Devil's Grinding Mill

Devil's Grinding Mill is a gorge on the River Eden in Cumbria, England, just south of the market town of Kirkby Stephen. It is the best-known feature of Stenkrith Park and a place where the river has cut deep into the rock, leaving narrow chasms, hollows and natural arches. Locals also call it the Devil's Hole.

What is the Devil's Grinding Mill?

The site is part of a larger system known as the Angel's Drainpipe, a partially collapsed cave network on the River Eden. Over time the roof of the caves has fallen in at several points, opening the watercourse to daylight and creating the gorges and rock bridges that visitors see today. The result is a short but dramatic stretch of river that feels far wilder than its position beside a small town would suggest.

Why does it sound so loud?

The Eden does not flow calmly here. The water is forced through caves and narrow gorges, and the enclosed rock walls amplify the sound into a constant roar. The name itself reflects that impression: the noise and churning water were once likened to a mill grinding away without rest, with the Devil as its operator.

What is the rock made of?

Geologically, the place is unusual. Many people assume that caves and gorges like these form in true limestone, but here the rock is brockram. This is a breccia, meaning a rock made of angular fragments of limestone held together in a cement of red sandstone. The river has worked this tough, patchwork stone into a variety of shapes. Brockram is also the stone used to build many of the houses in Kirkby Stephen, so the same material that forms the gorge can be seen in the town's streets.

Is there any folklore?

Yes. An account of travels written in 1828 records a local tradition that two lovers were swallowed up in the gulf, which it calls the Devil's Hole. The story adds a darker note to a place already named after the Devil.

What else is in Stenkrith Park?

The park is a pleasant, easy place to spend an hour or two beside the river. It has a Poetry Path with twelve carved stones. The Millennium Bridge, opened in 2002, lets walkers cross from the park to a path along the old South Durham railway track, which makes it simple to turn a short look at the gorge into a longer walk.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Devil's Grinding Mill? On the River Eden, south of Kirkby Stephen in Cumbria, England, within Stenkrith Park.

What is the Angel's Drainpipe? The name of the partially collapsed cave system of which the Devil's Grinding Mill forms a part.

Is the gorge cut in limestone? Not true limestone. The rock is brockram, a breccia of limestone fragments in sandstone.

Why is it called the Devil's Grinding Mill? The name comes from the endless roar and churning of water in the gorge, which suggested a mill driven by the Devil. It is also known as the Devil's Hole.

Can I combine it with a walk? Yes. The Millennium Bridge in the park leads to a walk along the old railway track, and the Poetry Path is within the park itself.