Walkwise Walking Weekend, Sedbergh The Dales Way & The Dales Highway

The Dales Way and the Dales Highway. A new twist sees us walking the Dales Way and the Dales Highway back to the centre in Sedbergh. The beauty of this is that we have stunning walking immediately from our doorstep and our weekend will allow us to experience what the Dales Way and Sedbergh area has to offer.  

On Saturday the moderate walkers start in the east at the little known Ibbeth Falls. Then we head off along this majestic Dales valley enroute to Dent. This fertile valley floor gives rise to steep hills on either side dotted with patches of woodland and dotted with farmsteads. We squeeze our way along Dentdales valley bottom intermittently, tucked in beside the delightful River Dee. Next we find ourselves in the quaint tiny market village of Dent with its beautiful church, cobbled streets and historic buildings.  After refreshments we leave this village famous for the famous English geologist Adam Sedgwick and head back down this tranquil valley before gently climbing over the shoulder of Frosthow Fells to reveal the final destination of the day; the lovely Thorns Hall in Sedbergh. Meanwhile, the harder walkers start further back at a monumental feat of engineering the Ribblehead viaduct. Then we head over Great and Craven Wolds and dip into Dentdale and eventually follow the moderate walk home. 

On Sunday the moderate walkers head west to start at another great feat of engineering the lesser known Lowgill Viaduct. This delightful section wanders back by gushing streams and packhorse bridges through the field systems stocked with livestock and through and along the ageless dry stone walls that mark the field boundaries. All around the scenery is tranquil and pastoral and we arrive back home refreshed and ready for the hearty meal to come. Meanwhile the harder walkers come back from the north heading along a fine remote long ridge with no other walkers. This rising spine brings us to the high point of ‘The Calf’ a fine hill overlooking the town of Sedbergh. It’s very steep in descent but we’re also ready for refreshments and the hearty meal to come.

On Monday the moderate walkers continue from where they started the previous and head all the way down to Burneside near Kendal. Completing even more of the fine Dales Way. At the end you’ll feal an accomplishment and maybe walk away with the feeling that you would like to revisit the rest of the enchanting Dale Way but that’s for another time and for now we are satiated. The harder walkers on this day will head over further moors and also continue where they started on Sunday and complete even more of the grand Dales Highway all the way to the pub in Great Gatesby.  

We can’t wait, let’s do it!

To allow you to choose a walk that suits you best, WalkWise UK will provide a minimum of two walks on each day, led by professional and knowledgeable walking guides. On both days there will be a harder walk of 10-12 miles with 2,500ft of ascent, and a gentler walk of 7-9 miles with less ascent. However, the programme is flexible and can be altered to suit your needs. All walks are weather dependent and own transport or coaches may be taken to the walk starts.