/13341-devils-bridge

"At the apex of the bridge, there's a deep impression in the stone - often referred to as the devil's handprint. The folk tale surrounding the handprint tells of an old woman who lived on the banks of the Lune with a few animals. One night her cow strayed across the river and would not be tempted back, no matter how much she coaxed and implored. The devil appeared to her, offering to build a bridge in exchange for the soul of the first body to cross it. The devil constructed the bridge with his own hands, leaving a print in the wet stone. The next day the woman met the devil at the bridge and agreed to fulfil her part of the bargain. She took a bun from her bag and threw it across the bridge, whereupon her small dog raced across to retrieve it. The devil, in a fit of rage at being outwitted, howled in anger and vanished in a cloud of brimstone."

We start the walk by following the short circular route (1.5 miles) from Devil's Bridge to Kirkby Lonsdale and back, with a short detour to Ruskin's View.

https://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2020/06/Devils-Bridge-wander.pdfhttps://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5601740

"Kirkby Lonsdale, "The Radical Steps" The steps lead from the banks of the Lune to St Mary's churchyard. The steps were built in 1820 at the instigation of Dr Francis Pearson who obtained an order to divert the public footpath that ran through his garden at Abbots Brow. There was a lot of opposition and the flight of steps became known as "The Radical Steps" locals came to call them the Radical Steps on account Dr Pearson's Radical politics. There are (only!) 86 steps but they are very steep; the climb is worthwhile however because at the top you are rewarded by the wonderful vista of Ruskin's View"

https://sublimesites.co/2016/03/30/kirkby-lonsdale-what-ruskin-really-said/

Once back at Devil's Bridge, the route I will be walking is based on the following links.

https://myyorkshiredales.co.uk/walks/barbon-low-fell-hoggs-hill/

https://benthamfootpathgroup.co.uk/devils-bridge-to-casterton-and-barbon/

https://myyorkshiredales.co.uk/hills/barbon-low-fell/

Devil's Bridge - Blindloss Farm - Brownthwaite - Blindbeck Bridge - Barbon - Casterton.

https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2909535 Blindloss Farm

https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/7115232 Fell Roadhttps://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2708581 Brownthwaite Pikehttps://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/478500 Brownthwaite

https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5949841 Blindbeck Bridge

At Barbon we should be able to stop for a drink at the pub (and use their toilets).

https://www.barbon-inn.co.uk/

PLEASE NOTE: The clocks go back one hour.

https://www.gov.uk/when-do-the-clocks-change.