THE EDGE
VACATION & HOLIDAY GUIDE TO
CUMBRIA & THE LAKE DISTRICT
MILLOM, CUMBRIA
The Duddon Valley near Millom.
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THE EDGE VACATION & HOLIDAY GUIDE TO CUMBRIA & THE LAKE DISTRICT MILLOM, CUMBRIA |
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Millom Location: OS ref SD 175800 Sheet 96. On the tip of the northern most of the peninsulas on the coast, in the south of the county.
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A small and peaceful town overlooking the Duddon Sands, Millom has as a backdrop the imposing Black Combe fell and, a little nearer, Low Scales where you can find a pair of Stone Circles. There is a tranquil nature reserve not far from the town and good walks are to be found in this relatively unknown corner of the county. At low tide it is even possible to walk over the Duddon Sands to Askam- in- Furness, though this is not recommended without a guide, or you may find yourself stuck in the sands.
To the north of the town is what I consider to be one of the most beautiful of the dales in the Lake District, the Duddon Valley, immortalised in poetry by Wordsworth. I'm not alone in this opinion, but it is not much visited and this course adds to its charms, one of which is some of the best walking country in the world. In the town itself the small museum at the tourist information centre is worth a visit, but Millom is not geared towards tourism in the same way as some towns in the county. The town centre is small and free of the gift shops that one associates with organised tourism. That is not to say they are bad or inferior but Millom is not for those who look for that particular type of amenity. Those who wish to wander off the beaten tourist track could do worse than go to Millom. One of Britain's most celebrated poets of recent times, Norman Nicholson, chose to spend his entire life in the town. Originally called Holborn Hill, Millom takes its name from nearby Millom Castle, now a working farm and not open to the public. Until the success of the iron ore mines, Millom was a small village making its living from fishing, but the significance of the iron deposits was such that workers were brought in and by 1873 some three hundred were employed in the mines. In order to protect the workings from high tides and storms a defensive wall was built around what is now the Hodbarrow Nature Reserve. Mining in the area was originally started by the Earl of Lonsdale, of the family who virtually created most of the towns and industries on the Cumbrian coast, but he had no luck. Instead he leased the mines and land to another company who made a success out of the venture. Needless to say the Earl also made a tidy profit from their endeavours.
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