Child laid on tummy on top of trig point doing superman outstreched flying pose with mountains behind

Visit Sedbergh and Dentdale with Kids

Sedbergh and Dentdale can be found at the far Western reaches of the Yorkshire Dales National Park in the Westmorland Dales.

With the towering Howgills dominating the views above Sedbergh, it is unsurprisingly home to some of the most dramatic scenery there is to see in the National Park.

Oh, and you’ll find plenty of stuff to do with the kids too!

Are you headed to Sedbergh or the Westmorland Dales with the kids?

Sedbergh in the Westmorland Dales is found in Cumbria, but is still firmly part of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. It’s a stones throw away from the market town of Kirkby Stephen and the pretty village of Ravenstonedale, as well as being a short drive from Dent!

In short, this page covers a family trip to the Cumbrian area of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Confused? Well don’t be, a lot of people don’t realise that the Yorkshire Dales National Park boundary extends as far the M6 and if you’ve ever driven up it, those great big massive green mountains belong to the YDNP, not the Lake District!

But aside from the fact that this overlooked part of the country is… well completely overlooked! Never fear! For I’ve got your family visit to the Westmorland Dales covered. Ooh, and I’ve also done an entirely separate guide for Kirkby Lonsdale. So make sure you check that one out!

Here, you’ll find out some of the places that you can visit with the kids, some epic walks and we might even take a cheeky trip to the Lake District for some suggestions! After all, the two National Parks are only separated by a road!

Are you staying in Sedbergh for a little longer? Why not check out our Visit Hawes with Kids Guide.

Waterfall and child in a mossy gorge with early spring trees

Our best Sedbergh and Westmorland Dales Walks

Sedbergh and the Westmorland Dales is a fabulous hub for family friendly walks Here are a few of our favourites!

Fancy a family friendly introduction to the Howgils? Check out Winder! A peak bagging walk that ends with the park AND ice cream!

Do you want to find a waterfall? Cautley Spout is a blooming massive one! The tallest cascade in the country. Find out how to walk to it by heading to the Cautley Spout walk page. Be warned, it’s steep!

Fancy following a trail up to see the ruins of an old lime kiln and explore a little museum full of old farm machinery? Head to Dent for the Flinter Gill walk!

Looking for a walk with a humungous gorge?? Head to Hell Gill and Hell Gill Force waterfall.

Looking for a legendary walk with a spooky story and a poetry trail? Try Stenkrith Park in Kirkby Stephen.

Or for an absolutely MASSIVE viaduct, try Smardale Gill Viaduct in Ravenstonedale.

And for a picture perfect waterfall, head to Rutter Force!

Oh! And don’t forget a perfect little riverside wander in Sedbergh!

Phew. That’s loads right? If you want to find more, head to our dedicated Western Dales walks page!

Child playing on a rock in a gorge with ivy trailing and dark water flowing

The gorge in Stenkrith Park

child standing in front of a viaduct

Smardale Gill viaduct

Child walking down lane in Dent with big fells in the distance

Walking in Dent

The ruins of Pendragon Castle

Brough Castle

child climbing up the climbing wall in distance shot through a tunnel

Outdoorsy Activities for Kids near Sedbergh

We’re talking Cumbrian Dales here, so who’s ready to take a little trip to the edge of the Lakes!

Whilst there aren’t any specific outdoorsy attractions as such in Sedbergh, here’s what’s on offer nearby!

Ice cream parlour and a spectacular castle ruin? Free to enter Brough Castle, just north of Kirkby Stephen has the English Heritage ruins to explore with an ice cream parlour and play area (for users of the parlour) right outside!

Looking for a National Trust fix? Sizergh Castle and their nature play trail is only a 20 minute drive from Sedbergh. The play trail is found right next to the house and gardens (but be warned the car park can get very busy in peak times, so get there early!)

Are you looking for somewhere to swim? Then head to Ingleton where you’ll find the Ingleton Lido, a 30 minute drive away.

Looking for a family friendly open farm? Then Lakelands Maze Farm Park is located just down the road near Sedgwick. That’s a 25 minute drive.

Want to explore a spooky castle ruin? Then head over to Pendragon Castle in Mallerstang. This ruin is free to explore. It’s on private land, but access is permitted by the landowner, provided the ruins aren’t entered.

Do you want to go cycling? Try hiring a bike from High Laning Campsite in Dent.

Here at Halloween? Try Ullathorns Farm for pumpkin picking between Kirkby Lonsdale and Sedbergh!

Looking at the train track in Dent Heritage Centre

Rainy day stuff to do near Sedbergh

Come on guys… it’s Yorkshire (well ok, CUMBRIA). The likelihood is, you’ll be dealing with rain at some point! But NEVER FEAR! For we have some IDEAS (see what I did there? Poet and I don’t know it and all that….)

Check out Farfield Mill in Sedbergh. This is predominantly a gallery, but we wiled away a good couple of rainy day hours weaving upstairs. The lovely folk of the mill taught the kids how to weave on their machines, and there is a little cafe and museum on site too.

Where does it not rain (much!) in a CAVE! White Scar show Cave is about 20 minutes away from Sedbergh although technically… after lots of very heavy rain, it will flood and therefore be closed! They always keep their Facebook page updated in the event of closure, so if in doubt, check before you head out!

Dent Heritage Museum is located right in the middle of Dent and has a cafe to warm up on a cold wet day. There are some pretty extraordinarily creepy dummies to appreciate too and on that note, keep your eyes peeled for the story of the Dent Vampire, you can find his stone outside the church!

Kendal Climbing Wall is about 30 minutes away from Sedbergh, as is Ingleton Climbing Wall. At Kendal there is an area for beginners, think more like clip and climb than hardcore climbing!

Kirkby Stephen has a soft play called The Hive. It’s got a cafe too!

The park in Sedbergh

Where are the play parks?

In Sedbergh, you’ll find one located on located on Howgill Lane next to the football pitch What 3 Words: going.costumed.flame

You’ll find another in Sedbergh on Back Lane just behind Farm Gate Pets What 3 Words topples.giants.spared.

In Dent, you will find the play park near the primary school on Dragon Croft What 3 Words supply.automatic.aims

And in Ravenstonedale, it’s directly opposite the church, where you’ll also be able to check out the ruins of a monastery that was once there! (Find the toilet… it’s my two’s favourite thing to do!)

Tom Taylor’s Cave at How Stean Gorge

A Day Out in the Westmorland Dales a must do Itinerary

Ok. You only have a day in Sedbergh…

Here’s what we’d do and in a change from the norm, it includes a little fancy treat for the family at the end!

Go up Winder. Just that. It’s like the Sedbergh fell. It’s petite, it’s the perfect Howgill to start the kids on!

Go to the park. And if it’s open, grab and ice cream from the farm on your way down.

You’ve bagged a perfect Howgill, but if you’re hungry for more, take a drive to Dent and check out the Heritage Museum. There are tractors, tales and hot chocolates.

Head back to Sedbergh and go to the Black Bull pub. It’s family friendly but also fancy! It’s dog friendly too and a treat for everybody!

Child standing with Red squirrel leaflet in the woods

What else is nearby?

We get it! You’re in this for the long haul! If you’re visiting for a while or you’re just stuck for ideas as to what to do with the kids, here’s what’s nearby…

Kirkby Lonsdale

Essentially, it’s just down the road, but we love it so much we gave it it’s own visit with kids guide!

Hawes and Wensleydale

A half hour drive from Sedbergh and you have a LOAD of more stuff to do! Check out the dedicated visit with kids guide.

Scroll using the arrows for all our Family Friendly Walks

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