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Lonsdale
Lonsdale was a major area of Viking settlement in the tenth century. The Norman invasion was brutal and destructive. William the Conquerer feared an invasion from Denmark and believed - probably rightly - that the local inhabitants would side with their Scandinavian kin from abroad. In the 'Harrowing of the North' of 1069-70 there was wholesale slaughter of many thousands, followed by a deadly famine. There was another Danish invasion threat in 1085. The Normans fortified Lonsdale with castles and mottes. See www.lancashire.gov.uk/environment/archaeologyandheritage/heritage/castlelune.asp
The Viking Trail from Lancaster to Dent
 This three-day 47 km (30 mile) walk follows the course of the Viking settlers who came up the valley of the River Lune - Lonsdale - in the tenth century. As well as landing at St Bees Head, another group of Viking invaders settled in Lonsdale in 902 AD.
The route is of interest to the general reader and rambler. It passes through a beautiful area of north-west England that is rich in history.
The walker will visit several monuments and sites of interest from the Viking past. These sites correlate with areas where the Hodgson surname was and is relatively common. (See Hodgson Origins.)
A booklet on the this trail was published by Martlet Books in 1996. Now out-of-print, the text can be downloaded HERE free of charge.
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