How to get there
Brigflatts is a hamlet of about nine houses on the bank of the River Rawthey about 1 mile west of the small market town of Sedbergh, Cumbria, in the north west of England.
The following links take to advice on travel by whichever means you choose:
By Car
From the West (M6 Junction 37 & Kendal & the Lake District)
Take the A684 to Sedbergh. About 200 yds past the start of the 30mph limit on the outskirts of Sedbergh take the very sharp right turn onto the A683 towards Kirkby Lonsdale. About ½ mile on from this junction the entrance to Brigflatts Lane appears on the left immediately before a lay-by on the right (see parking advice below.)
From the South (Kirkby Lonsdale)
From Kirkby Lonsdale, cross the River Lune on the A65 and take the A683 north up the vale of the Lune. After about 6 miles the road crosses the Rawthey at the narrow (single track) Middleton Bridge. About 1½ miles further on (past Ingmire Hall on the left) the entrance to Brigflatts Lane appears on the right just beyond a lay-by on the left (see parking advice below) and indicated with a finger signpost “Friends Meeting House 1675”
From the East (Dentdale, Garsdale, Wensleydale) and the North East (Kirkby Stephen)
Follow signs for Sedbergh and in the town exit on the A684 towards Kendal and the M6. On the outskirts of the town,just beyond the petrol station on the left, bear left onto the A683 for Kirkby Lonsdale. About ½ mile on from this junction the entrance to Brigflatts Lane appears on the left immediately before a lay-by on the right (see parking advice below.)
Sat-Nav users
The post-code for the Meeting House is LA10 5HN.
Parking
Parking is not a simple matter along Brigflatts Lane. For a current update please contact the premises committee on 07815 730679 or use the contact form. If you are happy to park in the lay-by at the end of Brigflatts Lane, there is usually space for 7 or 8 cars parked carefully end to hedge.
Brigflatts Lane is tarmacked and a walk of about 150 yards takes you to the Meeting House. We have to say that unfortunately, very occasionally the lay-by becomes full of cars. We are working on overcoming our shortage of car parking space.
By Public Transport
By Rail
West-coast mainline trains from London, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh (operated by Avanti West Coast) stop at Oxenholme station near Kendal. Buses leave from the west station entrance.
There are also local trains to and from Windermere (via Kendal), Penrith to the North and Carnforth and Lancaster to the South.
The wonderfully picturesque Carlisle to Settle railway passes about 10 miles east of Sedbergh. The stations at Dent (Cowgill) and Garsdale are plausible jumping off points for cyclists (and possibly walkers).
National Rail Enquiries journey planner website is at: www.nationalrail.co.uk .
By Bus
Bus Services from Kendal to Sedbergh are not frequent but with careful planning are quite useable. Buses to and from other towns (Kirkby Stephen, Kirkby Lonsdale, Dent etc) are also available. (NB additional services run during the summer, so check that you are consulting the correct timetable for the time of your visit – Go to Sedbergh website for up to date timetables). Buses stop in Sedbergh. It will be necessary to follow the ‘on-foot’ instructions to get to Brigflatts from there.
On Foot
From Sedbergh
There are paths across the fields from Sedbergh to Brigflatts which are easy walking, although the presence of kissing gates regrettably makes it difficult for people with children in buggies and impossible for wheelchair users. The later part of the route can become rather wet and muddy at certain times (not only in winter) so boots are a must for much of the year.
Maps of the route are here as HTML and pdf format.
The alternative route along the main roads (A684 and A683), following George Fox’s presumed 1652 route, can now be busy with cars with no footpaths along the winding section of the A683 between the edge of Sedbergh and Brigflatts Lane. However, in winter when traffic levels are low, the attentive and nimble can probably use it safely. We wouldn’t recommend it for small children at any time.
From the Dales Way
The Dales Way, which runs from Ilkley to Bowness-on-Windermere through the Yorkshire Dales National Park, passes within 200 yards or so of the meeting house. Unfortunately, there is no permitted direct access from the Dales Way, where it follows the north bank of the Rawthey, into the southern end of Brigflatts Lane.
Walkers heading west will need to leave the Dales Way at Birks (SD651914) and take the footpath west across the fields (see route from Sedbergh above). Alternatively they can leave the riverside path where it climbs over the disused railway embankment (SD643909) and walk north to join the inland path although this is not a right of way.
Walkers heading east along the Dales Way towards Sedbergh will find that the route leaves the Lune Valley and runs along the A683 for about 500 yards before joining the north bank of the Rawthey. For Brigflatts, walkers need to continue along the A683 for a further 400 yards to Brigflatts Lane.
