Duddon Bridge and Furnace Wood

In Furnace Wood, at the lower end of Dunnerdale, lies Duddon Bridge Iron Furnace. Built in 1736 and later abandoned, it is now magnificently restored; in the early days ironworkers used charcoal for smelting, choosing the site for the oak, hazel, and birch close at hand in Furnace Wood.

On the open fell, on a outcrop of limestone, stands a well-preserved lime kiln, which was needed to produce lime to fuse the metals in the iron furnace. Criss-crossing the fells, drystone walls form boundaries between farms and pastures, built after land enclosures in the 18th century to prevent stock from wandering.

In the woodlands, chiffchaffs can be heard constantly calling from March onwards. Soon after, willow warblers add their sweet song to the chorus, followed by blackcaps, whitethroats, and garden warblers. At all times of the year, jays, woodpeckers, treecreepers, and various species of tit can be seen.

Acknowledgment: Text derived from the Out and Out Series; Discovering the Countryside on Foot.