Visiting The Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales

Either Sedbergh or Kirkby Stephen would be good options.

Sedbergh is otherwise a Book Town, and has a lot of character to it. It is in Cumbria (now Westmorland and Furness) but is also in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, as it was in Yorkshire until 1974.

Kirkby Stephen is a rather larger town, further north. It has more facilities, and in winter weather sees more snow clearance. It is quite an interesting town, but due to traffic possibly has less character (depending on your point of view).

Kirkby Lonsdale would be another very good option (there you are on the border of 3 counties- Lancashire, Yorkshire and Cumbria/Westmorland). Windermere is 40 minutes or so from KL or Sedbergh (maybe 45 from Sedbergh). Keswick is about 50 minutes from Kirkby Stephen. Another lovely small town on the edge of beautiful country- much of it relatively little known.

None of these are towns much visited by forum members. That does not make them unworthy of getting to know.

40 minutes of driving doesn't sound like much, but it is more difficult than you think in both the Lake District and the Dales. Roads are narrow - possibly 1 track - and very twisty. Driving is slow at any time of the year, but probably slower in winter. I would advise taking 2 accommodations - 1 in the Lake District and 1 in the Dales. A single shift with a car should not be a lot of work and would definitely make touring a lot easier.

Hi danielandjanis (I see what you did there!) -

Another vote for Sedbergh (pronounced ‘Sed-ber’ or ‘Sed-burra’, dependent on where you’re from) from me. Handily placed for both the Lakes and The Dales and also situated underneath The Howgill Fells, which the late great Alfred Wainwright described as “like a herd of sleeping elephants”, an unusual but apt description.

The only problem I think you might have is that the days will still be short at that time of year, but mercifully growing a little longer each day, so I could see you travelling to and from your base in darkness or near darkness. That said, Sedbergh has plenty going for it with a number of pubs in town that do good food. I think they’ll all be open in February but it would be worth double checking. Main roads in and out of town are not ‘interstate’ standard and are narrow here and there but generally not that bad. Don’t be tempted to take the Kingsdale road across toward Ingleton - it’s un-made for a section and is hideously steep, narrow and exposed - an ‘experience’ at the best of times, but I would expect it to be hair raising at the very least in February. To access the Dales go west from Sedbergh to the M6, head south and then take the A65 east(ish) signed Skipton. This is the main road from Leeds/Bradford to the Lakes and runs across the southern foot of the Dales. Turn off north to get into the Dales proper, dependent where you are headed.

For the Lakes take the Kendal/Windermere road - same turn as the A65 but head west as opposed to east. Beware speed cameras on roads approaching the Lakes, especially at Ings if you head that way - several of my friends have been caught out there!

Give me a shout if you need any further info and think I might be able to help.

Ian

My mileage varies from Ian's (and there isn't a right answer).

I would take the A683 from Sedbergh through Barbon and Casterton to pick up the A65 east at Devil's Bridge, Kirkby Lonsdale, or the A684 to Hawes and Wensleydale for the Northern Dales.

For Windermere I'd be inclined to stay on the A684 into Kendal, then back out of Kendal, rather than heading south from Junction 37 to 36 then the A591 back north. In snow conditions the M6/A591 route will be the better.

Thank you all for the quick replies. You have given me much info to research!