Fairfield Mill from Sedbergh.

Start. Sedbergh.

Route. Sedbergh - Vicarage Lane - Winder Drive - River Rawthey - New Bridge - Straight Bridge - Garsdale Bridge - Fairfield Mill - Garsdale Bridge - The Row - A684 - Lane End - Lane Ends - Millthrop - River Rawthey - Millthrop Bridge - Akay Wood - Akay Oak - Cricket Field - Winder Drive - Vicarage Lane - Sedbergh.

Notes. Here we are again striding through the quiet streets of “Set Berg”, at least that’s what our Norse forefathers christened it, meaning “flat-topped hill”. I’m of the opinion Sedbergh intentionally shuns publicity, if it was a few miles away in the Lake District it would be wall to wall people. So for the connoisseur of hill walking or notable rambler there’s something here for you. Today we're rambling to historic Fairfield Mill, a fully restored Victorian woolen mill and art centre, you can drive but far better to walk, as the mill workers did for over two hundred years.

Our morning started wandering along Vicarage Lane passed the playing field, after passing through a kissing gate the path ascended to Winder Drive, we crossed before descending to the banks of the River Rawthey, the route was quite simple now, follow the river up-stream to reach Straight Bridge. This 17th century bridge carries the Cautley Road over the River Rawthey at a savage s-bend, anything but straight.

After crossing the bridge we turned up a narrow tarmac lane, between dry stone walls and hedge rows we walked to reach the single arch of Garsdale Bridge, across the bridge next to a row of cottages a finger-post invited us to Fairfield Mill. After visiting the mill and tea shop we re-traced our steps to the bridge, walked passed the row of cottages to join a traffic free lane, this in turn guided us to the busy A684 (no pavements), Taking great care we quickly walked to the first lane on the left, left the main road, again dry stone walls and hedge rows guided us.

This narrow lane goes by the name Lane End, when we reached the cottages at Lane Ends we turned towards Millthrop signed Dent. Still hemmed in by hedge rows and dry stone walls we wandered on to Millthrop, a quaint mill workers village. After the first row of houses on the right a narrow way descends to the River Rawthay, we used this to carry us to Millthrop Bridge which we crossed to join the Dales Way.

Through sheep pastures we wandered before accessing Akay Wood, part of the grounds of a once grand Georgian mansion, a few stone structures remain, sunken path and mosaic floor, some stunning trees including Giant Redwoods, but the real gem, the reason for this short diversion, The Akay Oak, guarded by a wooden fence, much reduced in height with a huge girth, 650 years old, looking like something from a fairy tale.

From the oak we wandered along the edge of the cricket field, passed through a gate, crossed the busy Dent road to access some rough pastures above the river, the path then guided us back to Winder House, we crossed the drive to re-trace our steps over Vicarage Lane back into Sedbergh.

view route map.

home.

Seen from Vicarage Lane the Middleton Fells.

Winder as seen from Winder Drive.

The remains of an industrial past, this mill race once carried water to power Millthrop Mill.

Weir on the River Rawthey built to provide a supply of water to power the mill at Millthrop.

The twin arches of New Bridge carries the road to Hawes over the River Rawthey

Lit by the sun the rounded tops of the Howgill Fells, from left to right, Crook, Sickers and Knott.

Viewing the vast bulk of Baugh Fell from the banks of the River Rawthey.

Crook rising above Scrogg House Farm.

Dappled light on the Howgill Fells.

On the approach to Fairfield Mill drinking in views to the Howgill Fells.

Clough River and the grey slate buildings of Fairfield Mill home to, 20 artist studios, contemporary arts and crafts, exhibitions, workshops, craft gallery, shop heritage floor and powered looms, not forgetting the tea room and, our four legged friends are allowed too, on leads of course.

Clough River and the single grey arch of Garsdale Bridge.

This pleasant traffic free lane guided us away from Fairfield Mill.

The River Rawthey at Millthrop.

Sunken path in Akay Wood.

The original drive and gate posts to Akay House.

Not many trees have names but this one does, the 650 year old Akay Oak.

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