Sedbergh to Stone Hall

This is a circular loop of 1.8 miles (3 km), starting and finishing in Sedbergh town centre. Allow at least an hour, and longer if you stop for the views or a detour.

You leave town along the pavement and Castlehaw Lane, cross the humpback bridge by Castle Haw Farm and pass the bunk barn, then cut across fields to High Barn and Ghyll Farm. At Ghyll Farm the way goes through the stableyard and down a concrete drive, with cattle grids to watch for, and passes Stone Hall, a historic farmhouse. A narrow stone stile and little gate lead to a wall-side path, a small footbridge and a stile, then Underbank House, before a grassy lane and Thorns Lane bring you back towards Sedbergh via a walled tarmac footpath over Settlebeck Gill.

A brief detour off the lane takes you up to Castle Haw, an 11th-century motte and bailey site, with views over the Howgills, Cautley Valley, Frostrow Fell and Brant Fell. Return the same way to rejoin the lane.

Short does not mean easy here. The walk is quite strenuous, crossing undulating fields below the High Fell, with narrow kissing gates and ladder stiles along the way. It is not a surfaced or step-free route.

Dogs are welcome on the public rights of way, but keep yours on a lead around livestock, and on a short lead from March to July because of ground-nesting birds. Cattle can be unpredictable around dogs, so if they threaten, let your dog go rather than hanging on to it.

There are various car parks in Sedbergh, including Main Street and near the library, and a bus service from Kendal. Toilets, cafes, pubs and shops are all in town, so it is easy to finish the loop with a brew.