Our recent weekend break in Dent was fantastic and epitomises absolutely everything we love about holidaying in the UK.
The drive to Dent, along a remote and twisty single track road through Barbondale, was in itself an adventure; on a gloriously sunny Friday evening it was absolutely stunning and made for a brilliant start to our trip. We’d had a tip-off and arrived in time to find a mobile fish ‘n’ chip van parked up in the centre of the village. Life doesn’t get any better!
After we’d polished off our delicious fish ‘n’ chips (deemed “almost” Maypole standard), we had a wander around the quaint and impossibly picturesque village. With its narrow, cobbled main street, white-washed cottages and ancient village church, Dent has to be one of the loveliest villages in the Yorkshire Dales.
Actually Dent is now in Cumbria, but still lies within the boundary of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. It is full of history and charm. There are a couple of traditional pubs (not open during our visit due to covid regulations) and some lovely cafes. The Dent Village Heritage Centre explores the history of Dent and the surrounding areas, including “the terrible knitters of Dent” (apparently so proficient were the astoundingly quick knitters of Dent they became famous throughout the Dales, terrible confusingly means good in this case), and the Settle to Carlisle Railway.
Dent was also the birthplace of the famous geologist Adam Sedgewick in 1785 and he is commemorated in the impressive granite memorial standing in Dent market place.
Our home for the weekend was Dentdale Pods and it was perfect in every way. Located just on the outskirts of the village are two beautifully appointed luxury glamping pods, set next to the lambing fields on a working family farm; it is an idyllic spot and the views are simply stunning. I cannot enthuse about this place enough, I loved it. It felt so authentic and honest, whilst at the same time being understatedly classy and luxurious.
Inside, our pod – The Plough (which sleeps 4) – was stylish, clean and extremely comfortable. It was kept warm and cosy by underfloor heating and had a well-equipped kitchenette that included a microwave oven, chiller, kettle, coffee maker and toaster.
The plough also comes with an en suite shower room, with wash-basin, WC and heated towel rail. There is a table with seating for 2 and a flat screen TV. Milk was provided in the chiller and bottle of Prosecco with flutes. Basically we had everything we needed – and more.
At £70-£80 per night (hot tub & fire pit are extra) this place represents fantastic value for money.
It was so nice to snuggle into the super-comfy double bed, with its pretty bedding, and take in the views from out of the double doors down Dentdale. Perfect for a lazy morning cuppa, listening to the rain on the roof or the lambs outside.
The second bed is a comfy double sofa bed, which was really easy to convert and came with more lovely fresh bedding provided.
The location of the pods is absolutely stunning; the quiet, picturesque field has amazing views and feels very private. It is a very short walk into the village and perfectly placed for exploring the wider area – Sedburgh, Hawes, Ingleton, even the Lake District. Dent is quiet and remarkably remote, yet with all the amenities you need within a short distance.
Whilst we didn’t see the owners during our stay, their customer service and communication is brilliant. They went above and beyond to accommodate us, kept us well informed before our visit and made contact after to check we had enjoyed our stay.
Saturday’s forecast was terrible and it was raining heavily from the time we awoke, so we set off in the car to Ingleton in search of breakfast. Passing a pretty cascading waterfall by the roadside at Gastack Beck, we took the road less traveled up through Deepdale which proved to be something of an experience – streams of water gushed down the roadside and there were several gates and steep twists and turns to navigate. It was freezing cold with hail settling on the ground and the road was icy in places. It made for a slightly treacherous but awe-inspiring drive.
In Ingleton we searched out Seasons Bakery, as featured on “Nadiya Bakes” last year. It is an award winning artisan bakery and didn’t disappoint!
The pastel de nata came in a variety of flavours and were a revelation; thick creamy vanilla custard in a perfectly crispy pastry cup. The addition of chocolate is genius! The almond croissants were amazing too and the boy was delighted to be allowed a huge bun/ muffin (buffin?) adorned with sweets for breakfast.
Given our proximity, we decided to visit Ribblehead Viaduct, which carries the Settle–Carlisle railway across Batty Moss. We braved the weather for an exploration and even saw a train crossing the massive stone arches, but after getting soaked through our waterproofs and pelted with hail, even we’d had enough and headed back to the sanctuary of our pod.
There was only one way to warm up, so we hit the hot tub. Not many have an outlook as spectacular as this and I loved the rustic setting in the traditional old shippon. It was a great way to spend a wet Saturday afternoon.
Tea was a pod picnic with some quality pasties and beetroot sourdough from the bakery with local cheese, butter and cured meat from The Country Harvest, near Ingleton. Delicious!
The weather brightened up somewhat in the early evening and we took the opportunity to have a walk from the pod along the valley, following the gushing River Dee before crossing and returning to Dent on the opposite bank. A highlight for the kids was jumping in the massive puddles along the pretty hedged lane, graced with primroses, wild garlic and bluebells. They were even more delighted that we were able to rescue a lamb which had got itself into a predicament with its head stuck through a fence, on its release it skipped happily to its mother and the boy’s worried tears turned to relief and joy.
There was still time to jump in the hot tub again before bed; the boy is hot tub obsessed and is apparently going to bring his children here when he is a grown up.
One visit to Seasons Bakery wasn’t enough, so after packing up next morning we returned. This time the horse box outside was open, selling take-out bubble waffles and breakfast sandwiches, also the pastel de nata had been restocked. A bacon sandwich followed by a latte and a freshly baked, still-warm blackberry pastel de nata was heavenly.
For us, our trips away are not only about spending quality time together and being able to relax and unwind. They are about getting out into the countryside with its fresh air, exercise and awesome views. But they are also about seeking out adventure – there is the sense of achievement, the feeling of uncertainty, not knowing exactly what you’ll encounter, and a definite feeling of excitement. We love exploring, the exhilaration of discovering new places and finding fantastic artisan food, whilst at the end of the day escaping back to your own bit of peace and tranquility. This trip was all that and more.
We totally loved Dentdale pods and didn’t want to leave. The whole area is really special; natural beauty and stunning scenery apart, it feels like Dent has a depth of heritage and has managed to retain the authentic culture of a real Dales community. I cannot even put into words why, but it was just one of those places I fell in love with- it touched my soul.
Dentdale Pods
Millbeck
Dent
Sedbergh
Cumbria
LA10 5TB