Walk around Cowdber , Overtown and Burrow

On this short walk we found glimpses of the course of the Roman road which in part can be walked along (Professor Alan R. Wellburn's booklet "Leck, Cowan Bridge and the Brontes")

After leaving Woodman's Lane SD 620751 go towards Cowdber Farm --ber is Old English for hill -and continue on the public footpath .

After Cowdber ,although the public footpath goes straight on where it crosses the course of the Roman road, you can turn left onto the Roman road course and follow it all the way to Overtown . The raised ground "agger"in the photo may be the remains

Although not marked as public the footpath looks well used and

you will pass a small holding with goats, ducks and chickens

the view here is a glimpse to the northeast of Ingleborough from the track

still visible here, the old track leads eventually to Overtown where there is a parish boundary stone on the inside verge just by the corner of the road between Garghylle Dyke farm and Overtown which is an original Roman milestone, much reduced in height and hidden beneath much ivy on the right after leaving the track and getting onto the tarmac,

depression in field possibly part of the course

Before the ford/bridge at Overtown SD629763 there is a stile into a manicured garden but it is still a public footpath and this goes to Cowan Bridge

Cross the bridge over the Leck and then turn left onto the public footpath through fields towards Burrow Hall

looking back towards the fells

you might see a donkey

Towards Burrow Hall there are many stone wall remnants and archaeological remains like this above . Burrow Hall has the remains of a Roman fort (Calacvm) in it's grounds ,unfortunately not accessible, but you can glimpse the small ravine above Leck Beck to the left of the track where the east wall was.

Iron implement wheels on the wall of Burrow Hall farm which you will pass before turning left onto the tarmac of the A683

Burrow bridge over the Leck

Back onto turf after turning left onto the footpath along the Leck towards Woodman's Lane--the Roman remains would be to the left of the photo.

Walk around Tunstall, the Brontes and a short walk to the Roman road

The grade 1 listed church of St. John the Baptist is down Church Lane at Tunstall (SD 6147390) via the A683 to Kirkby Lonsdale. It is well known for being attended in 1824 by the Bronte sisters when they were at the Clergymen's Daughters' School  at Cowan Bridge. Charlotte's novel "Jane Eyre" has the school as Lowood and the church as Brocklebridge -the journey to the latter "where a bitter wind , blowing over snowy summits to the north, almost flayed the skin from our faces" made for an unhappy time. Luckily for us, when we visited it was the warmest of autumn days 

The church with sign pointing in the direction of Woodman Lane north

A Roman votive stone in the North aisle

the oldest parts date back to the C13th

the footpath stile in the grounds

Sundial above main entrance

Sundial base C18th in grounds

Further on down the road go across a field on your right and you eventually get onto the public footpath which becomes a charming old track after the bridge over the Cant Beck

Keep on going

and you will see Longriggs Barn over the fields

Straight ahead northwards is part of the course of the Roman road from Wennington  towards Barbon- the Ribchester-Carlisle road (see  Dr. Keith Horsfield's  research "An Old Road from  Lancaster to Ingleton:possibly a Roman route?"for more on Roman tracks in the area )

Maiden Bridge Gallery

This internationally renowned gallery is only 10/15 minutes from Wray by car and could be part of a day's walking around the area.The name "Maiden"is of Celtic origin, dun being a hill fort possibly part of the Celtic Kingdom of Rheged. David and Hannah welcome visitors by prior appointment.

Buzzard

This buzzard and it's family have been around a lot recently . Their "mewing" sound is very distinctive but to capture one on camera is another story. This is my attempt :

                                           Here are some  much better ones taken by Prasad:

More about the award....

                        Here is the summary for the highly commended award for Backsbottom Farm:

Forest of Bowland awards

Thank you Forest of Bowland for the "specially commended" award for Backsbottom Farm