The Sedbergh Walking & Wellbeing Festival opens at the People's Hall at 3pm on Sunday 13 September, with the main walking programme running from Monday 14 to Sunday 20 September.
Which walk should you choose?
Shorter introduction: Fostrow Fell
Monday's 4.5-mile route takes around 2.5 hours and combines Sedbergh, Millthrop, fell views and the River Rawthay.
Classic big day: Cautley Spout and The Calf
Wednesday's six-mile route is published at around four hours.
Experienced walkers: Howgills Traverse
Friday's 10.5-mile traverse is the longest advertised walk at around six hours and should be treated as a serious mountain day.
Wainwright interest: A Pennine Journey
Saturday's five-mile walk follows the River Rawthay from the Cross Keys towards Farfield Mill and Sedbergh.
Talks
Evening sessions cover Wainwright books, fell emergencies, red squirrels and basic map-and-compass navigation.
Westmorland and Furness Way launch
Tuesday 15 September is especially significant because the new Westmorland and Furness Way is officially launched as part of festival week. The 120-mile route runs from Alston to Furness Abbey and passes through Sedbergh between the Eden Valley and Lake District sections.
See the dedicated Westmorland and Furness Way launch Event.
Booking
Walks and talks have different booking and pricing arrangements. Use the organiser's current TryBooking page rather than assuming one festival ticket covers everything.
Parking
Use signed public car parks such as Joss Lane and Loftus Hill when appropriate, but check your walk's meeting point first because some activities begin outside central Sedbergh.
What to take
- proper walking footwear
- waterproof jacket and layers
- food and water for the route length
- personal medication
- map/navigation equipment where advised
Weather
The rounded Howgills can look gentle from the valley but high ground is exposed and navigation can become difficult in cloud. Follow organiser instructions and expect routes to change if conditions become unsafe.
Our tip
Mix one or two substantial routes with a shorter walk, a talk and time in Sedbergh instead of trying to book the hardest route every day.
A684 travel warning
Bellow Hill east of Sedbergh is fully closed from 14 September to 16 October. The restriction includes walkers and cyclists. Visitors from Garsdale/Hawes must use the signed road diversion; festival sessions have different meeting points, so check the booking before setting out. Read the detailed A684 closure guide.
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