Beetham is an old village with a lot of history still visible in it's buildings. There's a corn mill, a paper factory, a garden centre (& cafe!), an attractive church, a post office with tea room, a pub, small theatre, and war memorial. On the very small 'village green' you can even find if anyone is stuck in the stocks!
The River Bela runs through the village, which is probably why it grew up here. A natural weir on the river was harnessed to provide power for a corn mill, established in 1220. The 18th Century mill is still here using the water power. For the last two hundred years paper has also been made here using the water. The river drains quite a large area via Holme Beck, Lupton Beck, Peasey Beck, Stainton and St Sunday's Beck, becoming the Bela less than 4 miles from its mouth by Dallam Tower at Milnthorpe. The catchment area extends to Lambrigg Fell 334m, Killington Reservoir and Wyndhammere - draining the lumpy land between the Rivers Kent and Lune, plus Hale Moss.
Directions: There is easy parking at the corn mill. A pleasant circuit of the island can be made by crossing the footbridge, follow the path on the East side by the paper factory, along the river to the main road. Easy swim access for geohounds at the road bridge and an informative board at the end of the path. Cross over the road bridge. A visit to the war memorial and church is interesting. The stocks can be found past the pub on the road to Slackhead.
Island in the stream. The west side is the best to attempt to reach the island. In high flow levels it would be dodgy. Small pathlets lead to the cache through the undergrowth. The cache is a screw top tub, please rehide well but don't crush it. We hope you enjoy your mini-adventure!
