West Dales Accommodation

Howgill Fells views nr Sedbergh

Market towns Kirkby Stephen & Kirkby Lonsdale offer superb specialist shops

St Andrew's Church, Dent. Home to the Discover Dent Visitor Centre

Stunning Yorkshire Dales views around Garsdale nr Sedbergh

Dentdale, Kirkby Lonsdale, Lune Valley, Sedbergh Kirkby Stephen Yorkshire Dales UK

The gentle rolling pastures of the Western Dales, with perfect walking bases like Kirkby Lonsdale in the Lune Valley, Dent in Dentdale or Sedbergh at the base of the renowned Howgill Fells is a beautiful section of the Yorkshire Dales. To the West of the Yorkshire Dales National Park many villages and towns like Kirkby Lonsdale, Kirkby Stephen, Sedbergh and Dent officially sit within Cumbria. Their close proximity to the Dales however sees them closely associated with both regions.

Western Dales Countryside

Part of the Western Dales is in Cumbria, but a large chunk remains in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Historical buildings and rolling hills abound. The countryside is indeed diverse across the Western Dales.

You can move from Mallerstang in the north where the Pennines and river valleys combine, to the Howgill Fells, to the high moorland of Garsdale, to woodland alongside the River Lune in the Lune Valley.

Arts, Crafts, Villages & Towns in the Western Dales

The Western Yorkshire Dales on the Cumbrian border is distinctive for its craft, woollen and knitting heritage and contains some fascinating historical sights and buildings within its towns and villages. Topspots include Sedbergh in the Howgills, the market town of Kirkby Stephen in the beautiful Eden Valley, peaceful Dent in the stunning valley of Dentdale and Kirkby Lonsdale in The Lune Valley which has inspired painters like Turner and was beloved by John Ruskin. Kirkby Lonsdale's famous Ruskin's View is via St Mary's churchyard along 'The Brow' walk.

Kirkby Stephen in the north of the area hosts a Countryside Festival in Mid May annually, and if you're a lover of golf then this is the area for you. Golf courses can be found in Casterton, Kirkby Lonsdale and Sedbergh. Sedbergh is a popular base from which to explore the stunning Howgill Fells whilst Kirkby Stephen on the banks of the River Eden is popular with walkers and cyclists heading for adjacent Stenkrith Natural Park and the stunning blend of fells and dales which mark this border area. The Mallerstang Valley is especially popular.

Pulling on its craft knitting and woollen heritage, the towns and villages of the Western Dales are superb centres for arts and crafts, with a number of craft centres located in the area.

Specialist shops abound in market towns Kirkby Stephen and Kirkby Lonsdale and in Dent village, whilst Sedbergh boasts Farfield Mill Arts & Heritage Centre. Dent is also a centre for fine real ales brewed in the village's own brewery.

West Dales History & Heritage

You'll find a wealth of history in this part of the Yorkshire Dales. Brigflatts, the oldest Quaker Meeting House in the North can be found not far from Sedbergh or the old ruins of Pendragon Castle, Mallerstang.

Hook into the historic Settle Carlisle Railway from Kirkby Stephen station just to the west of the town.

Find out more on Dent's most famous son Adam Sedgwick heralded as one of Victorian England's greatest geologists and Dent's famous hand knitting heritage at the Dent Heritage Centre.

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