Tours

We know the Eden Valley well and would like to show you round. These tours are a ready-made day out. Choose your transport - on foot, by boat, by car, by bike, by train and follow one of our discovery routes.

Select a tour below for more information.

Discover The Eden Valley
A Walk from Scale Beck
Crake Trees Manor Walk 1
Crake Trees Manor Walk 2
Crake Trees Manor Walk 3
The Limes
Lazonby walk

Lazonby walk

For those who prefer to carry refreshments there are plenty of appropriate stopping points on the walk but I prefer to travel light and support a rural tea shop. The Little Salkeld Watermill Tea Rooms fits this purpose and so I have started this walk from Lazonby Bridge so the tea rooms can be used as a halfway pit stop.

There is a Car Park (with Recycling Centre) on the Lazonby side of the bridge crossing the River Eden on the road from Lazonby to Kirkoswald, park here and start the walk by crossing over the bridge. At the other side of the bridge is a style on the right, cross and keep the fence to your left until you cross a 2nd style, then keep the fence on your right until passing through a gate. Now follow the rough path keeping the river to your right until you come to a wooded area at the end of a large pasture field, here bare left up to the gate which leads out onto the road. (you will return to this point for the final part of your walk). Part way along this field is a small bench seat an excellent place to watch the river life for a while.

Turn right out of the gate and once over the beck turn right, uphill through a thicket over the style and follow the path which now runs parallel again to the River Eden and into the woods. I always enjoy this walk along the banks of the River Eden, on a recent walk the Woodpeckers and Swans seem to be out in force, despite the skies - whilst mainly blue— being dotted with threatening showers. The first part of the path through the woods has been known to be a little wet but the erection of duck boards to the route a few years ago made walking much more pleasant. A few weeks ago I was enjoying the walk but deep in thought—trying to decide whether or not the duck-boards, whilst making the walk much easier, took away the challenge of negotiating the muddy areas. I had just voted in favour of the mud, when I noticed round the corner about 10 yards away a pose (if that is the correct collective noun) of Weasels prancing along the boards towards me, seeming oblivious to my presence, they kept straight on at the corner passing only a few feet away from me. I had to look around to see if there was a remake of “Watership Down” under way. Obviously the rabbits in the field I had just passed were in for trouble.

The wooded path continues on, with a little detour needed to arrive at Lacy’s Caves, hewn out of the rock for the eccentric Colonel Lacy of Salkeld Hall about 1865. After passing the old Anhydrite Mines the river now leaves the path and the railway (Carlisle to Settle Line) joins to our right, here a small detour round the Sub-station is required before joining a better track leading to Little Salkeld. At this point the thoughts of a cuppa and nourishment at the Little Watermill spur me on and soon become a reality. In the hamlet of Little Salkeld turn right once you meet the Langwathby to Kirkoswald road, the mill is at the bottom of the hill.

Refreshed it was off back up the hill, this time taking the road up the hill to the stone circle (follow the signs). One could write for ever about the history and legends surrounding Long Meg. I prefer the legend that attributes the circle to be coven of witches turned to stone by a wizard as punishment for holding orgies and dancing on the Sabbath. After spending some time endeavouring to count the number of witches supposedly involved in this orgy, fortunately with differing results. As legend has it that nobody can count the stones twice and reach the same number. If anyone does, Long Meg will come to life again and her consort the Devil will appear. If you count them beware of raising the devil. 

Departing follow the fence to your right as you came into the field which contains the Stone Circle, keep the fence to your right until you reach the corner of the field, here take the gate to your right before heading, with the hedge to your left, for a small wood through which you will pass.  From the wood the path goes straight across a couple of fields to St, Michael’s Church. The church of St, Michael’s dates back to 1200 and its origins are believed to be Saxon, there are many interesting artefacts in and around the church especially the very good example of an Anglo-Saxon hammerhead cross. Follow the lane from the church to the road and turn left, the route is now along the road, all down hill, passing through the sleepy village of Glassonby, follow the road towards Kirkoswald until you come to the gate through which you came earlier and retrace your steps back to the start point.