Crook O Lune

Many thanks to The Lune Rivers Trust for facilitating this camera's location and capitally funding its installation.The River Lune, flowing through Cumbria and Lancashire in England, originates at Wath in the parish of Ravenstonedale, Cumbria, where the Sandwath Beck and Weasdale Beck converge. Along its course, the river passes the remains of a Roman fort near Low Borrowbridge at the base of Borrowdale, before meandering through south Cumbria and eventually reaching the Irish Sea at Plover Scar near Lancaster, after covering a distance of approximately 44 miles. The Lune valley can be divided into three sections: Lunesdale, which extends from the source to Tebay; the breathtaking Lune Gorge, where both the M6 motorway and the West Coast Main Railway Line traverse; and Lonsdale, the portion where the valley widens after the gorge. At the Crook o' Lune, located in Lonsdale, the river takes a sharp 180-degree turn to the right, followed by a left-hand 90-degree bend, resembling a shepherd's crook and creating a picturesque spot that J. M. W. Turner, the renowned artist, captured in his paintings.The Crook o' Lune, situated about three miles northeast of Lancaster in Lancashire, forms a horseshoe bend of the River Lune. Here, the river winds its way through meadows and low hills, eventually entering a wooded gorge. The area has long been celebrated for its scenic views toward Hornby Castle and the distant Pennine fells, including Ingleborough. Prominent figures such as Thomas Gray and William Wordsworth praised its beauty, and J. M. W. Turner immortalized it in his artwork. In recent years, the Crook o' Lune has been hailed by the Sunday Times as rivaling the beauty of the Lake District. It falls within the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Lune Millennium Park.The Crook o' Lune is traversed by two former railway viaducts, now serving as pedestrian bridges, as well as a road bridge. All three structures hold Grade II listed status. The West Viaduct consists of six spans, while the East Viaduct has five spans. Constructed in 1849, with the probable involvement of Edmund Sharpe in their design, the viaducts initially accommodated a single track. However, modifications were made in 1882 to accommodate a second track. The Farson Digital webcam monitors water levels on the River Lune, including views of these viaducts. The railway ceased operations in 1967 due to the Beeching cuts and has since been converted into a long-distance footpath and cycleway. The West Viaduct underwent significant repair and refurbishment in 2005, followed by the East Viaduct in 2013. Additionally, the Crook o' Lune is crossed by the Caton Lune Bridge, a road bridge also designated as a Grade II listed building. The original bridge, known as the Penny Bridge due to toll charges, was constructed by private enterprise in 1806. It featured three stone arches but proved less durable than expected. Consequently, a replacement bridge, the present Caton Lune Bridge, was completed in 1883 using sandstone ashlar and following a three-arch design.