Sedbergh is a town in Cumbria, with a population of 1500 in 2021. It's in the valley of the River Rawthey, which flows into the Lune two miles west. In Old English "setberg" means a flat-topped hill, and it's a base for walking the gritstone moors. In 2016 the Yorkshire Dales National Park was extended west to include Lonsdale, and now forms a continuous tract with the Lake District National Park.
Visitor information is based at Howgills Bookshop at 72 Main Street, open daily 10AM–4PM.
Get in
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Sedbergh is 10 miles east of Kendal. By road leave M6 at Jcn 37 onto A684 east. This road continues up Garsdale to cross the moors to Hawes in Wharfedale.
Western Dales Bus S1 runs from Kendal three times M-Sa, taking 35 min via Oxenholme railway station and Killington motorway junction. On Wednesday and Saturday it continues to Dent. On Tuesday and Thursday it continues to Kirkby Stephen, for connections to Penrith.
Oxenholme is the nearest railway station, 3 miles southeast of Kendal. Trains from Preston, Manchester and the south stop every 30 mins on their way to Carlisle and Glasgow.
Trains from Leeds to Carlisle thread their way through the Pennines to the east, with stops at Ribblehead, Dent, Garsdale and Kirkby Stephen.
Get around
[edit]The town is small but you need wheels to explore the Dales.
Taxi firms are On Time Taxis (+44 7917 801878) and Woofs (+44 15396 20414).
See
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- And did the Countenance Divine shine forth upon our clouded hills? - Blake's "Jerusalem" 1804
- Town centre is the narrow Main Street lined by 18th / 19th century buildings. St Andrew the Apostle Church is from the 12th century, although much restored since.
- Castlehaw was a motte-and-bailey castle: typically these were built 10th / 11th century as earth ramparts topped by a wooden palisade. It's a quarter mile east of town, reached off the lane to Howgills Barn.
- 1 Pepperpot is by the riverside half a mile south of town. It's a gazebo on what was the parkland of Akay House, a late Victorian mansion that fell derelict in the 1920s and was demolished. It's on the route of Dales Way: this section is often muddy.
- 2 Briggflats. Daily Apr-Oct 10AM-6PM, Nov-Mar 10AM-4PM. When George Fox preached hereabouts in 1652 it was in the churchyard of St Andrew's, and later on Firbank Fell, because the established church would never let this heretic near their pulpits. His "Quaker" creed became tolerated in Cromwell's time, and this Meeting House was established in 1675.
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- 3 Ingmire Hall 2 miles west of town is a private residence, no tours, but you can see the exterior from the public footpath. It's 16th century and includes a pele tower. The Upton family were prominent landowners and founded St Gregory's.
- St Gregory's Church or Vale of Lune Chapel is 1½ miles west of town on A684. Built in the 1860s, it's now disused, but you can look in on the fittings and stain glass windows daily 10AM-4PM.
Do
[edit]- Golf: Sedbergh GC is a mile south of the village. White tees 5643 yards, par 70.
- Dales Way is a 78 mile path from Ilkley to Bowness-in-Windermere, mostly at low altitude. The local section descends Dentdale to Millthrop, then follows the Rawthey to its confluence with the Lune.
- Howgill Fells are the upland north of Sedbergh. Their highest points are The Calf at 2218 ft / 676 m and Yarlside at 2096 ft / 639 m.
Buy
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- Spar is the local store, on Station Rd west of town centre, open daily 7AM-10PM.
- Sedbergh Market is Wednesday 8:30AM-noon on Joss Lane Car Park, east side of town.
- Artisan Market is arts & crafts on Main St. It's one Saturday a month May-Aug 9:30AM-3PM.
Eat and drink
[edit]- Sedbergh Pizza is at 40 Main St, open M-F 2-10PM, Sa Su noon-10PM.
- Black Bull and George & Dragon: see below.
- Smatts Duo' at 32 Main St is open W-M 9AM-4PM.
- 1 Cross Keys Temperance Inn, Cautley LA10 5NE, ☏ +44 15396 20284. F-Su 10AM-4:30PM. A 400-year-old pub and bookshop run by the National Trust. No alcohol sold, but no charge to byo.
Sleep
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- The Dalesman, Main St, Sedbergh LA10 5BN, ☏ +44 15396 21183. Pleasant pub with rooms, micro-distillery and good grub. B&B double £100.
- Black Bull, 44 Main St, Sedbergh LA10 5BL, ☏ +44 15396 20264. 17th-century coaching inn with good dining, mixed reviews for accommodation. B&B double £150.
- 1 Howgills Barn, Castlehaw Lane LA10 5BA, ☏ +44 15396 21990. Barn adapted for self-catering, with 8 bunk rooms, sleeps 35.
- 2 George & Dragon, Main St, Dent LA10 5QL, ☏ +44 15396 25256. Pub with real ale, hotel and restaurant. B&B double £130.
- Dent Stores next to George & Dragon offers B&B.
- Stone Close Tearoom on Main St Dent has B&B.
- Dentdale Pods are half a mile west of Dent village.
- 3 The Black Swan, Ravenstonedale, Kirkby Stephen CA17 4NG (off A685), ☏ +44 15396 23204. Upscale small hotel in Victorian pub, great dining and scenic setting in Eden Valley. B&B double £140.
- King's Head is another pub with rooms in Ravenstonedale.
Connect
[edit]As of Nov 2025, Sedbergh and its approach roads have 4G from O2, but only a scratchy mobile signal from EE, Three and Vodafone. 5G has not reached this area.
Go next
[edit]- Kendal is a large market town, gateway to Windermere and the other lakes.
- Hawes is at the head of Wharfedale in North Yorkshire.
- Kirkby Lonsdale is on the main road southeast to Skipton and Leeds.