Sedburgh to Burneside (Kendal) – 12 miles
After breakfast we set off on a cool sunny morning following a route leading us towards the River Lune and the Lune Viaduct. I decided to leave Sedburgh on the A683 towards Brigflatts Farm where the route joins the road anyway. This saved us some time rather than walking back to the river we had crossed yesterday on arrival to the town.
After about a mile or so, now on the A684, we came across the old church of
St Gregory, Vale of Lune, built in 1860 by the Upton family from Ingmire Hall. The London and North Western Railway was constructing the Ingleton Branch Line and the company sent a scripture reader to minister to the navvies. As the church was open we went inside to look around. It was like going back in time – there was old gas lighting
as well as electric lighting above the dusty pews, beautiful stained glass windows and an organ
that needed cleaning. Everywhere looked like it had been left, yet the church had a list of congregation events showing on the notice board. (Reading some history about the church
it is apparently now redundant according to Wikipedia). Leaving the building it was back to more road walking
before taking the trail at Lincoln’s Inn Bridge and following the River Lune towards Lune Viaduct,
an old and disused railway bridge. Walking along the river we met a gentleman with his dog and he asked if we were walking the Dales Way. He told us he’d bought a house in the area and had retired as he had spent most of his time abroad and wanted to return to the UK.
Walking on passing a B&B where I had stayed the first time I did the DW, we went across fields still following the river,
until we decided after a few hours it was time for a break.
We found a spot on the river bank, the weather was becoming warmer now. As we rested, we could see in the distance two people walking towards us and as they got near it turned out to be the Italian couple we’d met at Burnsall and at Conistone Pie. They didn’t linger but did say,” Hello” and asked how we were. Whilst sitting there looking around, it was amazing to see so much flotsam in the trees above our heads, plus boulders and dead wood in the river; obviously the remains of the floods that Cumbria had suffered over the winter months.
Break time over we set off, still following the river
and now heading for the Crook of Lune Bridge,
once said to be the boundary of Yorkshire & Cumbria. We crossed the bridge and went along the road, which was amazing. Trees had been washed up and were embedded into other trees along with all the debris.
We followed the narrow lane under the Lowgill Viaduct before crossing the B6257. Now climbing up into fields, heading towards Beck Foot and the M6, it wasn’t long before we heard the traffic. Still climbing higher we could see the M6 in the distance, winding its way north & south.
We arrived at the bridge that led us across the M6
to the other side and into the fields where we had our first good views – thanks to the sun shining – of the Lake District fells.
Here we decided to stop for lunch and to let the feet cool down by taking our boots off. As we were having lunch the fellow we’d met in Addington and the couple to whom we’d chatted in Sedburgh came and sat with us to talk about the DW so far. They didn’t stay too long and were soon on their way.
After half an hour we set off ourselves and as we neared a remote cottage we saw the same three walkers talking to the occupant. After a brief chat we all set off, now following a single track road. Our destination was a lay-by on the A6, which was our pick up point; we were based in Kendal for the night. It didn’t take long to reach the lay-by where I phoned to be picked up and we said our goodbyes to the others. It was now very warm; we were hot from walking and just needed a drink as our water levels were low. Before long our lift arrived. We loaded up and were on our way to Kendal, a shower and the pub. Our driver was Mrs Brindley with whom I’d stayed when I first did the Dales Way in 2011. As we drove into Kendal we talked about places to eat that night and how the floods had affected the town. Upon arrival we were invited into the garden for a chat and a refreshing drink. Mrs Brindley then phoned to reserve us a table in the French restaurant I’d visited last time.
Having now changed and refreshed ourselves, it was time to have a well deserved drink before going for our meal. Once suitably hydrated, we headed to the restaurant. Kendal was relatively quiet, not much traffic, although the restaurant was busy. The meal was very satisfying and filling; the wine was better though. We later took a stroll back to our accommodation for a little R & R in preparation for the final day’s walk.