Stenkrith Park, Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria, Spring
Woohoo, Spring Bank Holiday weekend!
On the first day of our 3-day weekend, we ventured northeast towards the bonny Cumbrian town of Kirkby Stephen. Aware of the rush of people heading into the Lake District, we’ve decided to largely stay out of Cumbria for this Bank Holiday. Near Kirkby Stephen is Stenkrith Park, which I’ve written about before. Here one can enjoy the incredible sights of the River Eden and the limestone gorge it’s created, then follow the Viaduct Trail for more glorious views and scenes.
Fortuitously, the weather’s decided to perk up just as the Bank Holiday arrived. Although hazy, the sun was warm and conditions were uplifting. Summer is finally coming.
All photos shot on my Fujifilm X-T2 using my three prime lenses: a Samyang 35mm f/1.2, a Laowa 9mm f/2.8, and an adapted Pentax SMC 55mm f/2.0 lens. Image made 80% in-camera using a customised Classic Chrome film simulation, the minor edits afterward in Lightroom and Affinity Photo.
The “Devil’s Grinding Mill” viewed from the Millenium Bridge. This is where the River Eden has carved out a gorge deep into a collapsed cave system. With the viaduct serving as a frame, it makes a wonderful scene.
Lovely to see families out enjoying the trail, too.
Around here, it’s easy to tell that this trail was once a railway line.
A lovely cluster of dock leaves, or Rumex obtusifolius. You can often find these growing near stinging nettles. Folklore states that if you’re stung by stinging nettles, rubbing the affected area with some dock leaves soothes the pain. Unfortunately, there’s no evidence this actually works.
Looking straight down at Pod Gill from high up Podgill Viaduct. A seriously gorgeous day.
Nowt like wandering amongst the fruiting vegetation and breathing in the summery fragrances.
A couple of Swaledale ewes and their lambs nibbling away at the hedges. In the far distance to the right is the unmistakeable peak of Wild Boar Fell.
The way back into Kirkby Stephen, over Frank’s Bridge, a 17th-century Grade II listed stone foot bridge.
Kirkby Stephen is an old town, with records dating back at least to the Domesday Book of 1086, where the town was recorded as “Cherkaby Stephen”. This door belongs to Mitre House, dating back to 1663.
I took a shot of this statue mostly for my own reference. She’s located in the town centre and there’s no plaque or stone indicating who she is. Turns out it’s Lady Anne Clifford, unveiled in September 2020. Lady Anne improved and expanded lots of her family’s properties around Westmorland, as well as restoring churches in the area.
Pubs, cafes, and restaurants are all quickly filling up once again. It very much seems that life is starting to return to “normal”, whatever that is.
Did you know there’s a Clock Museum in Kirkby Stephen? I didn’t.
Making our way back to Stenkrith Park, the trail runs alongside the River Eden, which we had fun exploring. There’s loads of beautifully carved limestone and rushing cascades to photograph. This child was not happy that we were standing on “his” rock.
A lovely series of cascades.
One of the ledges in the river features this hollowed out hole with the river running underneath it.
Trying to get as close to some of the bigger cascades as I could.
Plenty of flowering wild garlic in the woods of Stenkrith Park, too.
On this day, this was close as we could get to the Devil’s Grinding Mill, the main drop of the River Eden. Nevertheless, it was lovely to shoot the soft light and textures in the gorge.
All the wild garlic, plus an inscribed poem for your viewing pleasure.
Bonus: the Lune Gorge near Tebay
For an added extra, we stopped off near Tebay on our way home to clamber down into the Lune Gorge for some more photos. Plenty of water in the Lune meant incredible sights and sounds.
My lovely Lisabet doing what she does best: getting close to the action.
My turn for a view underneath the bridge.
The powerful cascades of the Lune Gorge.
The view of the Lune Gorge downstream.
The Lune Gorge from high up the river’s banks.