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

Autumn

The path down to the garden

A little bit of Lancaster -

Walking around Lancaster can reveal a mixture of everything including the Medieval & Georgian .
                                                    Lancaster is now called the city of arts 

Judge's Lodgings

one of the remaining cobbled streets down from the castle

A "Lancashire Witches " sculpture

The main entrance to Lancaster Castle which was prominent in the War of the Roses

View from the castle towards Williamson's Park with the famous memorial in the background

The Storey Institute now an arts and business centre

The Merchants Inn down from the castle

The Hall a wonderful cafe with it's own bakery (part of Atkinsons tea and coffee shop next door)

the famous Duke's playhouse

An unknown luminary of the city!