The little town called Dent in the dale of the same name is a bit of a secret, not many people know it is there, but it is worth seeking out this remote spot, because it is so beautiful. Coming up the steep, narrow track from Garsdale Station, suddenly the ground falls away to reveal stunning views, Dentdale to the south and the Howgill Fells above Sedbergh to the west. It takes your breath away.

The Howgill fells are just to the west of Dent above Sedbergh, and are between the Lake district fells and the Pennines. They have a beauty all their own.

We parked in Dent, a quaint place that time forgot with its narrow cobbled streets, and set off up Flintergill. This was a steep climb for about twenty minutes up a stony track under lovely trees. The map said that there should be waterfalls on our left, but not a sound, in fact not a drop of water at all. All bone dry because of the drought. I am sure it is spectacular after rain. 

When we got to the top there was a viewing point, and what a view ! It really was worth the long pull up the stony track to be able to stop and take all this in. This is looking east along Dentdale.

The path then crossed the Barbondale road and went round the flank of the fell to descend through a series of farms and farm roads. Unfortunately some of these farm roads were concrete, not pleasant to walk on, but eventually we got to the hamlet of Gawthrop. We then had pleasant meadows to walk through to Barth Bridge, then alongside the River Dee back to Dent.

Back in Dent we made for the Sun Inn for a pint, then explored the little town / village. Adam Sedgwick (1785 - 1873) was the most famous son of this place, becoming a professor at Cambridge and furthering the study of geology at a time when scientific study of rocks was only just beginning. He was also a clergyman and a canon of Norwich Cathedral, but it is for his geology that he is well known. At a time when the literal Genesis version of creation was accepted, it took the study of the strata of rocks to reveal how the world was made over many millenia. Adam Sedgwick studied fossils and rock strata comparing one part of the country with another to make geological maps. His work influenced the young Charles Darwin who accompanied him on field studies.

There are several memorials to the Sedgwick family in St Andrew's Church in Dent. It is quite a grand church with beautiful windows, a very ancient pulpit and Dent marble floor.  We thoroughly enjoyed our day out in Dentdale, and will return. The views in every direction were some of the best in the dales.