A Temple In Eden 11th February 2024

Led by Allan

Seven members of Cumbria LDWA met at the layby near Millrigg Bridge, (NY608281) beside Crowdundle Beck at 08 30.

The bridge used to be the old county border between Cumberland and Westmorland and a large
stone in the South side wall has C and W carved into it, East side being Cumberland and West side
Westmorland.

After crossing the bridge, the group walked towards Culgaith. Just before Culgaith the
group turned left and went through Hag Wood and Wastebanks Wood to a lonning up the hill that
crosses over the Carlisle-Settle railway tunnel, to the Culgaith to Langwathby road. Once at the road
the group turned right and followed the lanes to Skirwith. The old bus shelter there has scenes
painted on the outer walls and a store of books inside. The village pub which we passsed is now a private house called
The Old Sun Inn.

At the crossroads the group turned right and proceeded towards Kirkland and taking the next left
turn to Burrellhill farm. The route then went through fields before joining the Maiden Way to Bank Hall
farm. At Bank Hall a right turn led the group to Kirkland Church and a coffee break. The church is at
the end of the 10 mile coffin route over the Pennines from Garrigill. The church was built in the 13th
Century. Garrigill did not have any consecrated ground at that time and the nearest was Allenheads
or Kirkland.

After leaving the church the group walked through Kirkland past Kirkland Hall then turned left on the
Pennine Journey route to Ranbeck where the “hanging walls of Mark Antony” can be seen. This is a
medieval system of levels on the hillside to aid cultivation. From there the route carried on to
Milburn crossing the footbridge over the upper reaches of the Crowdundle beck. Near Milburn a
section of the wall was being rebuilt by dry stonewallers who had all the stone set out in heaps for
top stones, building stone and infill stones. Milburn was convenient for an early lunch break on seats
round a tree on the village green.

The group then followed the side roads to Newbiggin and turned
right at the crossroads then left opposite the church onto a footpath beside the Crowdundle Beck
across the fields, passing under the Carlisle to Settle railway viaduct, to Acorn Bank.
The grounds around Acorn bank were covered in snowdrops in full bloom. The house was built about
1650 and the walled garden there has the National Trust's largest collection of over 270 different
herbs with at least one variety being named Acorn Bank. Nearby is a restored watermill which was
visited. There has been a watermill on the site since the early 1300’s.

The group then carried on to Temple Sowerby and made use of the picnic table for a quick drinks stop on the village green.

After walking through the village and along the old A66 the route turned right on a path which passes under
the A66 dual carriageway to Skygarth farm. Just after the farm the route crossed a bridge over the
disused railway line which went from Penrith to Darlington. After crossing the bridge the route
turned right again and soon came to the banks of the river Eden. The path from here to the bridge on the
old A66 road follows alongside the river. There was evidence as to how bad the January floods were
with lots trees and branches littering the fields and fences. Some fences had been broken or
flattened and the path would have been four or five feet under water in some places. After regaining
the A66 it was only a short walk back to the start. The distance covered was 17.7 miles and finish
time was 1620 approx.