Nestled in the steep-sided Dentdale valley in the western end of the Yorkshire Dales is a tiny village which appears untouched by the passage of time. Dent features narrow, winding cobblestone streets lined with white-washed stone cottages.
With just a couple of pubs, a tea room and a village store, it’s a tranquil place where you can escape the hustle and bustle of modern life. Dent feels like a slice of history - there’s hardly any street lamps and you won’t find it heaving with cars.
The village is surrounded by the stunning landscape of the Yorkshire Dales and glimpses of the green hillsides can be seen between the rows of cottages. Historically Dent belonged in the West Riding of Yorkshire, but today it’s located in Cumbria.
READ MORE:
Although not as well known as other destinations in the Dales, Dent is a hidden gem which is well-worth a visit. It has several holiday cottages and B&Bs, making it the perfect base to explore the local area and there are dozens of walks you can do on its doorstep. The village is around a two hour drive from Greater Manchester, so it's ideal for a weekend trip away.
The Dales Way passes by Dent, while the mountain peaks of Calf Top, Aye Gill Pike and Great Coum are all a stone’s throw away from the village. Even if you don’t want to venture far, you can still enjoy Dent’s picturesque old buildings with a wander around the village.
Among the village’s charming buildings is the Dent Village Heritage Centre & Museum, which documents the history of the area. One of the quirkiest aspects of Dent was that it was once known for its “Terrible Knitters”.
The name is misleading as there was nothing terrible about Dent’s knitters, in fact the village’s men, women and children all knitted obsessively, producing socks, stockings, caps and gloves as a secondary income around two hundred years ago. The knitters even used a special wooden knitting stick which they would tuck into their belt, so they could knit while doing other tasks.
Dent shares its name with one of the most remote breweries in England, Dent Brewery, which is found in an old white-washed farmhouse near to Cowgill, a village around three miles east of Dent. All the water used in brewing comes from the farm’s own natural spring found on the fell side and you can try a selection of the brewery’s ales at the George & Dragon pub in Dent.
Cowgill is also where you’ll find Dent railway station, which is the highest railway station in England at over 1,100 feet above sea level. The famous Settle to Carlisle railway line - one of the most scenic rail journeys in the UK, passes through it.
For more of the latest What's On news, click here.
READ NEXT:
- The pretty village with no shops and one pub an hour from Greater Manchester
- We took Jay Rayner for lunch at one his favourite Manchester restaurants - here’s what he had to say about the city’s food
- Below Deck: The luxury Airbnb 130ft yacht you can rent in Greater Manchester
- Things to do in Greater Manchester in March
- Bar, kitchen, brewery and garden with space for 5,000 customers - the huge derelict spot that will soon become Manchester's go-to venue
