I was early for the lunch time check-in with The Walker; we were meeting at ‘The George and Dragon’ in Dent. The bartender was really friendly and had been brought up here, so could tell me a lot about the surrounding area.
The cobbled streets of Dent & the superb ‘George & Dragon’ pub!
Dent is a quaint little village with cobbled streets and it’s a bit like going back in time. Everyone here can’t do enough for you – a bit different from Sedbergh, pronounced “Sed-ber”, where the Tourist Info Office was closing at 2.30! To be fair, though, the lady did look very stressed and said she was short-staffed so had to close. This did used to be a Yorkshire National Park Centre, but now belongs to the town – I didn’t enquire as to why that had happened, but it can’t be good if they can’t keep it open.
A quick moan about campsites that aren’t! They really shouldn’t be on maps or in books if they are always full of “season” caravans and never have any spaces for real tourers! Pinfold in Sedbergh never has any pitches for them but is listed as a caravan and camping site!
From Bernie:
Today’s walk 9.7 miles : Cumulative 672.8 miles
A gentle, easy day’s walking through Dentdale, following the River Dee to Garsdale. Wonderful warm sunshine, excellent pub stop & a relaxing late afternoon barbecue to finish – felt like a holiday!
I walked past The Dent Brewery (see Beer of the Day!) in Cowgill at the end of yesterday’s walk &, again, at the start of today’s without realising it was there! The barman at ‘The George & Dragon’ said that was hardly surprising as there are no signs & it’s so tiny that if you get 2 brewers in there at the same time there isn’t room to turn around!
Village of Dent nestled below Great Coum
Beer of the Day: The Dent Brewery produces 8 ales & ‘The George & Dragon’ had 4 on tap in addition to other beers! I had 2 pints (unusual for a lunch stop) of ‘Kamikaze’ & suspect I may have found a new ‘Best Beer of LeJog’! Full-bodied, hoppy, fruity &, at 5%, quite strong. Available via the internet, I think I’ll be looking into this when I get home!
Didn’t buy the tee-shirt but only because they didn’t have one in my size – bought a fleece instead!
Beer & Folk Festival this weekend in Dent, a major rival to Glastonbury(!), & no doubt, the local ales will be flowing! Judy Collins & Eliza Carthy topping the bill. Locals are looking forward to the business but they’re also saying they’ll be glad when it’s over......!
Leaving Dentdale along the ridge connecting it to Garsdale
Finished the day in Sedbergh, a small Cumbrian town yet curiously within the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Life here seems to revolve around its large & quite famous public school – Will Carling was a student here, as was Adam Sedgwick in the early 19th century; Sedgwick was born in Dent & will be well-known to my geological advisor if not to the rest of you!
Adam Sedgwick Memorial Fountain in Dent Village, carved from a block of Shap granite
Two closed pubs, another without cider & 2 of its ales & a Tourist Information office closing at 2.30 – I didn’t feel as charitable as Les towards the ‘stressed’ lady!
Highlight of the Day: despite my slightly negative reaction to Sedbergh, today’s highlight was undoubtedly ‘The Sedbergh Embroidery’ – 2 panels created by local women depicting the history, landscape & social background of the area on display in St. Andrew’s Church.
The Sedbergh Embroidery
Curiously, Sedbergh also has a Folk & Beer Festival this weekend! I think we’ll be safer out of the area!
I know which festival I'd prefer, and it isn't Glastonbury.
ReplyDeleteAm still enjoying both blogs - yours and Les' - and the photos continue to be wonderful.
Les - are you using the Caravan Club guide to sites? Have found them pretty reliable in the past.
Love to you both
Julia