TAKE a short bus ride from Kirkby Lonsdale to Cowan Bridge and enjoy a beckside walk followed by an easy ascent to limestone fells, writes JOHN EDMONDSON. Descend to follow another pleasant beckside path through the pretty village of Barbon and along field paths to Casterton Hall and Kirkby Lonsdale.

The walk begins from Cowan Bridge (map reference SD 636 764).

Information:

Distance: 11.5 miles with 1,110 feet of ascent.

Time: 5 hours

Terrain: mainly grassy footpaths, boggy in parts.

Map: OS Explorer OL2

Route:

1 Follow the footpath from the north east side of the bridge, going alongside Leck Beck and under a disused railway bridge. Bear right through a gateway and stile to Leck and turn left onto the road. Continue past a no through road sign to a field. Continue along the beckside path through a wooded conservation area and on to a grassy uphill waymarked path to the right, up a narrow valley and left at the top.

2 Walk along a grassy track up the broad valley (boggy in parts) beside Leck Fell. At the top (right) of a gorge go through a gate on the left and down through bracken and boulders to the valley bottom. Cross the dry stony beck to a wall stile and climb up the other side of the valley. Follow the path right of a wall, passing several sink holes. At Bullpot farmhouse turn left then right onto the bridleway signed Barbondale.

3 Descend the track and near the bottom of the slope turn right to view the waterfall then continue down to the road. Turn right, cross the bridge then left over the footbridge and along a track to Barbon, keeping left in the wood but staying on the right of the beck, to emerge into a field via a gate. Follow the tarmacked lane to the left down towards Barbon. Where the road bends left towards the church go straight ahead and under a low railway bridge; turn right at the road, across a bridge then immediately right onto the beckside footpath. Turn right at the road and right onto the A683 across Hodge Bridge.

4 Turn left onto the signed footpath and continue walking along Barbon Beck over Kirkby Lonsdale golf course. Leave the golf course via a gate in the corner and continue alongside the beck to Beckfoot Farm: notice the old packhorse bridge on the left. Walk along the lane past a junction, barns and cottages. Turn right onto a footpath signed Casterton, along a field path and over a wall stile. The path goes to the left of Lowfield Woods to a kissing gate in a corner of the wood, through the woods, across a field then through more woods. Turn right onto a track and walk beside the beck, through a gate and left onto a path signed Kirkby Lonsdale. Approaching Casterton Hall, go through a wicket gate (signed footpath diversion) then right down the driveway towards the Hall and left just before the building. Turn left and walk along the left side of the road (to avoid a dangerous right bend) then right into Casterton Golf Course entrance. Turn immediately right onto the bridleway signed High Casterton and right onto the path signed Chapel House Lane. Turn right to walk through the caravan site and down to meet a lane. Turn right and continue ahead to cross the A683 and Devils Bridge into Kirkby Lonsdale.

Next week: Yewbarrow from the Derby Arms at Witherslack

NB: restrictions on space mean that this article provides a general summary of the route. It is advisable for anyone who plans to follow the walk to take a copy of the relevant Ordnance Survey map.