Hebblethwaite Gill

Walk 8 - Sedbergh to Hebblethwaite Gill circular - 7 miles - 4 hours - By car or train/bus, An easy low level walk with slight uphill stretches and return along River Rawthey. The highlight is the ravine at Hebblethwaite Gill where Adam Sedgwick made some important geological observations in the exposed rock formation in the early 1800s. This is the Dent Fault and an intersection between the rock formations of the Yorkshire Dales and the older formations of the Lake District. Back to Dentdale


Sarthwaite	The ravine at Hebblethwaite Gill

Start in the centre of Sedbergh and walk out town along the Kirkby Stephen road turning right along the main road to Hawes. This crosses New Bridge. Unfortunately there is a stretch of road walking for nearly 1/2 mile eventually turning left onto a bridleway with a tarmac surface. This leads to the rear of Farfield Mill, worth a visit in its' own right. Cross Garsdale Bridge and turn immediately right to follow left hand river bank. Pass through several stiles/gates as the river twists. After a while the path leaves the river bank and strikes out left and uphill through the trees to a gate and then across a large field to reach a stile and the the lane leading to Dovecote Gill.


View of Howgills	Farfield Mill

Turn right to follow the track, passing to the right hand side of Dovecote Gill. The track weaves up the hill to a gate leading to the open pasture. Turn left to follow the track along the side of the fell with the wall on the left crossing a small stream. Pass the rear of Fellgate, a farmhouse. Follow the fell side gaining height slightly and very soon emerging at the ravine above Hebblethwaite Gill turn left through the gate. Take a while to explore the area but take care of the sharp drops. For those feeling brave proceed to the rocky promontory in the bend in the stream below. This is an excellent vantage point to observe the rock formations and there is a ready made seat here. Take care on the way back.


Hebblethwaite Gill	The ravine

Now turn downhill and across pasture becoming a track with the ravine on the right heading towards a gate and track towards Sarthwaite, a deserted famstead which is worth a quick detour. Retrace steps along the track and passing through some gate posts standing isolated in the pasture proceed dropping down to Hebblethwaite Gill. The path may not be immediately obvious but down below in the tree lined ravine is a footbridge. This make take some searching!. The path. then obvious, climbs steeply up the far side of the gill and crossing a field at the top emerges at Hebblethwaite Hall.


Gateway at Sarthwaite	Alpacca at Ghyllas

Turn left along the farm access road for 1/4 mile. At a sharp bend in the road take the footpath straight on towards Ghyllas Farm currently used as an Alpacca centre. The path proceeds down the farm drive for a few metres and then turns left through the woods to meet the main road to Kirkby Stephen. Proceed along the road to Straight Bridge and the River Rawthey. Crossing the road bridge turn left and down the steps to follow the right hand bank back to New Bridge and Sedbergh.

The return bus departs from outside the Dalesman pub. For current timetables see Western Dales Bus

The Dalesman - the bus stops here

Important note:- Whilst the author has taken every care in assembling the information on this site, no responsibility can be accepted for any error or omission herein. If in any doubt walkers should always consult the relevant OS map. All timings are approximate and for a person of average fitness and ability.

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This page was last updated on 10-May-2020