Whelpstone Lodge The old farm house of Whelpstone Lodge. The track in the foreground leads to Owlshaw farm which is the white building in the distance to the left of the tree trunk. The farm track in the picture is officially in Yorkshire but on its short journey to Owlshaw briefly enters back into Lancashire officially. The county boundary being marked by a dry stone wall which the track passes through then after a short distance enters back into Yorkshire through the same wall line. There are no border guards or customs bureaucrats to hassle the free thinking, free roaming poets of the free wild fells. The border line here is part of the 'new'1974 boundary between the Red Rose county of Lancashire and the White Rose of Yorkshire, these being the dictates of control bureaucracies. The old boundary bit deep into the 'Red Rose' making Lancashire geographically resemble a wasps body! The extremity of the 'White Rose' bite was on the high fells of Bowland over looking the Irish sea which was just 9 miles west along SD51 grid line to the coast at Morecambe Bay. This old county boundary area was near 'Greave Clough Head' and 'White Moss' at 1520ft(464M) both being in SD5750. The western extremity of this former boundary is marked on the map as a mound at SD574509 just south of 'Johnny Pye's Clough Top'. Johnny Pye's Clough Top is in SD5751 which also lies on the old county boundary line marked by another mound a short distance towards the north east. A little further on still (NE) the trig point of 'Hawthornthwaite Fell Top' 1567ft (476M) SD579515 was on the former Lancashire/Yorkshire border. Many of us free spirits do not recognise these 'new' 1974 border lines and still refer to villages and places as being in the Red Rose or White rose counties of former times pre 74, even if it does make old Lancashire take the form of a wasps body. Also don't forget we Lancastrians had the south peninsulas of the Lake District dipping into the north of Morecambe Bay. But Yorkshire men and women are wary of us Lancashire folk because they know we have a damned good sting !

Search Lodges in Rathmell

Change your mind
Book hotels with free cancellation
Treat yourself
Sign in to save 10% or more on thousands of hotels
Sign in
Be picky
Search almost a million properties worldwide

Check prices for these dates

Next weekend

26 Dec - 28 Dec

In two weeks

In one month

16 Jan - 18 Jan

In two months

13 Feb - 15 Feb

Our top choices for Rathmell lodges

Food and drink

Craven Shepherd Huts

Skipton

United Kingdom

Sam

AED 393 total

includes taxes & fees

6 Jan - 7 January 2026

TV, fireplace

Westfield Lodge Retreat-Sleeps 6-Pet Friendly

Carnforth

AED 624 total

includes taxes & fees

21 Dec - 22 Dec

Outdoor dining

Kingfisher Cosy Lakeside Lodge

Carnforth

AED 885 total

includes taxes & fees

21 Dec - 22 Dec

View all properties

Save an average of 15% on thousands of hotels when you're signed in

Sign up, it's free

Top Rathmell Hotel Reviews

The Skipton Hotel - Formerly Hotel Rendezvous

The Skipton Hotel - Formerly Hotel Rendezvous

10/10 Excellent

"Upgraded room"

Mercure Blackburn Dunkenhalgh Hotel & Spa

Mercure Blackburn Dunkenhalgh Hotel & Spa

10/10 Excellent

"On my arriv the reception gaveva welcoming greeting .My signingvin was strieght forward and good communication. My room , bed linen and towels are Scrupulously clean and very comfortable , Lovely presentation abd lovely furnishings, everything i need. The staff in every category are so friendly and always give a greeting. Nothing is too much trouble. My stay has been a a very enjoyable and comfortable stay. I havecstayed many times over many yrears abd always had a wonderful timevhere and i can truly recommend this hotel. "

Explore a world of travel with Expedia

abf00310-7a9d-4af0-91f3-2cc5cd482a5087ed6831-e3fa-4ee9-bc0f-301a204cbf9b