10 miles. Allow 4.5 hours plus refreshment stops. Alternatively, the walk may be split into two easy 5 mile walks from Dent Station to Dent and Dent to Sedbergh. This is an excellent walk for those parked or staying in the Dent village or Sedbergh areas as use can be made of the Western Dales Bus Saturday service to reach Dent Station or Cowgill and walk back at leisure.
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Take the morning bus from Sedbergh to Dentdale. Alighting at Dent Station, proceed down the steep Coal Road to Cowgill. Turn left to pass over Lea Yeat Bridge and then immediately right to follow the left hand bank of the River Dee. Pass through Ewegales Campsite and through a stile to emerge on the minor road near Ewegales Bridge.
Bear left to follow the minor road for approximately ¼ mile looking for a footpath sign at a large gate on the left. Passing through the gate, cross the field going just to the right of the farm building and across a stile into the recently re-planted Little Town plantation. Cross the plantation after which the path goes to the right of the house and across a paddock followed by yet another plantation.
On leaving the next plantation pass through a stile into a field and progress down the left hand side of a wall to reach a farm track. Crossing the farm track proceed across two further fields and stiles to emerge at a walled track.
Turn left along the track to Hackergill. Close to the house turn right to pass through a small gate, walk diagonally across a paddock and through a further gate. Now turn right following the edge of the field and to the left hand side (rear) of Clint cottage.
Cross the footbridge over a small stream and continue in the same line, through a farmyard and several fields until reaching the access drive to Laithbank. Turn right down the drive to again meet the minor road to Dent. Turn left and progress along the road for approximately ¼ mile carefully watching for a footpath sign on the right at a gate (easily missed).
Turn right now proceeding downhill across the field and bearing very slightly to the right crossing over a small stream by means of a footbridge (very easily missed in a dip) and then dropping down to meet the River Dee. On the way notice the impressive pothole with the stream emerging on the left. Cross the footbridge over the river and turn left to follow the riverbank for ¼ mile before reaching Tommy Bridge. Turn left to cross the River Dee yet again and now on the left hand river bank the path goes through a gate and proceeds diagonally left across a small hillock to reach Mill Bridge and very briefly back on to the minor road.
Cross Deepdale Beck by means of the road bridge and then turn immediately right to follow the path alongside the beck. As the path levels out at the bottom turn left across the field with the wall to the left. Pass to the left hand side of Double Croft farmhouse and then along clearly marked paths to the right hand side of Keld Beck. The path eventually crosses the beck and runs alongside the playing field to arrive at Church Bridge.
At this point there is an option to visit Dent village (highly recommended). If so, turn left at Church Bridge and follow the road into the village. There are various hostelries to choose from to break the journey including the Sun and George and Dragon inns and Stone Close and Meadowside cafes. Dent Heritage Centre is well worth a visit if time permits. Continue out of Dent along the road and after ¼ mile bear right at a footpath sign where the road and river converge.
Alternatively, if time is pressing, pass the end of Church Bridge by means of the steps and maintain a course along the left-hand river bank until the road and river eventually converge stepping onto the road very briefly.
Turn immediately right leaving the road to follow the left-hand bank of the River Dee along the well-defined path and crossing the main road at the end of Barth Bridge. Continue along the left hand riverbank following path through several gates. Eventually, the path departs from the river bank as the field tapers out, bearing left over a stile to join a minor road near Ellers. Now turn right and follow the pleasant minor road for approximately ½ mile. At Brackensgill turn right following the bridleway crossing the footbridge over the River Dee, now for the final time. Continue along the bridleway until reaching the main road at Gate Manor.
Cross the main road and continue uphill along the bridleway, a stony track curving to the rear of the manor. Bear left at a fork in the track and proceed in a westerly direction passing in front of a farmhouse. The well-used path proceeds through woodland and a walled track to emerge through a gate onto open pasture overlooking Sedbergh with an excellent view of the Howgills beyond. Follow the track across the pasture and a small stream to reach a gate and the walled track into Millthrop.
Turn right to walk along the main street through Millthrop quickly turning left to drop down to the main road. Turning right, follow the main road into Sedbergh crossing the River Rawthey en-route.
For details of the Saturday and summer Sunday buses please see the printed timetable or visit www.westerndalesbus.co.uk.
Remember that whilst this is an easy low level walk suitable footwear and waterproofs should be taken together the appropriate OS Map. Always follow the Countryside Code.
For further walks from the Western Dales Bus please see www.walkingintheyorkshiredales.co.uk.
Note:Whilst the author has endeavoured to ensure the details are correct no responsibility can be accepted for any error or omission contained herein. Walks must be undertaken at the individuals own risk.
© John Carey 2015
