A few jobs to do at home today, with bad weather forecast for the weekend it was hard not to resist nipping out for a few hours, I parked in Natland, opposite the School, bone idle really it's only a stones throw from home. My route took me past the Garden Centre to a bridleway on the right, this I followed to reach the canal, south along the canal through Larkrigg Wood to reach the impressive Aquaduct at Sedgwick, onwards to cross the A590 before entering Levens Park home to a rare herd of dark brown Fallow Deer, and a probably equally rare herd of awfully smelly Baggot Goats, not to forget a famed avenue of Oaks, I crossed the river at Levens Bridge to head north on the opposite bank, the path took me under the A590, still following the west bank of the river, I reached Low Park Caravan Site home to the New Sedgwick Gunpowder Works, following the river upstream, I soon reached the impressive Natland Gorge, I crossed the river by the magnificent Hawes Bridge, with the east bank now under foot I soon reached the Roman Fort at Watercroock before rejoining the canal for the short walk back to Natland.
Levens Park and the River Kent.

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Walking south along the canal with views across the Kent Valley to a distant Scout Scar.
   
Looking back to Larkrigg Wood, no trace of the canal ever being here, but the stonework is still beneath my feet.
   
Sedgwick Aquaduct, built in 1877-79, the aquaduct that nearly wasn't? the original plan was to run the line of the canal along the route of the present day West Coast Railway, avoiding the expense of tunneling under the hill at Hincaster, It was decided to take it through Sedgwick to service the village and the lucrative gunpowder industry on the banks of the River Kent.
   
Walking the line of the canal with stunning views over the Kent Valley, looking to the right of the picture you can just see Sedgwick House, built by the Wakefield family owners of a substantial share of the gunpowder industry on the banks of the River Kent.
   
Approaching the A590 looking north.
   
Strolling through the dappled shade under the famous mile long avenue of Oaks in Levens Park.
   
The River Kent in Levens Park.
   
Gnarled tree trunk on the east bank of the River Kent.
   
The Levens Park Fallow Deer.
   
The impressive Elizabethan architecture of Levens Hall, well worth a visit.
   
Scattered through the woods (now the Low Park Caravan Site) the impressive remains of the New Sedgwick Gunpowder Works.
   
Looking to the Wheel House, where a water wheel once powered the grinding stones that ground locally produced charcoal, an essential part of the gunpowder cocktail.
   
The impressive stonework of another building, the walls were well constructed with flimsy roofs to enable the force of any explosion to go skyward, and there was plenty of them. On this site once stood a plaque explaining in brief the history of the works, it also told how many fatalities they had during the years of production, it has since been removed, perhaps caravaners with nervous dispositions will sleep easier at night.
   
On leaving the caravan site I followed this impressive mill race, take the path on the right it's far more exciting, with a steep drop to the river on the right and the mill race to the left.
   
The River Kent near Robin Hoods Island.
   
The impressive arch of Hawes Bridge spans the Kent at Natland Gorge.
   
Looking to the rapids at Hawes Bridge, there's another mill just up the river on the left, my route follows the right hand bank.
   
The tranquil River Kent near Watercrook.
   
Heading south again, on the canal looking to The Helm.
   
Natland Park Bridge, the next bridge marks my exit from the canal followed by a short walk over tarmac back to Natland.