LUNE VALLEY RAMBLE
Having nothing to do today I thought I would have a solo trip and tackle the lune valley ramble as its been on my list of walks to do
So with my rucksack packed and fresh batteries in the gps I set off at 9.30am. Since the path runs behind my house I cheated a bit and started from the 2klm point but still new I had a full days walking in front of me, my goal was to reach Kirkby Lonsdale before 3.30 as that was the time finished at booths and she was my lift home
The first part of the walk is a nice stroll along the cycle path up to the crook of lune picnic site and then it was onto the footpaths of the lower lune flood plains, this is when the fun started due to the floods we have had the ground was very soggy and heavy going. I followed the path the best I could, at this point ill let you know I couldn’t be bothered with a map and was relying in the marker discs on the styles and gates. I plodded on across field and through the wood till I reached the half way point at Lyon Bridge just outside Hornby.
From this point I knew the waling was going to get better because the path is now out of the flood plains and for some reason the wildlife was better as well , I saw kingfishers , dippers, herons, crested grebes etc and the sun came out which gave me a feel good factor as I had fallen behind with my time. The next 4klm of the walk was nice a well defined path to follow and dry under foot once past the village of arkholme the path went back down on to the upper plains of the lune valley, this part of the walk was the nice part long straight dry paths and the river lune is at its best, slow running shallow water with cobbled river beds teaming with wildlife. I had given up on my times now and was quiet happy plodding along at a more relaxed pace as I knew I wasn’t going to make it to Kirkby Lonsdale for when Michelle finished work , I had phoned her and said I could be an hour late and she said she would wait for me ,
I came across a pile of feathers and a birds foot, I didn’t know what had killed it but it had a good meal, now with me collecting skull it would have been rude not to look for the head. After 10 minutes poking around I found it about 10ft away, it was now I knew that the bird was an oystercatcher, so I got the sandwich bag out of my rucksack that had had my dinner in, quickly bending down I scooped the head up with the bag and put it in my rucksack and carried on along my way
Soon after my goal was in site I could see devils bridge come into view up the river this was also the time my legs started to cramp up but the end was in sight and nothing was going to stop me getting there plus I had made up some time and wasn’t going to be as late as I had thought. It was nice to see Devils Bridge getting closer and soon I had arrived at the bridge feeling pleased with myself. All I had to do now was walk up the hill to booths to meet Michelle I was walking up the steps to the entrance when Michelle came out so I had got the timing spot on
A lovely walk that I intend to do again
Paul Geddes
Trip time 6hr 15min, distance 26klm
