A Yorkshire Dales charity has awarded a significant grant to help fund the restoration and re-opening of a key landmark and tourist attraction in Kirkby Lonsdale.
The grant of £30,000 from Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust (YDMT), will enable Kirkby Lonsdale Town Council and fundraising charity The Friends of Ruskin’s View, to restore Ruskin’s View and The Brow footpath, which were both closed in September 2021, due to safety issues.
As one of Kirkby Lonsdale’s most cherished attractions, Ruskin’s View was painted by JMW Turner in 1822, and welcomes thousands of visitors each year, who take in the famous landmark, described in 1875 by John Ruskin as ‘’One of the finest views in England, and therefore the world’’.
This view has though, been under threat in recent years, as The Brow footpath, from where Ruskin’s View is accessible, and which links the town with Kearstwick to the north and provides a route to St Mary’s churchyard and the adjacent Rugby Club, has been subsiding towards the river Lune. Concerns over the stability of the steep embankment upon which the footpath is built, led to the then local authority, Cumbria County Council, to close the footpath in 2021 on safety grounds.
Kirkby Lonsdale Town Council are responsible for both Ruskin’s View and The Brow footpath, and over the last year, the Town Council has been able to reopen the first length of the footpath, which includes Ruskin’s View. The restoration project will now move on to its second phase, and the grant from YDMT will help support the reopening of the whole length of the footpath.
Michael Devlin, Chief Executive of YDMT, said: “We’re delighted that we have been able to support the first stage of this important project. Ruskin’s View is nationally recognised; it is a stunning view, but also a vital community asset. Facilitating projects like this reaffirm our aims to support the people, landscape and wildlife of the Yorkshire Dales and surrounding areas.”
Paul Cassell, the Chairman of the Town Council said: ‘’I am delighted with the grant received from YDMT which is vital in funding the monitoring and a range of physical works that are needed to reopen the whole of the footpath, which is an important local facility.’’
Mike Burchnall Chair of The Friends of Ruskin’s View said: ‘’As a charity set up to raise funds for the restoration and reopening of the footpath, we welcome this grant from YDMT. When added to the money raised through fundraising events, donations etc, it provides a huge boost to the funds available for the next stage of works.’’
Notes to Editors
About Kirkby Lonsdale Town Council
Kirkby Lonsdale Town Council is the tier of local government below Westmorland and Furness Council (W&FC). It is responsible for a wide range of activities in the Town, including grounds maintenance of open spaces, including the Play Park and Jubilee Field, the Town’s allotments, CCTV maintenance and, in general, representing the community’s interests. The Brow, on which Ruskin’s View and The Brow footpath are located, was gifted to the Town Council in 1947 and whilst W&FC are responsible for determining whether the footpath is closed or can be re-opened, it is the Town Council that is the key agency in carrying out works to secure the future of the path.
About The Friends of Ruskin’s View
After the closure of the footpath by the former County Council in September 2021 the Friends of Ruskin’s View were formed with representatives from the Town Council and representatives of other organisations, as well as a number of highly committed individuals. Funds were raised via donations, events across the Town, marketing of merchandise and regular giving. The Friends of Ruskin’s View were granted charitable status in February of 2024.
About Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust
Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust (YDMT) is a charity doing big things to support people, landscape and wildlife in the Yorkshire Dales and surrounding areas.
Founded in 1997, YDMT delivers a range of inspirational projects, and has supported the planting of 1.6 million trees, restored 850 hectares of meadows and enabled over 15,000 people to access, enjoy and understand the Yorkshire Dales. These projects cover areas as diverse as rural apprenticeships, grants, education and outreach, restoring woodlands and wildlife habitats, and improving access and understanding of this special place.
YDMT’s work is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery www.postcodelottery.co.uk
Find out more at www.ydmt.org
