Sedbergh Quaker Trail

EXPLORE the beautiful landscape of the Sedbergh area while visiting sites from where George Fox founded the Quakers in the 17th Century, writes JOHN EDMONDSON. A booklet detailing the trail can be purchased (for £1.50) from Sedbergh Tourist Information.

Start from Loftus Hill car park, Sedbergh, map reference SD 657 920, postcode LA10 5BZ.

INFORMATION

Distance: 10 miles with 1,700 feet of ascent

Time: 5 hours

Terrain: grassy paths and 1.7 miles of road

Map: OS Explorer OL19

ROUTE

1 From the car park turn right then left on to the path by the church signed Cattle Market. Turn left on to the path signed Birks and keep straight ahead to cross Busk Lane. Pass the new Hirst Centre, go through a wide kissing gate, walk up a slope, pass Birks House and then turn left down Birks Lane. After 130 yards turn right on to the path signed Junction A683-A59. Cross several fields and a track, go under a disused railway embankment and across three more fields to Brigflatts. Visit the Quaker Meeting House on the left then turn right. Turn left on to the A683 and after 370 yards right on to the bridleway signed Ingmire Back Lane. At the A684 turn immediately left on to the track signed Killington Bridge. After 550 yards turn right at a fingerpost and walk in the direction of the yellow waymarker arrow, through a kissing gate and then a gate by a stile.

2 Cross the field to meet the Dales Way on the right, turn right and go along a hedged lane to Luneside Farm. Turn left on to the path signed Lincoln’s Inn Bridge. Turn left on to the A684, cross the bridge and after 160 yards turn right over a wall stile. After two fields cross the B6257 then ascend to go through woodland. Continue uphill and bear left at a waymarker on a tree to a pair of gates. Take the right hand gate and follow the path diagonally over a field to New Field Farm. Turn right on to the uphill lane. View Fox’s Pulpit on the right.

3 Continue along the road for 330 yards then turn right on to a signed bridleway. Follow the waymarked path going beside a wall and fence on the right, then down a field to cross a road on to the signed path past a ruin. Descend to cross Fisherman’s Bridge. Follow the footpath left then right alongside Smithy Beck and turn right on to the Dales Way. Go through the farmyard up to a concrete yard then keep right on the Dales Way to Nether Bainbridge. Go over the stile on the right of a barn. Follow the track on the right and continue along the waymarked path. Cross a farm track then go through a metal gate ahead, leaving the Dales Way. Walk to the left of a garage. After the buildings go through a gate on the left. Walk beside the wood and embankment on the right then descend to cross two wall stiles. Turn right on the road and after 100 yards left on to the path signed Craggstone Wood. Walk uphill and around to the left. Enter the woods, go up the side of a gorge then through a fell-side gate.

4 Turn right to follow the line of a wall on the right, then along a path through bracken and descending by the wall on the right. Go through a gate, pass Lockbank Farm and descend to cross a road onto the path signed Cattle Market. At the A684 next to Spar turn left then right past Sedbergh School and along the path to Loftus Hill.

Next week: Ennerdale Bridge, Grike and Crag Fell

NB: restrictions on space mean that this article provides a general summary of the route. It is advisable for anyone who plans to follow the walk to take a copy of the relevant Ordnance Survey map.