Kirkby-in-Furness: Moorland and Slate History
Accommodation in Kirkby-in-Furness
Kirkby-in-Furness brings nature and industrial history together in a tangible way. Duddon Mosses National Nature Reserve is known for its rare moorland vegetation and views of the Lakeland Fells and the sea. The area also features a section of the King Charles III England Coast Path and a long history of slate quarrying. If you are looking for a hotel in Kirkby-in-Furness, you can choose where to stay based on whether landscape and walking routes or slate and railways are more important to you.
Moorland and access to nature
Duddon Mosses National Nature Reserve is one of England's few remaining peat bogs. It is home to the nationally rare moss Sphagnum pulchrum, as well as marsh rosemary and cranberry. The reserve offers striking views of the Lakeland Fells and the sea. Nature enthusiasts can therefore focus on two specific highlights: the distinctive moorland vegetation and the views of the fells and sea.
Public footpaths and minor roads provide access to Duddon Mosses National Nature Reserve from Kirkby-in-Furness. This connection to the paths makes the bog a distinct nature destination to consider when planning a trip: access to the reserve is from Kirkby-in-Furness, while the coastal path is a section with its own endpoints.
The King Charles III England Coast Path
The 34-mile section of the King Charles III England Coast Path runs from Foxfield to Greenodd along the eastern edge of the Furness Peninsula. It passes through the coastal communities of Kirkby-in-Furness, Askam-in-Furness, Barrow-in-Furness, Bardsea and Ulverston. The section was officially opened on Thursday, 23 July.
The two routes differ in scale: Duddon Mosses involves access from Kirkby-in-Furness to a nature reserve; the Coast Path is a 34-mile section with Foxfield and Greenodd as its endpoints. When deciding on your trip, you can therefore weigh up the moorland and a longer coastal route without treating them as the same route.
Slate quarrying and railway history
Kirkby Quarry, above Kirkby-in-Furness, has been worked for more than 450 years. Its slate production, which has continued for generations, includes roofing slates, walling stone, flooring, windowsills, lintels, quoins, paving slabs, setts and coping stones. Its products range from slate and walling stone to flooring and various building components.
The historic transport of stone is also part of the area's history. Kirkby-in-Furness railway station handled the transfer of slate from Burlington Quarry via a cable-operated ropeway. This means that, alongside production, a specific transport route is associated with the station.
Kirkby was the northern section's terminus on the original Furness Railway. In 1848, the Furness Railway extended its line from Kirkby to Broughton. Together with the historic slate transfer, this illustrates two distinct aspects of railway history: Kirkby's role in the rail network and the transport of slate from Burlington Quarry.
Discover more destinations: Preston Patrick, Hawkshead, Winton, Windermere, Grasmere, Millom, Applethwaite, Great Clifton
For the broader travel overview: Cumbria.
