THE YORKSHIRE NATURALISTS’ UNION 
AT SEDBERGH. 
THE first excursion for 1894 was held at Sedbergh, on Whit-Monday, 
May 14th. The attendance of members at this, the 108th, meeting 
was quite up to the usual standard, despite the difficulties of getting 
to such an extreme corner of Yorkshire. The majority of members 
arrived on the Saturday, and being fortunately blessed with fine 
weather, were able to roam about on the Saturday and Sunday, 
amongst some of the finest scenery in the county of York. In fact, 
the neighbourhood of Sedbergh is really a part of the Lake district, 
and both the fauna and flora partake more of the Westmorland than 
of the usual Yorkshire type. Lofty fells, attaining a height of over 
2,000 feet, surround the little market town, and between these fells 
are the picturesque valleys of the Dee, of the Clough, and of the 
Rawthey. The heavy rains of the previous week had converted these 
Streams, always very rapid, into foaming torrents, which dashed over 
their rugged beds, making miniature waterfalls at every few yards. 
Through the kind invitation of the Rev. J. H. Mackie, M.A., and 
Mr. Hugh Richardson, M.A., the members who were spending the 
week-end in the district, met on Saturday night, at 9 o’clock, at the 
class-rooms, Sedbergh School, where a very interesting exhibition of 
maps, books, and natural history specimens had been arranged. A 
large number of lantern slides, illustrating the scenery and geology of 
the district, were shown with the limelight, and explanations were 
given by Mr. Richardson. 
Rain fell at intervals on Monday, but this was not allowed to 
interfere with the programme arranged for the day. 
Permission to pass over their estates had been kindly granted by 
Mrs. F. U. Cotteril-Dormer, Mr. W. P. Boustead, J.P., and Mr. 
Septimus Udale. 
Three routes had been arranged. Mr, John Handley led a party 
along the banks of the rivers Lune and Rawthey, while a second 
party, under the leadership of Rev. W. Thompson, M.A., went by 
Strait Bridge, Dovecote Gill, and Danny Bridge to Garsdale. The 
third party under the leadership of Mr. Hugh Richardson, M.A., and 
consisting mainly of geologists, drove to Rawthey Bridge and explored 
The circular issued before the meeting contained a great amount 
of information. The Geological paragraph was kindly furnished 
by Mr. Aubrey Strahan, M.A., F.G.S., of H.M. Geological Survey. 
The remaining portions were almost sitive supplied by Mr. end 
July, 1894. 
