Rent a cottage in gorgeous Garsdale as a base for exploring the Yorkshire Dales
Garsdale is one of the lesser-known dales in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Visitors here, however, are rewarded with gorgeous scenery. Even one of England’s greatest poets, William Wordsworth, came to see for himself. 
Within the valley, Garsdale Head (also referred to locally as Hawes Junction) is a hamlet, mainly known for the railway station there, which services the scenic Settle-Carlisle Railway. Garsdale Station has received recognition from National Railway Heritage Awards. Railway enthusiasts will appreciate the historic signal box, first used in 1910. It is, in fact, the only fully working signal box on the line today. The settlement known as The Street is a hamlet of dwellings and St. John the Baptist Church was built in 1861.
Walkers and cyclists use the single track Coal Road, running between Garsdale and Dent Station, but it can become unsuitable in winter conditions. For confident swimmers, who don’t mind some chilly waters, the River Clough running through Garsdale provides some pools to take a dip in. All around this area, there are opportunities to enjoy the landscape. For particularly wonderful views, the viewing position from Longstone Fell is highly recommended.
The Sedgwick Geological Trail, introduced in 1985, was made to honour Adam Sedgwick, who was a famous geologist born in 1785 in the Dales village of Dent. This trail has wooden posts to mark the fascinating geological features of the landscape and how they developed. Maps and guides for the trail are available from local outlets. The trail is on private land, so you must take care not to stray from the footpaths. For safety’s sake, you are advised to be careful at the riverbank, which is steep and can be slippy.
Garsdale is six miles from the market town of Sedbergh, which is a thriving centre for shopping, a weekly market and leisure, with a number of events going on through the year. Events include The Sedbergh Music Festival for classical music fans, Sedbergh Folkfest, the Sedbergh & District Spring Show and the Sedbergh Annual Gala. Regular literary events also take place in the town. For golfers in the family, Sedbergh Golf Club is a lovely 9-hole, par 70 course.
Hawes, about eight miles from Garsdale Head, makes for a most enjoyable day out. Famous as the home of Wensleydale Cheese, so beloved of Wallace and Gromit, it’s a ‘picture postcard’ town with charming antique shops, tearooms, pubs and crafts. It’s also a market town, with the market normally being held on a Tuesday. Nearby natural wonders and scenery also make this a worthwhile trip, especially Hardraw Force, which is the highest single drop waterfall in the country. For an interesting insight into local culture and heritage, the Dales Countryside Museum can be found at the old railway station.
This part of the world offers so much to the visitor and you can be as active or as laid back as you like. Garsdale residents are rightly proud of their heritage and welcome holidaymakers to share it with them.
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