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25. A two day trip to Sedbergh, The Howgill Fells and Dentdale: Part 1 - The Road to Sedbergh Town
On the drive from Castleton, North Yorkshire to the Yorkshire Dales we often go via Northallerton, Bedale and Hawes on the A684 road before branching off to 'base camp' hostel or B&B, but a stop for coffee at the cafe in the Aysgarth Falls National Park Centre is essential !
The drive is a most pleasant experience e.g. through Wensleydale, despite the bottlenecks of narrow street villages or towns like Hawes, but patience is rewarded by the ensuing grand scenery of the Yorkshire Dales.
Watch out as go further west towards Sedbergh as the landscape gets higher and wilder and engineering-architectural gems like the viaducts on the Settle-Carlisle railway (near Garsdale Head in this case) and finally onto Sedbergh in East Cumbria 'signposted' when the Howgill Fells (the object of the trip) come into view.
There is a handy little car park just down from St Andrew's Church, Sedbergh, on the road to Dent.
The Main Street, Sedbergh, a pleasant and friendly little market town with a fine parish church (see above and below).
After a little refreshment in Sedbergh a visit to the parish church before beginning a long walk over the Howgill Fells.
St Andrew's Church, Sedbergh, East Cumbria, founded around 1130, is well worth a visit and PLEASE leave a donation or purchase the excellent guide booklet for the church. It has much 12th and 13th century work and was restored in 1886.
Looking east down the nave into the chancel and alter. The pulpit has a fine 18th century tester.
A relatively recent carving of St Andrew, backed by his traditional diagonal cross, is seen over the Norman north porch entrance and the stained glass east window (~100 years old) over the alter of St Andrews Church, Sedbergh. The window depicts the call of Christ to Andrew and his brother and fishing partner Peter: "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men".
The organ and rebuilt Norman arches in the nave of St Andrew's Church. The tower was probably added in the 14th century, and further rebuilding and additions in the 16th and 19th century.
The Church of Sedbergh School, the famous public school founded in 1525. The famous geologist Adam Sedgwick was a former pupil (see Dent page 28)
A splendid array of 'potted' flowers opposite Sedbergh School, but onwards to the Howgills!
* The Yorkshire Dales National Park in North Yorkshire and East Cumbria and the North Pennines form a wonderful part of Northern England to visit for walking or car touring holidays. The scenery is magnificent and the countryside, villages and towns rarely seem overcrowded and the people always friendly. There is lots to see and do and plenty of accommodation available from hostels, hotels, bed and breakfast, holiday cottages etc. whether for weeks or a weekend mini-break when holidaying near Sedbergh-Cumbria or the Yorkshire Dales. * page updated Oct 27th 2007 * EMAIL Phil Brown * Images-photographs-pictures-photos-webshots of Sedbergh Town © Dr W P Brown * |
