With the luxury of a shorter day, we took our time over breakfast and visited Dent Church before heading off at 10:00. There was a heavy mist this morning, but it obscured only the very tops of the hills despite light rain all morning (making photography challenging!). The path west of Dent is lovely, with good surfaces underfoot and interesting hand-forged decorative plates adorning a series of boundary gates through the fields. The Way crosses the Dee by way of a new footbridge at Brackengill, then proceeds through beautiful Gap Wood (carpeted with a breathtaking display of bluebells). After passing over a hillock, the route drops down into the quiet village of Millthrop. We diverted into the town of Sedbergh for lunch by way of a very pretty riverside path. Sedbergh gained prosperity through the wool trade, and is home to a grand "public" school. Beyond Sedbergh the Way passes Brigflatts (we stayed here in 2000, and highly recommend the beautifully restored and friendly Bridge House B&B). Brigflatts is also home to one of the earliest Quaker Friend's meeting houses, dating from the 17th century. The River Lune joins the Dee near Brigflatts, and this stretch of river is as lovely as all that have preceded it. Near Low Branthwaite, the route climbs to higher ground near the Lune Viaduct, then drops down again into Firbank, where we stayed at a wonderful Elizabethan-era B&B, Goodies Farmhouse, which dates from the 16th century and has been beautifully restored by Alexandra Wood. Alexandra offers a very warm welcome to wet and weary walkers, including treating us to delicious tea and homemade cake in her sitting room overlooking the Howgill Fells (not to mention an excellent evening meal!). We enjoyed the company over dinner of brothers Bob & Keith, who were walking the Way together.

Dent main street with monument to Adam Sedgwick

Dent from the churchyard, with the Sun Inn in the background

Leaving Dent, along the River Dee

Hills of Dentdale

Bluebells in Gap Wood

View west

Panorama of Dentdale hills

View toward Sedbergh, with the Howgill Fells as a backdrop

                
Millbank village (views north and south along the Main Street)

Riverside path into Sedbergh

Sedbergh main street, on the day of a town fair

Sedbergh School

River Dee, in the Lune Valley

Footpath near Brigflatts

On to Day Six

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