Through Levens Park.
Start. Levens Bridge.
Route. Levens Bridge - Levens Park - Park Head - Force Bridge - Levens Park - Levens Bridge.
Notes. The weather man's promised rotten weather for the end of this week, coupled with the fact I've got work commitments over the next few weeks, walking may have to take second place. I decided to nip out this afternoon hoping to capture some Autumn foliage under the setting sun. I made my way to Levens Park where the Autumn foliage is getting a little thin on the ground, the sun set, well that never really happened.
I left the car at Levens Bridge, a small stile allows access to the north bank of the River Kent, the finger post invited me to Park Head. On a way marked path I ascended through park land, exiting the park at the next stile, the path followed the edge of Beach Wood crossing another stile before reaching the small cluster of houses at Park Head. I then made my way along the tarmac lane. Where the lane ends a path leads under the busy A590 to another tarmac lane, I followed this to Force Bridge where I crossed the River to make my return. Following the lane south in the direction of Hincaster I soon wandered over the A590 to reach the rear entrance to Levens Park. Long before the A6 was laid this was once the main entrance to the house and gardens, horse drawn coaches and carriages would have thundered between majestic Oaks over one mile to reach the Elizabethan splendour of Levens Hall, my route followed the famed avenue of Oaks back to Levens Bridge.
Long shadows across Levens Park.
As I set out the sun's all ready low in the sky, unfortunately so is that bank of cloud.
Reflections in the River Kent.
One of Levens Parks many Oak trees.
The view south to the small Hillock known as Heversham Head.
Seen between the trees, The Helm with the green mound of Wellheads Hill rising to the right above the trees.
From the edge of Beach Wood the setting sun.
About to step onto the tarmac lane in the very small hamlet of Park Head.
From Park Head views to The Helm.
I rather like this picture, maybe it's the sharp lines of the road bridge in contrast to the banks of the River Kent, or maybe it brings back memories, as young lads we used to cycle here on rainy days, the walls under the bridge were always dry ideal for honing our climbing skills.
Rapids on the River Kent, the small weir and two up stream are all that remains of the Gunpowder industry below Force Bridge.
The River Kent seen from Force Bridge.
Back in Levens Park looking back along the avenue of Oaks.
The great Oak avenue, one mile long, laid out by Guillaume Beaumont between 1694-1710, this was originally the main drive to the house.
The Levens Park Norwegian black fallow deer.
Through the trees a glimpse of the blue/grey hills of Cumbria.
On the south bank of the River Kent looking north.
Wonderful reflections on the waters of the meandering River Kent.
South across Levens Park.
The River Kent seen from Levens Bridge.