Rawtheydale.

Start. Sedbergh.

Route. Sedbergh - Vicarage Lane - New Bridge - River Rawthey - Straight Bridge - Fairfield Mill - A684 - Lane Ends - Millthrop - Dent Road - Birks Mill - Birks - Birks House - Akay Wood - Winder Drive - Vicarage Lane - Sedbergh.

Notes. The headwaters of the River Rawthey rise on the northern slopes of Baugh Fell, a massive lump of a mountain to the northeast of Sedbergh, at Rawthey Gill Foot it meets Heskhaw Gill. Now the infant Rawthey it flows north through Uldale swinging south as it enters Rawtheydale at Rawthey Bridge. This short river has a massive catchments area, collecting water from the northern Howgills. The valley is a patchwork of fields littered with Dales farmsteads and stone barns, crisscrossed by dry stone walls and hedge rows. Powered by water, industry once thrived in the vale, all ghosts now. The main conurbation is Sedbergh an historic market town built at the meeting point of several trade routes, now almost a sleepy backwater, a self proclaimed book town with many historic buildings, Sedbergh I love.

Well I started this short walk in Sedbergh, one thing about towns built on ancient trade routes they all have inns, and Sedbergh has two of the best, the Dalesman and Black Bull. I left Sedbergh via Vicarage Lane, the exploits of yesterday had taken there toll on creaking knees and stiff joints, so I made this up as I walked along. Vicarage Lane guided me passed Sedbergh Primary School to the banks of the River Rawthey at New Bridge, at this point I decided to walk up stream.

Over riverside paths I walked, the river bank is tree lined as all rivers should be so the views were limited. Through fields covered in snow and haw frost I wandered eventually reaching Straight Bridge, which way next. I opted to follow the lane that accesses Fairfield Mill, once a Victorian woolen mill now a craft centre with excellent cafe, it was closed so I continued along the lane now a footpath. The lane terminated at the busy Hawes Road, I turned right, wandered a hundred yards to the next road junction then joined a narrow ribbon of tarmac on the left.

Frost coated dry stone walls and hedge rows guided me to Lane Ends where another decision needed to be made, continuing straight on would lead to the Frostrow Fells, or right towards Millthrop, I stood a while at the road junction eventually opting for the latter. Not too sure if I’d made the right decision I wandered towards Millthrop, on route I formulated a plan, at least now I knew where I was going.

Passed the mill workers cottages and converted farm buildings in Millthrop I walked to access the main road to Dent, this I walked along, after passing Archers Hall and a private house a finger-post greeted me with a promise to guide me to Birks. With frost and ice crunching under foot this path guided me along the edge of field boundaries depositing me on the banks of the River Rawthey just down stream from a footbridge leading to Birks Lane.

After crossing said footbridge I strolled into Birks, next to the entrance to Birks House a gate allowed access to riverside paths, these I followed into Akay Wood about all that remains of the vast Akay Estate. Keeping to the left hand path I passed through some fine gate stoops to emerge on the edge of a cricket field, next to which I can only describe as the spookiest tree I’ve ever seen, Sleepy Hollow no, this is sleepy Sedbergh and, this is the Akay Oak just short of 700 years old and showing it’s age.

The path followed the edge of the cricket field, crossed the Dent Road before ascending to Winder House part of prestigious Sedbergh School, after crossing the drive it descended to Vicarage Lane, all that remained to re-trace my steps, throw my gear in the car and go find some lunch in Sedbergh.

view route map.

home.

Winder above Sedbergh seen from Vicarage Lane.

Viewing Knott and Sickers Fell from the banks of the River Rawthey.

Field walking with stunning views to snow covered Baugh Fell.

Long shadows, frosted fields and views to Winder.

Ashbeck Gill.

At the meeting point of two watercourses, the Rawthey and Clough River.

From Straight Bridge views down the River Rawthey.

From the lane leading to Fairfield Mill, over fields furnished with frost Baugh Fell.

Glistening white in the sun the Holme Knott slopes of Middleton Fell

Through the slash cut by Ashbeck Gill, it's white coat on Arant Haw.

Viewing Settlebeck Gill with the white slopes of Winder behind.

Approaching Lane Ends.

Archers Hill and the Frostrow Fells seen from the Dent Road.

Rising high above Rawtheydale Baugh Fell.

Looking into a low winter sun with the hills above Dentdale on the far horizon.

Seen over Rawtheydale Winder and Crook with Arant Haw filling the gap.

Hedge Laying, a rural skill practiced mainly in the UK and Ireland.

Footbridge over the River Rawthey at Birks Mill.

The River Rawthey at Birks Mill.

Icy walking on the banks of the River Rawthey.

Soaking up views over Archers Hill to the distant hills above Dentdale.

Thought this hill would have a name but it remains anonymous, the one behind is Holme Fell.

Strolling through Akay Wood.

Not looking too bad for almost 700 years old the Akay Oak.

Descending back into the streets of Sedbergh, looking over Post Horse Cottages, the Old Vicarage and Sedbergh Primary School all passed on the walk out.

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