The rare bog moss and views of Duddon Mosses, along with a long history of slate and railways, give Kirkby-In-Furness several specific points of interest to explore.
Moorland and Walking Routes
Duddon Mosses National Nature Reserve is one of the few remaining peat bogs in England. It is home to the nationally rare moss Sphagnum pulchrum, as well as marsh rosemary and cranberry. The landscape offers striking views of the Lakeland Fells and the sea. Its plant life and views are therefore two distinct reasons to include the nature reserve in the nature-focused part of your trip.
Public footpaths and minor roads provide access to Duddon Mosses National Nature Reserve from Kirkby-In-Furness. These access routes provide the practical connection to the village; within the reserve, peat bog, plant species and views are the main points of interest. When planning the nature-focused part of your stay, you can weigh botanical features and landscape as two separate interests.
Coastal Path between Foxfield and Greenodd
The King Charles III England Coast Path offers a different kind of walking experience. Its 34-mile section from Foxfield to Greenodd runs along the eastern edge of the Furness Peninsula and passes through the coastal communities of Kirkby-In-Furness, Askam-in-Furness, Barrow-in-Furness, Bardsea and Ulverston. The section was officially opened on a Thursday, 23 July. In contrast to Duddon Mosses, which focuses on peat bog, plants and views, this coastal path is defined by a specific distance and two endpoints.
Slate and Railway History
Kirkby Quarry lies above Kirkby-In-Furness and has been worked for more than 450 years. For generations, the quarry has supplied roofing slate, masonry stone, flooring, window sills, door lintels, corner stones, paving slabs, paving stones and coping stones. Alongside the moorland and coastal walking, the slate tradition is a distinct theme of a trip to Kirkby-In-Furness.
Rail transport is also part of the village’s history: historically, slate from Burlington Quarry was transferred at Kirkby-In-Furness station via a cable-operated ropeway. The line’s history includes other distinct milestones. Kirkby-In-Furness was the terminus of the northern section of the original Furness Railway; in 1848, the Furness Railway extended its line from Kirkby to Broughton. Freight handling and the development of the line thus illustrate different aspects of railway history.
Another historical episode took place in the hamlets of Kirkby: John Wesley passed through them in May 1759. Together with slate quarrying and the railway, this account provides an additional point of cultural and historical interest alongside the nature and walking themes. John Wesley passed through the hamlets of Kirkby in May 1759; around nine decades later, in 1848, the Furness Railway extended its line from Kirkby to Broughton. The two dates place these episodes in chronological context.
Discover more destinations: Maryport, Grasmere, Rusland, Near Sawrey, Newby Bridge, Dalston, Bowness-on-Solway, Calthwaite.
For the broader travel overview: Cumbria.
