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Barbon from Kirkby Lonsdale, Yorkshire Dales



 

Although Kirkby Lonsdale is in Cumbria it is also in the Yorkshire Dales National Park following a National Park extension in 2016. This ride can be a half day ride or you can make it longer by going over Barbon Fell. One of the features of the area to those with a keen eye are the Andy Goldsworthy sheepfold sculptures, which were built as part of a millennium project. When I first saw these unusual looking sheepfolds they just did not make any sense, but once you know, you know!

Starting from Kirkby Lonsdale large layby parking at Devils Bridge take the path out the layby and head along the bridleway along Laitha Lane adjacent to Casterton Golf Club. Here watch out for golf balls and once on the edge of Casterton head up through the lanes and join the Roman Road called Wandale Lane. Here turn left and head towards Barbon.  



Looking up Barbon Valley toward Dent 




Andy Goldsworthy sheep fold sculpture 


Your eventually reach a cattle grid, take the adjacent gate and the lane at the bottom of Barbon Fell. At the end of the lane turn left and head down into Barbon village. There is a short bridleway you can take to cut out the steep lane hill.  Once in the village turn right and take the bridleway adjacent to Oak Tree Farm, here you head up hill crossing a couple of fields. Barbon Hills Races are held here and its advisable to check no events are taking place when you do the route. 

The bridleway then takes you on a woodland track and comes out at a ford, which is a lovely spot of a picnic. If you want a longer ride you can take the bridleway over the fell, but for this ride keep on the lane and head back to the lane at the bottom of Barbon Fell. Once through the cattle grid take the bridleway back, which takes in the Andy Goldsworthy sheep folds. The stone in the middle of the dry stone square pens represents a sheep! I think you notice these features more on horseback, but I challenge you to count them (personally I always loose count!). Once at the end of the bridleway you can cross the lane and go back via this bridleway or turn right and wind back via the lanes. 

Things to Note - 

Length of ride - 11 miles, but can be made shorter by not riding all the way to Barbon and just doing the bridleway loop (around 6 miles).

Parking - large layby at Devils Bridge, Kirkby Lonesdale or layby at Hodge Bridge, Barbon. 

Ford - There is a ford to cross and therefore like with all fords there may be times when the ford cannot be cross. Water levels of the beck should be checked if there has been a lot of rain and it may be better to ride the ford end of the bridleway first to check you are happy to cross the ford. 

Barbon Hill Races - Best to check there are no event on. 

Route takes in quiet lanes, bridleways (some stoney), forest tracks and there is one field to cross with livestock. The route can be made shorter or longer depending on how much time you have.

Photo credit - With thanks to Bridget Pickthall

A GPX file of Barbon area can be downloaded from the Facebook group Ride Cumbria or by visiting the OS mapping app/website as this is a public route.

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