Barbondale, Lancashire

Kirkby Lonsdale is a charming market town in the middle of the Lune Valley, halfway between the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District. The town is documented in the Domesday Book of 1086 and has a Market Charter from the 13th century. Thursday is now market day, providing an excellent opportunity for visitors to peruse the town's unique individual stores as well as the many remaining 17th and 18th century structures. In 2016, the town was also a finalist for the National High Street of the Year Award. This section of the Lune Valley was a favourite haunt of Turner's, and it was made famous by Ruskin — his "view" of the valley is still breathtaking. The river is crossed by the mediaeval Devil's Bridge, and the calm country lanes are great for exploring by vehicle, bike, or horseback. Three golf courses are close by, as well as tennis, horseback riding, fishing, and a variety of riverfront and rural walks, making the area a great place to visit at any time of year. The Sunday Times described Kirkby Lonsdale as "an incomparable Lake District location, bags of community spirit, and one of the cleanest high streets in the country" while voting it the "Best Place to Live in the North West" in 2019.