Start/Finish Main Street, Sedbergh. SD 657 920 (alternative start point Cross Keys pub at SD 697 969) Total distance 14.7km/9 miles Time 1.5 to 3 hours Maps Ordnance Survey Explorer OL19: Howgill Fells and Upper Eden Valley 1:25,000. Route summary Tarmac warm-up followed by low-level singletrack return along valley. From Sedbergh, follow the one-way system through Main Street onto A683. At junction with A684, stay on A683 (signed Kirkby Stephen) and follow road north-east. It’s a wide road but vehicles can be fast so make sure you’re visible, ideally equipped with lights if weather is poor. After 7km, you will reach the Cross Keys pub (an alternative start point). Next to the pub is a bus stop and path down to the river – walk down the steps and across the river on footbridge to pick up bridleway as it descends from Narthwaite. Turn left, keeping the river on your left, and pass below Cautley Spout, bearing left at junction to cross smaller river on footbridge, following path between walls to gate. Continue along bridleway as it heads south-west down the valley, contouring and maintaining reasonable height as you cross streams and pass through gates. Maintain direction as you cross open section of pasture below Cautley – look for gate in fence opposite to guide you back to singletrack as it continues around the fell and becomes a walled lane between hedges. Emerge at Fawcett Bank and stick with bridleway as it becomes doubletrack. Pass through farm at Thursgill then join minor road to descend back to valley floor. Turn right at junction with A683 and return to Sedbergh via road you exited on. Follow the one way system to return to the start point. by Matt_Skinner
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