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Dent Conservation Area Audio Trail

Dent town is the only major settlement in Dentdale and sits on high ground above an important crossing point of the River Dee. The rest of the dale is sparsely populated with individual farmsteads strung out along the valley side at spring points. Place name evidence suggests that the dale was probably settled by Anglo-Scandinavian farmers from the 9th century AD. From the evidence of house platforms around present farmsteads it seems that some of these sites have been continuously occupied for centuries. The church in Dent with its prominent position above the river crossing was probably first built there in Norman times but has been much altered since. The relatively large farming population, many of them owner-occupiers led to a great deal of diversification. The area was famous for its hand knitting industry for instance in the 18th and 19th centuries. Today diversification continues in the form of various tourism businesses, and the community works hard to develop initiatives to keep the town economically viable. Visit the Dentdale website for information on upcoming events in the area. To read more about the history of Dentdale, visit our Cumbria section or look out for one of David Boulton’s excellent publications about the area.

The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority designated the town as a Conservation Area which helps protect its special historic character. This mp3 trail takes you around the Conservation Area and tells some of the stories hidden in its buildings. The route is relatively flat but includes uneven, cobbled surfaces. It should take you about an hour to do, longer if you visit the Dent Heritage Centre or spend time in the church. The trail starts from Dent car park. Print out the map or save it onto your mobile phone to help find the stopping points. If your mp3 player allows, you will also see a photo of each stopping point.