Beetham
Visit the pretty village of Beetham to see limestone cottages and cobbled forecourts and take a step back into Medieval England. The church dates back to Norman times and the tower from the 12th century.
Beetham is also home to Heron Corn Mill, a Grade II* listed building and one of the few working mills in the area. It has been a base for local industry powered by renewable energy for over 900 years. A fascinating visitor attraction, the 14ft high waterwheel powers all the industrial heritage mill machinery whilst the newly installed hydropower turbine generates electricity and takes the site’s use of renewable energy into the 21st century.
About Beetham Village
Just off the A6, approximately 6 miles north of Carnforth, lies the charming village of Beetham. Here you will find a number of interesting places of historic interest to visit including the Heron Corn Mill, with a working water wheel, and St Michael’s Church with its links to the nearby ancient coffin trail and Fairy Steps. Legend has it that the fairies will grant your wish if you can climb to the very top of these limestone steps without touching the sides!
In the heart of the village is the 400 year old Wheatsheaf pub offering food, drink and accommodation. It is family, dog and muddy boots friendly and has walking maps to the Fairy Steps. A short stroll from the pub is the 78 seat Heron Theatre, offering regular entertainment in the form of drama, music and cinema throughout the year. It originally formed part of an 18th century grammar school.
Beetham village is very easy to find and a delightful place to visit with a lovely little tea room for refreshments, but do take care parking or you may end up in the stocks on the village green!
Popular sites to visit include:
- Heron Corn Mill
- St Michael’s Parish Church
- The Fairy Steps (via a short cross-country walk) - Please note there is no access to the Fairy Steps from Highcote Lane, Slackhead.
- The Heron Theatre
- Beetham Nurseries Garden Centre
- The Wheatsheaf Pub
- The Edith Anice Tea Rooms in the Old Post Office
How to get there
Beetham is located on the A6 in Cumbria between Carnforth and Milnthorpe, close to the border with Lancashire. Route 6 of the National Cycle Network (NCN) passes through the centre of Beetham.
Public Transport
Trains: The nearest train station to Beetham is at Arnside, with northbound trains from Barrow-in-Furness and southbound trains from Lancaster. Beetham is an approximately 90 minute walk from Arnside Railway Station.
Timetables can be found via National Rail Enquiries. Information about Arnside Station, including cycle storage and accessibility is available on the Northern Railway Website.
Buses: The Stagecoach 755 service - Heysham to Bowness - stops at Beetham in both directions on the A6.
Parking
Parking is very limited in Beetham village with some residential roads having no footpath and others designated for resident parking only, so we recommend using public transport to visit if possible. The Wheatsheaf pub suggest their car park is a good starting point for local walks, and there are car parks for patrons of the Heron Corn Mill, The Heron Theatre and Beetham Nurseries Garden Centre (outside the National Landscape, on the other side of the A6). There have been recent incidents where parked cars have blocked gates, driveways and emergency services access in the National Landscape, so please be very careful where you park in the village.
Public Toilets
There are no public toilets in Beetham village. The nearest are at Arnside promenade. A fee is required for entry which can only be paid by card. RADAR keys are also accepted for the disabled toilet. Find them at w3w///renewals.venturing.skate
The Square in Milnthorpe (entry fee) with disabled access. Find them at w3w///thickened.sorters.expand
We are not aware of any local businesses that have full disabled access to their property and toilets.
Places to Eat and Drink
- The Wheatsheaf Pub
- Edith Anice Tea Rooms at the Old Post Office.
Local Shops
A small gift shop at the Old Post Office.
Local Accommodation Providers
Local Events
For a listing of Beetham events visit The Beetham Gateway
Before You Visit
Make sure you’re familiar with the updated Countryside Code, so that you can stay safe and help us look after this beautiful landscape.
When you’re visiting
Think about how you park – please don’t obstruct pavements and dropped kerbs, pathways, driveways or gates, or park on verges or blind bends. Make sure you leave enough room for a large vehicle such as a bus or fire engine to pass and consider the need for pedestrians to socially distance. If parking on the shore, be aware of tide timetables.
Drive safely – many roads in Arnside do not have pavements and at points can be very narrow. Be aware of people walking in the road. Observe the 20mph speed limit, drive carefully, and show consideration to people using prams and wheelchairs.
Take your litter home – If you are going out for the day, take spare bags for litter, wipes, and waste – and take it home.
Don’t be a risk to others – The shifting sands of Morecambe Bay are dangerous. Emergency services have been called out many times to rescue people stranded by the fast-incoming tide or stuck in mud and sinking sand. If you ignore the dangers, you put your life and others’ lives at risk.