Discover Sedgwick: Canal History and Paths along the River Kent

Sedgwick combines canal history, paths along the water, and impressive evidence of industrial history. Anyone looking for a combination of walks, landscapes, and historical discoveries for their holiday will find several different starting points for planning their trip here.

Paths along the Canal and the River Kent

The towpath through the Canal Wildlife Area is part of the Lancaster to Kendal Towpath Footpath. This towpath through Sedgwick is a public path, making it a specific focus for an active day. There are also walking routes around Sedgwick that lead down to the River Kent. You can therefore plan your day according to whether you would rather follow a public path along the canal or explore the landscape on walking routes towards the river.

West of Sedgwick, the River Kent runs through a gorge and over a series of waterfalls known as Force Falls. This landscape feature complements the canal paths with a different natural attraction. For families and travel groups, it can be appealing not to limit the trip to a single activity, but to choose between the canal path, walking routes, and a landscape featuring a river, gorge, and waterfalls.

A drained section of canal with a history of its own

The section of the former Lancaster-Kendal Canal that passes through Sedgwick includes 450 m of the drained canal. The Sedgwick section also includes 3.2 acres of mixed woodland and wetland. The former canal route is therefore not merely a historical subject, but also shapes the actual landscape that you can experience during a stay in Sedgwick.

The Lancaster Canal through Sedgwick was built in 1819 as part of a 75-mile route between Kendal and Preston. Another distinctive trace of this construction history is Sedgwick Hill Bridge. It was built in 1818 by the engineer John Fletcher according to the original designs of John Rennie. The old Sedgwick ice house can also still be seen in the fields east of the canal. Such individual structures and traces in the landscape bring the history of the area to life without limiting the visit to a single destination.

Industrial history in New Sedgwick

The northern and central parts of the New Sedgwick gunpowder works are also still well preserved. They are among the better-preserved gunpowder works from the 19th and early 20th centuries in northern England. In addition to its paths and canal history, Sedgwick therefore offers another focus for travellers interested in historical working environments and industrial facilities. The different themes can be given different emphasis in personal travel planning: one day can focus more on activity and landscapes, while another can centre on bridges, canal construction, and industrial history.

Find holiday accommodation in Sedgwick to suit your travel plans

If you are looking for holiday accommodation in Sedgwick, choose your accommodation according to the pace of holiday you want. If you would like to combine walks, landscapes, and historical discoveries, a stay with changing daily destinations may suit your travel plans. The deciding factor is therefore whether you want to use Sedgwick as a base for varied days or for a thematically focused programme.

Other places for your planning

If you would also like to include other places in your travel plans, you can also look at Shap, Dockray, Beckermet, Torpenhow, Ainstable, Mealsgate, Ivegill and Scotby.

For the higher-level travel overview: Cumbria.