Sedbergh by train

Sedbergh has no railway station of its own, but you can still come by train and leave the car at home. The nearest stations are Garsdale and Dent on the Settle–Carlisle line, and both have a walk that ends in the town.

Which station?

Four stations are within reach of Sedbergh, and they suit different trips:

• Oxenholme Lake District is about 10 miles away on the West Coast Main Line, where most London to Glasgow and Edinburgh trains stop. It is the best choice if you are travelling a long way. Local buses between Kendal and Sedbergh serve the station, and taxis wait outside.
• Garsdale is about 9 miles away on the Settle–Carlisle line.
• Dent is about 10 miles away by rail, but the station is some four and a half miles from Dent village. It is the highest railway station in England.
• Kirkby Stephen is about 12 miles away on the same line.

Garsdale, Dent and Kirkby Stephen stations are unstaffed and have no taxi ranks, so plan how you will cover the last stretch before you set out. You can plan and book trains on Trainline.

Walking from Garsdale

The Garsdale Station to Sedbergh walk is about 10 miles, and published guides describe it as an easy, low-level route down Garsdale. Allow around five hours. You finish in Sedbergh's cafes and shops, which makes it a good way to earn your tea.

Getting to the station. From the A684, a short lane climbs uphill to the station. Turn left along the holiday cottages to reach the station entrance. If you are driving, the car park is further up the hill, under the bridge and to the right.

On the walk. The ground is good underfoot, with some boggy patches. As you drop down towards Baugh Fell the path is quite steep in places, and there is more boggy ground over Grisedale. Lower down, the path follows the river from the foot of Sool Rigg. Stay with it to Straight Bridge, cross over, and follow the river bank into Sedbergh. Walk past the playing field, turn left, and join the A683 into the town.

So it is not entirely flat: expect a few steep sections and wet ground, and wear boots rather than trainers.

Walking from Dent

The Dales Way from Dent Station is also about 10 miles and easy underfoot. It follows Dentdale and the River Dee, with an optional detour into Dent village for a pub lunch, then open pasture above Millthrop with views of the Howgills. Allow about four and a half hours plus stops.

Some turns are easy to miss, especially a footpath sign at a gate near Laithbank and a footbridge in a dip. Carry an OS map and waterproofs, because the Dales Way can flood in places. If ten miles is too far, the route splits into two walks of roughly five miles at Dent.

The Garsdale notes above come from walking it. The Dent details come from published guides, so treat the figures as a guide and check them on the day.

Getting back

Both walks are linear, so plan your return before you start. Dent station is served by the Western Dales Bus from Sedbergh on Saturdays and summer Sundays. On Tuesdays the bus runs from Dent to Sedbergh and Garsdale, and on Fridays from Dent to Sedbergh and Kirkby Stephen. Timetables change, so check the current one before you travel.

Rural taxis are limited, so book well ahead. Local operators include Woofs and On Time Taxis in Sedbergh, LD Private Hire, and Country Private Hire at Garsdale Head.

A bit of history

The Settle–Carlisle line was built by the Midland Railway across some of the wildest country in England. Garsdale station opened in 1876 as Hawes Junction, because a branch line left here for Hawes in Wensleydale; it was renamed Hawes Junction and Garsdale in 1900 and plain Garsdale in 1932. The Hawes branch closed to passengers in 1959.

Dent station, near the Blea Moor tunnel, is widely described as the highest main-line station in England at about 1,150 ft. It is some four and a half miles from Dent village and about 600 ft higher than it, which surprises people who expect to step off the train into the village. Both stations closed in 1970 and reopened in 1986, after campaigners fought to save the line. The Friends of the Settle–Carlisle Line later bought Dent's station building.

Sources

• Getting to Sedbergh by train, sedbergh.org.uk
• Garsdale railway station, Wikipedia
• Garsdale station, Settle–Carlisle Railway Conservation Area
• Dent railway station, Wikipedia
• Dent station history