Wednesday 8th July 2026
When Bowland Climber gives ne a call I know I am off on a mystery tour. Today I am only imformed that we are heading for Sedbergh. Well, I have done quite few walks from Sedbergh so I'm anticipating we may be on familiar territory and when we arrive at the convenient lay-by at the River Rawthey bridge at Millthrop which I have used before my thoughts are confirmed. However, within a few yards of leaving the car we are off uphill on a minor road I have not previously been on. The road becomes a track still climbing quite steeply but typical of the Yorkshire Dales bridleways in those limestone surroundings that I am so attracted to. For half a kilometre we follow Wainwright's "A Pennine Journey" which I have encountered in bits on many occasions over the years. I reckon W's APJ along with the Dalesway and the Dales High Way could be contenders for the three best walks in the country. I read W's book ages ago smd seem to remember him being a bit grumpy about it but I can't imagine why except it coincided with the start of WW2. I must do a re-read and perhaps do a blog post review?
Despite my prediction of familair territory we only crossed The Dales High Way twice and then followed part of the Dalesway back down the River Rawthey to our car, and again having walked all the Dalesway in bits and pieces I had no recollection. One of the marginal bemefits of having a poor memory?
Looking north we had superb views of the Howgills rising high above Sedbergh, the kind of views whichs are enhanced when one has numerous memories of past treks in that particular domain. The Dales High Way which I walked in April 2010 climbs out of Sedbergh to follow the high gound of the Howgills superbly from south to north on its way to finish at Appleby.
At our first encounter with the Dales High Way at Highside farm we chatted with the farmer and admired his long serving Massey Ferguson tractor which we reckoned had never been cleaned since its purchase - in my scale modelling endeavours errors can be cleverly disguised under the euphemism of "weathering" which rang a bell with me looking at this farmer's well used friend.
BC at the outset had promised a refreshment stop at the halfway point and so we arrived at Farfield Mill, a proud four storey Victorian textile mill now converted into a top class museum and art gallery. The mill stamds on the edge of the Clough River which although somewhat diminutive had the ability to power this huge multi storey mill full of weaving machinery. We had tea snd cakes at the café, a welcome rest from the heatwave temperatures of the day, and then perhaps an hour looking round the exhibits. For some reason I took no photos inside, but BC took many and I'm sure his post will be showing those if you want to look when it is posted, just search "Bowland Climber." There is also comprehensive information and photos if you search Farfield Mill.
A short stretch took us to where Clough River meets the river Rawthey, which we followed back to Milthrop on a short section of The Dalesway.
A modest round under four miles, but sufficient in the intensity of our current heatwave, but country walking at its best and extended by the very worthwhile Farfield Mill visit. A most enjoyable outing.
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| Parking at Millthrop |
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| Millthrop village |
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| The Old Pottery, and below... |
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| ...now a hloiday let |
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| Leaving the tarmac. This is actually the access to a cottage higher up. We were pinned to the hedge to allow their Land Rover to pass on its way down. We didn't think it would be possible using a conventional car for at that residence , see next photo. |
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| Looking back down that lane, the "first reserve" in the garage? |
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| The Howgills above Sedbergh |
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| The "weathered" Massey Ferguson. The farmer seemed unsure of its age when we asked |
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| Our tea and cake spot at Farfield Mill |
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| Farfield Mill, and below |
