Sedbergh has developed its reputation immensely since, in Walks on the Howgill Fells, AW described Sedbergh as ‘the capital of the region‘. Then he said it was best known for Sedbergh School but in recent years this attractive market town of around 3000 residents has become very well known throughout the world as a Book Town – one of only three in the United Kingdom. Sedbergh’s economic importance and geographical location by the River Lune made it an essential station on the Ingleton-Tebay Railway. It is also well known to long distance footpath walkers as a staging post on the popular Dales Way part of whose route was used to enter Sedbergh.

This stage of the trail is essentially a bridge between the Howgill Fells and the start of Walks in Limestone Country at Ingleton. After crossing the River Rawthey on a 40 yards long footbridge and then the River Dee just before its confluence with the Rawthey it passes close to another wonderful bridge over the Lune from the disused Ingleton-Tebay line which is met again. The route comes close to the River Lune before swinging away to climb Middleton Fell with good views of the Howgill Fells and Dentdale before reaching the summit of the ridge at Calf Top (1,999 feet). A delightful ridge walk terminates at the cairn on Eskholme Pike on its rocky knoll overlooking Barbon with extensive views of the Lune valley and its approach to Morecambe Bay.