Things to do in and around Dentdale & Sedbergh
Nestling between the Pennines to the east and the Howgill fells to the west is Dentdale, on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Dentdale has its own brewery and is notable for having the highest train station in the country (actually in Cowgill, 4 miles from Dent village!), one of the stops on the famous Settle-Carlisle railway.
The village of Dent is steeped in history, from its cobbled streets to its twelfth century church with altar flagstones made from lustrous black Dent marble. It was home to geologist Adam Sedgwick who is said to have discovered the Dent Fault. At Cambridge University he field-trained Charles Darwin in the fundamentals of geology prior to Darwin's legendary expedition of discovery on his ship HMS Beagle.
Another of Dent’s claims to fame are the Terrible Knitters of Dent: visitors can find out more about them at the Dent Village Heritage Centre. Today’s Dent is a peaceful, calm place, with hidden surprises tucked away such as blacksmith Lucy Sandys-Clarke, the Meditation Centre, and Sophie’s Wild Woollens.
The stone-built market town of Sedbergh is a great base for walkers exploring the Howgill Fells but has increasingly become a destination for those with more sedate hobbies. Sedbergh became England’s Book Town in 2003. There are many fascinating second-hand and specialist bookshops to browse in as well as several great cafés and other shops. Just down the road from Sedbergh, is the restored Victorian woollen mill, Farfield Mill Arts, Craft and Heritage Centre. It’s a hive of creativity with a gallery, artists’ workshops, café, and regular creative craft demonstrations.
Don’t leave Dent and Sedbergh until you’ve…
The village of Dent is steeped in history, from its cobbled streets to its twelfth century church with altar flagstones made from lustrous black Dent marble. It was home to geologist Adam Sedgwick who is said to have discovered the Dent Fault. At Cambridge University he field-trained Charles Darwin in the fundamentals of geology prior to Darwin's legendary expedition of discovery on his ship HMS Beagle.
Another of Dent’s claims to fame are the Terrible Knitters of Dent: visitors can find out more about them at the Dent Village Heritage Centre. Today’s Dent is a peaceful, calm place, with hidden surprises tucked away such as blacksmith Lucy Sandys-Clarke, the Meditation Centre, and Sophie’s Wild Woollens.
The stone-built market town of Sedbergh is a great base for walkers exploring the Howgill Fells but has increasingly become a destination for those with more sedate hobbies. Sedbergh became England’s Book Town in 2003. There are many fascinating second-hand and specialist bookshops to browse in as well as several great cafés and other shops. Just down the road from Sedbergh, is the restored Victorian woollen mill, Farfield Mill Arts, Craft and Heritage Centre. It’s a hive of creativity with a gallery, artists’ workshops, café, and regular creative craft demonstrations.
Don’t leave Dent and Sedbergh until you’ve…
- Learnt the story of the Terrible Knitters of Dent at the Dales Village Heritage Centre
- Relaxed and stilled your mind with a retreat at the Meditation Centre in Dent
- Taken a train from England's highest mainline railway station - Dent - on the Settle to Carlisle railway
- Explored the book town of Sedbergh and discovered a good read or three!
- Tasted the fantastic breads, cakes and meals created by the talented James and Nina at the Three Hares in Sedbergh
- Spotted the 'loose cannons' lying around Sedbergh's ginnels and alleyways
- Explored the well preserved motte and bailey castle of Castlehaw Tower
- Been on a stone carving workshop with Pip Hall in Cowgill and commissioned some work by blacksmith Lucy Sandys-Clarke
- Watched one of Farfield Mill’s resident textile artists creating something wonderful, bought one of the many beautiful handmade items in the galleries or created your own woolly wonder by joining the ‘Knitters and Natter’ group in the Weavers’ Café
- Walked a part of the Dales Way and admired the stunning rivers and hills
- Eaten a hearty plate of Cumberland sausage at The Sun Inn
- Admired the magnificent rock formations walking the Sedgwick Geological Trail
- Gone ‘free range’ with shepherdess Alison O’Neill on a barefoot walking holiday at Shacklabank Farm
- Followed the Heritage Trail through Flintergill
- Ridden a bike or horse along parts of the Pennine Bridleway or the Dales Way cycle route
- Relaxed with a pint of locally brewed beer in one of the friendly pubs
- Selected some sweet treats from the Green Door in Sedbergh
- Found out more about the early years of the Quakers at Fox’s Pulpit at Firbank and Briggflatts Quaker Meeting House
- Visited the pub with no beer (from the days of the temperance movement): the Cross Keys Inn at Cautley
