Kirkby Lonsdale

About

Kirkby Lonsdale is in the beautiful valley of the River Lune on the fringes of both the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks. A national winner of 'Britain in Bloom', the town has an excellent range of speciality shops and attractive 17th and 18th century inns. Kirkby Lonsdale's superb location has attracted many notable visitors. The Vale of Lune was greatly admired by the painter Constable, and Turner painted landscapes in and around the town. Ruskin was so impressed that he wrote, "I do not know in all my own country, still less in France or Italy, a place more naturally divine."Ruskin's View" over the River Lune is a famous local attraction. The medieval Devil's Bridge spans the river, and is a scheduled ancient monument. There are many riverside and country walks in the area, and historic buildings to see in the town itself, including the 11thC Norman parish church. Whilst many old market towns and their settings have suffered over the years, Kirkby Lonsdale and its surrounding area of outstanding landscape still offer the same beauty appreciated by Constable, Turner, and Ruskin. In 1997 the town was awarded a National Tourism Award by the English Tourist Board.