Duddon Bridge and Furnace Wood
A woodland and open country walk in south-west Lakeland
Google Maps Open Source Maps| Statistics and Files | ||
|---|---|---|
| Start: Duddon Bridge | Distance: 2.5 miles (4.0 km) | Climbing: 230 metres |
| Grid Ref: SD 19742 88324 | Time: 2 hours | Rating: Moderate |
| GPX Route File | Google Earth File | About the Duddon Valley |
| Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Start: Duddon Bridge | Distance: 2.5 miles (4.0 km) |
| Climbing: 230 metres | Grid Ref: SD 19742 88324 |
| Time: 2 hours | Rating: Moderate |
| GPX Route File | Google Earth File |
Ordnance Survey Explorer Map (1:25,000)
The Walk: Dunnerdale is one of the loveliest dales in Cumbria and its wooded slopes, open fells and drystone walls make for varied and interesting walking at all times of the year. The River Duddon, rising high on Wrynose Pass, flows south-westwards through this beautiful landscape of contrasts which offers quiet, shady paths leading through dense woodlands, the expanse of open fell and industrial relics of a bygone age.
Woodland path near Duddon Bridge
Low fell at WrayslackIn Furnace Wood, at the lower end of Dunnerdale, lies Duddon Bridge Iron Furnace. Built in 1736 and later abandoned it is now magnificently restored. In the early days iron workers used charcoal for smelting; the site chosen for the oak, hazel and birch at hand in Furnace Wood.
Stanley Wood
River Duddon
On the open fell, on a crop of limestone, stands a well preserved lime kiln. It was needed to produce lime to fuse the metals in the iron furnace. Criss-crossing the fells, drystone walls form boundaries between farms and pastures. They were built after land enclosures in the 18th century to prevent stock from wandering.
In the woodlands, the chiff-chaffs can be heard, constantly calling from March onwards. Soon after, willow warblers add their sweet song to the chorus. Blackcaps soon follow, together with white throats and garden warblers. At all times of year, jays, woodpeckers, tree creepers and species of tit can be seen.
Acknowledgments: Text derived from the Out and Out Series; Discovering the Countryside on Foot.
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