Distance: 8km (5 miles), Time: 2 hours, Map: OS Explorer OL19 & OL2
1. From Finkle Street turn right onto the small footpath after the church then left around the Sedbergh School cricket field on the path signed Birks. Keep straight on through a gate to cross a field to Busk Lane. Turn right then left down Birks Lane to go around the rugby pitch and past the cemetery. Pass Rawthey Cottage and keep left to cross the River Rawthey via Birks Mill footbridge. This is a new bridge replacing the one that was washed away by the catastrophic floods of storm Desmond in December 2015.
2. Follow the riverside footpath to the right, through a wood called Elysian Shades to a field, then right on the path sign posted Abbot Holme and over the golf course to the road. Turn right and cross the River Dee using Abbot Holme Bridge.
3. Turn left onto the footpath sign posted Rash Bridge, walk beside the golf course alongside the River Dee. Cross the stream then ascend Mound to a field gate, walk through woodland to a gate then along a path through dense bracken and enjoy views looking back to Sedbergh to the Howgill Fells.
4. Follow the wall/fence on the right to a roadside stile, turn left and walk along the road overlooking the river road past the old wool mill known as Rash Mill and Dent Foot Methodist Chapel. Turn left and cross Rash Bridge. At the road junction turn right then after passing Silverdale Cottage, left onto a footpath signed Millthrop. Walk up the field to a ladder stile and continue uphill keeping left, to the top corner of the wood. Cross a wall stile and turn left on the bridleway sign posted The Dales Way.
5. Continue along the waymarked Dales Way. At the road turn right and walk through the pretty hamlet of Millthrop. Turn left then on reaching the main road turn right. Cross Millthrop Bridge and then immediately on the other side of the bridge turn left onto the Dales Way and follow it west across a field then through Akay Woods (a wonderful bluebell wood in spring). This was once the site of a large mansion, Akay House, parts of which can still be found amongst the trees. In the next field is the folly known as the Pepperpot. Legend has it that it was built for the daughter at Akay House who was suffering consumption and needed somewhere to “take the air”.
6. Cross another field then turn right onto join a track which passes between the rugby pitch and the new Hurst sports centre to Busk Lane. Turn right then left at the T junction to return to the town centre.
