A day visit to Kirkby Lonsdale, isn’t complete without a walk from the spectacular Devil’s Bridge, and follow the picturesque River Lune. After a short while you climb up to the wonderful viewpoint of Ruskin’s View, which was described by John Ruskin in 1875 as ‘one of the loveliest views in England, therefore in the world’. The view was also painted by Turner in 1822.
Buddy loves swimming and even though it is shallow in places, there are also deep pools and strong currents to be aware of. In the past, I’ve seen people jump of Devil’s bridge into the river, but this is now outlawed by the local council as it is very dangerous. The bridge was probably built by the monks of St Mary’s Abbey, York. In common with many bridges of the same name, legend holds that the Devil appeared to an old woman, promising to build a bridge in exchange for the first soul to cross over it. When the bridge was finished, the woman threw bread over the bridge and her dog chased after it, thereby outwitting the Devil. Several large stones in the surrounding area, including the Great Stone of Fourstones, are ascribed to the Devil‘s purse-strings bursting open as he ferried masonry to build it.
Leaving the bridge behind us, we stopped so Buddy could show off his swimming techniques and always run back to me to shake off the excess water all over me before running back in!
After a swim and get Dad wet period, we walked along the river to the steep steps which lead up to St Mary’s Church and the Ruskin view which today was clear and you could understand why Ruskin felt it was so beautiful back then in 1875.
onemanonedogonewalk 
lovely photos Alan
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