The Dales Way, Luneside and Craggstones.

Start. Sedbergh.

Route. Sedbergh - Vicarage Lane - Winder Drive - Cricket Field - Akay Wood - Bruce Lock - Birks - A683 - Haverah Beck - The Oaks - Luneside - Lincoln's Inn Bridge - Lune Viaduct - Low Brathwaite - Bramaskew - Howgill Lane - Craggstones Wood - Nursery Wood - Lockbank Farm - Howgill Lane - Sedbergh.

Notes. This walks been on the radar ages, we’ve looked at it many times but always plumped for something else, so today on a Bank Holiday weekend we rolled into the quiet market town of Sedbergh, parked up and headed out into the countryside. It turned out to be an alluring ramble, a delightful walk along the banks of the Rivers Rawthey and Lune, returning above the final intake wall enjoying views over the whole circuit we'd just had the pleasure to walk.

Our day started in Sedbergh wandering over the surface of Vicarage Lane as so many of our outings from Sedbergh have done, when the lane swung sharp left we passed through a kissing gate immediately ascending a low hill to reach the drive to Winder House. The path continued passed the house swinging right as it started descending, after crossing the Dent Road we wandered along the edge of a cricket field to access Akay Wood, this is the site of Akay Lodge a Georgian mansion house burnt to the ground in 1939. As we wandered through the woods between mature trees and various adornments the remains of Akay Lodges vast gardens, we looked for a kissing gate to the right, once found it allowed access to green pastures. At the top of the field a restored folly locally known as The Pepper Pot, we passed this and Bruce Lock in a hidden hollow at the foot of the field to join the banks of The River Rawthey.

River side rambling followed, easy walking along the tree lined banks as it meandered through the dale, passed the scattering of fine old buildings at Birks and an old mill complex. Before reaching the remains of the Ingleton Branch Line we passed the confluence of the rivers Rawthey and Dee, after crossing the defunct railway line more tree lined river rambling followed, passed the Quaker Meeting House at Brigflatts to be ejected onto the busy A683, the main road linking Sedbergh to Kirkby Lonsdale, we were now in the Lune Valley. This is a busy road following advice from a number of warning signs we walked along the grass verge, passed Hebbethwaites to be met by a finger-post inviting us to The Oaks, this path we followed. Through sheep pastures over Haverah Beck to access a green lane leading into The Oaks. As we walked into the hamlet a finger-post invited us to walk the Dales Way, the whole of this walk had followed the Dales Way so why not continue.

We continued along an enclosed path into a field, the path swung right following an ancient boundary into another field, we continued guided by crumbling walls and broken hedge rows to access a narrow lane leading to Luneside Farm. Once at the farm way-marked path guided us to the banks of the River Lune, with the river for company we continued to Lincoln’s Inn Bridge, here we stopped for lunch. Lunch over we continued the River Lune now our companion, across the busy Sedbergh Road into green pastures we walked, through fields over stiles all the time the magnificent Lune Viaduct grew larger. This impressive structure carried the Tebay to Kirkby Lonsdale line over the River Lune at Newby Dub, built between 1857-1861 the line passed 100ft above the river. After passing under the viaduct a few feet from the river the Dales Way ascended through sheep pastures eventually depositing us at Low Branthwaite, a finger-post then pointed the way but the path eluded us.

Looking back now it was simple but on the ground not so, after studying the map for what seemed ages we decided the route crossed the field following an old boundary, it did to a finger-post we should have been able to see, our problems weren't over yet. Continuing on the Dales Way it ushered us between hedge rows depositing us in another field, we left the Dales Way here, our chosen route should have turned immediately right into the garden of a private house, no path was visible on the ground and no reassuring sign to guide us, we wandered across the field to Bramaskew Farm. On the map plenty of paths, on the ground only the Dales Way, the sign for the farm was etched on an old way marker, that threw me, it looked like we weren't where we thought we were. After a frustrating half hour we wandered through the farm yard to follow the access lane.

With the access lane under foot we wandered on to Howgill Lane, turned right then with tarmac to guide us strolled on to Craggstones Wood, here we met a couple who emerged from the path we intended to follow, it turned out we were right all along. The foot-path sign had been removed a couple of years ago, a bit naughty, I say to all ramblers wander into their garden they’ll soon put the signs back.

Anyway back at Craggstones Wood, after a steep ascent through a field we entered the gorge containing mixed woodland, the ascent continued through the woods, we traversed a small paddock, passed through a gate to emerge above the final intake wall. With a green trod under foot, the Howgill Fells rising to our left and stunning views over land walked earlier in the day we headed back to Sedbergh. The path a lovely green trod soon descended to Lockbank Farm, we wandered between farm buildings then descended the farm lane to access Howgill Lane once again, all that remained a short walk along Howgill Lane into the streets of Sedbergh.

view route map.

home.

Haunting the 650 year old Akay Oak.

Bruce Lock, I'm guessing here so I'll go out on a limb and say this large pond once supplied a controlled source of food (fish) for the residents and workers at Akay Lodge.

Looking to the Pepper Pot.

The River Rawthey at Birks.

Lush is how Sue described this path, it leads from Birks along the edge of an old mill race.

The tree lined banks of the River Rawthey.

The impressive stone and metal work of Rawthey Bridge.

From an ancient right of way near The Oaks views to Winder.

The River Lune near Lincoln's Inn Bridge.

Majestic Lincoln's Inn Bridge, the twin arches carry the busy road between Kendal and Sedbergh over the River Lune, single file, no traffic lights.

Could a railway bridge be described as eye-catching, well this one could the magnificent Lune Viaduct once carried the track bed of the Tebay to Kirkby Lonsdale line above the River Lune, if you think it's in good nick, it's just had £600.000 make over.

Ascending through Craggstones Wood into ....

....hazy vistas over the Lune valley.

Above the intake wall looking towards the Lune Gorge, the hills, Blease Fell, Linghaw and Fell Head.

Views over the Rawthey and Lune valleys, pastures walked earlier in the day.

Sue descends to the market town of Sedbergh.

From the lower slopes of Winder views over Sedbergh to the head of Garsdale.

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