Historic UK hidden gem next to two national parks – and it’s England’s ‘only book town’
BOOKWORMS in the UK have plenty of options for staycations, in which they can combine their passion for reading with a holiday.
However, one of those options might fly under the radar a little more than others.
Sedbergh in Cumbria is England‘s “official book town” and is home to family-run independent book shops, as well as the site of several annual literature festivals.
A book town is labelled as “a small rural town or village in which second‑hand and antiquarian bookshops are concentrated,” according to the International Organisation of Book Towns.
Included in that is the Death in the Dales book festival, where crime fiction enthusiasts descend upon the sleepy town to attend talks, discussions and films all about their favourite genre.
Elsewhere, the town hosts the Yoto Carnegies Book Town Takeover – the UK’s longest running book awards for children and young people.
That’s not to say the town isn’t worth visiting when there’s no festivals on.
Visit Cumbria pointed out some of its highlights and reasons to visit.
They wrote: “Sedbergh, an attractive old market town with its old world atmosphere, developed at the confluence of four rivers where ancient trade routes merged.
“It is not only set in the magnificent western dales of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, but is also close to the rugged eastern fells of the Lake District.
“The town is full of character from its cobbled streets to its historic houses, some of which show the hallmarks of the old knitting and woollen trades which made the area such a thriving community.”
One place where its atmosphere and character can be truly experienced is in its pubs, with The Dalesman one of its most popular haunts.
The family-run boozer has its own gin distillery, with homemade alcohol distilled in small batches.
It also has serves food with an extensive menu of bar snacks and mains made from locally-sourced ingredients.
Outside of the town, there’s plenty to see and do as well, with sights like the Cautley Spout Waterfall and the Dent Head Viaduct both nearby and worth a visit.
The viaduct is close by to one of the country’s most scenic railway journeys, making the town well worth visit by train.
Three scenic train journeys you can take in the UK
Cornish Coast – One trip that rail enthusiasts seem to love is along a stretch of the Cornish coast and takes just 10 minutes to complete.
The route from St Erth to St Ives only stops at Carbis Bay en route to its final destination, but the views out the window for the whole journey are pretty spectacular.
Another highlight of the journey is that St Ives station is situated right next to Porthminster beach, meaning the sand and sea can be accessed almost immediately.
Meanwhile, the station is less than a ten minute walk into town, where the harbour, shops, galleries and pubs can be explored.
Durham to Edinburgh – Another train route that people in the UK love is the East Coast train line between Durham and Edinburgh, with coastal views and city landscapes among the sights that can be seen out the window.
Newcastle, Berwick, Lindisfarne and Durham Cathedral are all among the highlights on that route.
Scotland’s West Highland Line – While Scotland is home to plenty of famous landmarks and top attractions, it also has one of the most breathtaking train routes in the world.
Scotland’s West Highland Line has previously been dubbed the best rail journey in the world by Wanderlust – and it’s easy to see why.
The journey from Glasgow to Fort William is one of my favourite train routes – and I’ve interrailed through mainland Europe.
With mountain landscapes, serene lochs, wistful moors, and wildlife all visible through the train window, it’s certainly a route all holidaymakers should consider doing at least once.
The town is also a great place to be based for exploring some of the nearby scenery, with both the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District right on its doorstep.
Visit Sedbergh explained: “Sedbergh is perfectly placed between the Lakes and Dales, it’s the ideal place to escape to with your partner or family for relaxing days.
“Handily there’s culture aplenty nearby, so you can enjoy arts, gardens, and a little heritage while you’re out and about exploring this hidden gem of a place.”
A night for two in Sedbergh can be booked from around £90.
However, a campsite near to the town is a much more affordable option, starting at £15 per night for a pitch.
Meanwhile, this treehouse staycation is also near one of the UK’s best book towns.
And this Yorkshire town is like a film set, with retro shops.
Some of the best deals on visits to Sedbergh
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Hotels in Sedbergh from £90 per night
Airbnbs near Sedbergh from £60 per night
Fallbarrow Holiday Park breaks from £329