A Circuit from Sedbergh including the Dales Way.
Start. Sedbergh (Howgill Lane).
Route. Sedbergh (Howgill Lane) - Lockbank Farm - Nursery Wood - Crosdale - Craggstones Wood - Bramaskew - Low Branthwaite - Lune Viaduct - River Lune - Lincoln's Inn Bridge - Luneside - The Oaks - Haverah Beck - A683 - Brigflatts - Rawthey Viaduct - Birks - Birks House - Sedbergh School - Sedbergh.
Notes. We did this walk almost twelve months ago, before the end of the ramble we made a promise to do it again in the opposite direction. So there we were in a sunny Sedbergh studying the map, making a couple of alterations to our original route, I think we sliced around a mile off it’s length, but missed out nothing major.
After parking in Howgill Lane next to the football field we headed west uphill to reach the access lane to Lockbank Farm, the lane ushered us between dry stone walls followed by farm buildings, we passed through a couple of gates onto the fell side. We then turned left, ignoring all the paths ascending Winder we let the dry stone wall guide us to Crosdale where we descended through Craggstones Wood followed by sheep pastures. We emerged on Howgill Lane, turned right and wandered on to the first finger-post on the left, don’t no what it said but we followed this path.
Through sheep pastures we descended, on reaching an unnamed farm we passed to the right of the barn to emerge on the Dales Way long distance footpath. First through a green lane hemmed in by dry stone walls we walked, then through open sheep pastures, we passed Low Branthwaite before descending through more sheep pastures to the River Lune. The Lune Viaduct dominates everything here, built between 1857 and 1861 it once carried the Kirkby Lonsdale line 100ft above the river at Newby Dub. From one bridge to another, riverside rambling then deposited us at Lincoln’s Inn Bridge, the twin arches carry the busy road between Kendal and Sedbergh over the River Lune, single file, no traffic lights, we crossed said road then sat drinking coffee watching the river idly drift by.
Brew over riverside paths guided us down stream, in the next field the path swung left depositing us at Luneside Farm, we passed between the farm buildings to join an ancient track that guided us to The Oaks, a delightful little hamlet, tucked away in the folds of the hill. We wandered through the sleepy streets (all one of them) to join another ancient track, this in turn guided us into sheep pastures. Haverah Beck was forded via a quaint footbridge, then we emerged onto the busy A683, Sedbergh to Kirkby Lonsdale road, signs advised us to walk on the grass verge, which we did until the Dales Way emerged from the fields at Habblethwaites, we left the road to join the tree lined banks of the River Rawthey.
With the song of the Rawthey for company we wandered towards Sedbergh, along fenced paths, through open pastures we walked, the tree lined banks of the river our willing guide. Passed Brigflatts we walked. passed the Rawthey Viaduct and on to Birks, another tiny hamlet built around a once thriving mill. At Birks we followed a path cutting behind Birks House, this swung around to the left then guided us into the grounds of prestigious Sedbergh School, this trod soon passed behind the cricket pavilion before following the edge of the cricket field passing behind St Andrews Church then out into the sleepy streets of Sedbergh.
Sue strides out into a lovely blue sky day, our guide on this section of the walk the dry stone wall.
It's a stunning morning, to the right the lower slopes of Winder, the left the pastoral lands of the Lune valley.
Over the Lune valley Whinfell Beacon backed by the Shap Fells.
Walked yesterday, Arant Haw closing the head of Crosdale, in sunlight and shade the West Ridge.
Cataracts in Craggstones Wood.
Rising above the green fields of the Lune valley the Howgill Fells.
The Lune Viaduct one of three substantial structures on the former Ingleton branch line.
Striking isn,t it, originally called Waterside Viaduct it carried the railway tracks a 100ft above the River Lune at Newby Dub.
The twin arches of Lincoln's Inn Bridge.
The River Lune a few yards down stream from Lincoln's Inn Bridge.
Approaching The Oaks viewing Winder.
Leaving The Oaks via a wonderful ancient track way.
Our guide into the sheep pastures of the Lune valley.
Looking to Ingmire Hall with Fell Head rising behind.
Sue strides out along the tree lined banks of the River Rawthey.
Seen from the banks of the River Rawthey, Winder with Crook to the right.
The Rawthey Viaduct carried rail traffic from 1861 until the Dr Beeching axe fell in 1966.
Passing the confluence of the Rivers Rawthey and Dee.
The River Rawthey near Birks.