River Lune

Introduction

British Canoeing is currently unable to endorse any Access Arrangement on the River Lune in Cumbria. It is regretted that all attempts to renegotiate an easing of access restrictions with the Underley and Rigmaden Estates for the Rigmaden to Kirkby Lonsdale section of the River Lune since November 2012 have been unsuccessful. The estate's management maintain permission is needed to paddle the Lune where the river flows through the estates. British Canoeing recognises the opinion expressed by DEFRA that the law to use and paddle on unregulated (non tidal) rivers is unclear.
British Canoeing advises that the decision whether or not to paddle is the responsibility of individual paddlers and that access to or from the river is possible either by using public rights of way or where permission to cross private land has been agreed with the landowner. Further regard should be given to environmental conditions, the needs of others water users and other factors as highlighted in the British Canoeing leaflet “You, your canoe and the environment”.
The notes below only refer to access and egress points; please check other sources for information regarding the grade, features and hazards of the various sections.
N.B. Parking at some of the access and egress points suggested can be limited as roads can be narrow, busy, and regularly used by large agricultural vehicles. Please park appropriately and with due consideration towards other road and river users.
We hope that you enjoy paddling on this fabulous river. Please be ambassadors for our sport and don't give any cause for others to legitimately criticise our behaviour either on or off the water. Follow the advice provided by the British Canoeing leaflet “You, your canoe and the environment” for responsible access and respect the aquatic environment, local wildlife and other recreational users you may meet. Please contact Cumbria Regional Waterways Adviser for further information or to report obstructions on the river or any other issues.

Tebay OS Grid Reference NY609032

The suggested access point is to the south and west of Tebay. Follow the A685 south from Tebay; if you want to inspect Tebay gorge then stop on the old bridge before the road crosses the railway and M6 for views up and down the gorge. Continue along the A685 and immediately after it crosses the new bridge turn right onto the minor road to Roundthwaite. Follow this for 600m to a small muddy layby on the right where a public
footpath leads to the confluence of Roundthwaite Beck and the Lune. This section ends at Beckfoot which is easily reached (by car) by following the A685 south, first left onto the B6257 under the M6 after which the second left is the minor road leading under the viaduct and down to Beckfoot.

Beckfoot OS Grid Reference SD619963

Parking on the very narrow lane at Beckfoot continues to cause problems for the good folk who live there. We have been requested to avoid driving down the steep, narrow lane and instead to park sensibly under the viaduct or on the verges of the B6257 clear of any gates (and bearing in mind that this can be a busy road) and carry down the lane to access the river.

Lincoln Bridge SD 63155 92227

The layby next to the gate at Lincoln Bridge has a “No Parking” sign and is regularly used by large vehicles manoeuvring to allow passage over the narrow road bridge. Parking here can cause difficulties for other road users so please consider off-loading boats here and parking in the layby by the B6257 junction some 400m up the hill. Access to the river is over a stile by the bridge and public footpath along the river left bank.

Parking and Footpath signs sign at Lincoln Bridge. Plenty of parking over the bridge and left.

Footpath to the river.

Killington Bridge OS Grid Reference SD 623907

Suggested parking is in the muddy layby east of the bridge; traffic can be fast here so please take care when changing and moving boats or kit around. The Killington Local Nature Reserve is supported by Yorkshire Dales National Park and the Park Rangers have worked with local paddlers to provide a set of wooden steps leading to and from the river immediately to the left once through the gated entrance of the reserve. If approaching from the river, the steps lead from an eddy river left and upstream of the bridge. The steps help prevent footfall damage to the riverbank so please do use them and avoid dragging boats up the bank further upstream.

Egress eddy at Killington Bridge Nature Reserve. Using the steps will help protect the steep riverbank

Rawthey Confluence

Paddlers have for years crossed the field below the confluence to and from the layby next to the road bridge; please ensure you gain landowner permission to cross this field. It has also been reported that the fence and gate by road has repeatedly been damaged; avoiding the field means that we, as paddlers, cannot be accused of contributing to any such damage.
he suggested alternative to using the field is to park in the layby, 600m south of the road bridge on the B6256 (OS Grid reference SD 630891). A bridleway leads through an unlocked gate opposite and to the river. If using this for egress it is worth checking the stand of 4 ivy-clad dead trees on the opposite (river right) bank that serve as an indicator for the take out eddy since the bridleway is not obvious from the river. Using this egress point has the advantage that you can paddle one last rapid before getting off the water.

Rigmaden Bridge

The Underley and Rigmaden Estates state that permission is required for paddling the river as it passes through the estates and offer a booking system in order to apply for such permission. British Canoeing believes the law regarding access is unclear and advises that the decision whether or not to paddle is the responsibility of individual paddlers. Should you wish to apply for permission you will need to send an email at least a week in advance of any trip. Permission, if granted, is subject to various restrictions none of which appear to have any environmental basis. These include no paddling from November to the end of March or on Saturdays if there is a shoot taking place near the river, no dogs in canoes and displaying a note of permission in vehicles parked at each end of this section of the river. In order to avoid crossing estate land at Rigmaden the river may be accessed at the Rawthey Confluence bridleway as described above.

Kirkby Lonsdale (Devil’s Bridge)

Access or egress the river above the first bridge (of two) river right or below this bridge on either bank. Devil’s Bridge is a popular beauty spot / picnic area, popular with families, dog-walkers and motorcyclists as well as paddling groups. Car parking is free but the public toilets need a 20p coin to open the door while the burger van across the bridge does top-rate bacon butties and hot drinks.

Loyn Bridge (SD580698)

Continuing downriver from Devil’s Bridge will take you into Lancashire and out of the Cumbria region. Well worth it in spite of that (!) as it gives a beautiful 10km of gentle touring; egress is on the right bank, straight onto a footpath and the layby west of Loyn bridge.