Two very short walks

(1ΒΌ miles each) from Crosthwaite.

1. Starnthwaite

Start at the village shop (Grid Ref. 438915) and go past the telephone box. Take the turning signed Crook and Starnthwaite, and follow the same sign at the Y junction. Continue on this minor road to Starnthwaite Ghyll where a bridleway sign on the left takes you down the drive.

[Note that the river passes under the main building. Water power was used here for paper making from 1709-1849, then for making bobbins. In 1885 it was a sawmill. By 1906 the buildings had been converted for the use of 'Starnthwaite Colony and Epileptic Boys Home' which aimed to "save youths and men from the listless apathy produced by workhouse life" - To get an idea of how it would look in its industrial hey-day, visit the Stott Park bobbin mill near Lakeside.]

Continue round the corner of the main building, through the car parking area to the wrought iron gates. The footpath is visible and takes you through 2 small sections of field and onto a track beside the river. Cross the minor road to a stile and continue beside the fence to the next stile, which has two yellow arrows.

To return to the village, follow the left-hand arrow to a kissing gate by the river. Cross the footbridge, turn right at the road and retrace your steps to the shop.

To extend the walk, follow the other arrow. Continue in this same direction over 4 stiles (3 of which have yellow arrows), crossing a tarmac drive. In the next field look up-hill for a post with an arrow directing you to a stile into the road, turn left. (Be careful of the traffic).

Follow this road over the bridge and back into the village.

2. Crosthwaite Mill

Start at the Village Hall, opposite the Recreation Field (Grid Ref. 443914.) Cross the road and go down the track beside the recreation field. Continue to a minor road where you turn right. The buildings on the left were part of Crosthwaite Mill, now Dove Nest Management Training Centre.

Crosthwaite Mill

Crosthwaite Mill

[Crosthwaite Mill was a corn mill and the grinding stones can be seen in the car parking area; it would have been used mainly for grinding oats to make oatmeal, but the stone mounted here is for grinding wheat which is a harder grain. In 1849 the miller was also described as a "bone crusher' - so the water power had a variety of uses! The mill race can be seen where the water passed under the road to reach the mill wheel.]

Continue a little further to the bridge for a game of "Pooh sticks" (Each member of the family selects an identifiable stick from the roadside and they are all dropped at once from the up-stream side of the bridge. Check for traffic - there is plenty of time - and cross to see whose stick is the first to emerge from under the bridge.)

Return past the mill but instead of turning back up the track, continue for another 50 yards to a bridleway. Follow this to the church.

[Crosthwaite church was completely rebuilt in 1878-9 and unfortunately there is no trace of the original church which in 1556 was granted the status of a parish church so that parishioners did not have to travel to Heversham.]

The Punch Bowl is conveniently close if you want refreshment, otherwise turn left at the road and return to the Hall.