18th January 2025 - The Howgills
Walk Details
Distance walked: 10.8 miles
Total ascent: 3068 ft
OS map used: OL19 - Howgill Fells & Upper Eden Valley
Time taken: 6 hrs
Route description: Loftus Hill car park, Sedbergh-Sedbergh School-A684-Howgill Lane-Birkhaw-White Fell-White Fell Head-The Calf-Calders-Arant Haw-Winder-Lockbank Farm-Settlebeck Gill-Castlehaw Lane-Loftus Hill car park, Sedbergh
Not the walk that I was hoping for when I set off from home this morning. There was a temperature inversion forecast, and at a level that a walk on the Howgills should mean that I get above it and into blue skies and sunshine. So, I drove north to Sedbergh and had my fingers crossed that the forecast was accurate. The route that I chose was a variation of one that I've done many times. Walk north along Howgill Lane from Sedbergh, then take one of the footpaths or bridleways that leave it to head up onto the fells to reach The Calf, then head south to Calders, Arant Haw, and Winder for a return to Sedbergh. As I was walking north along Howgill Lane in the morning I began to doubt the accuracy of the forecast. The cloud base just seemed too high. It wasn't until I was climbing White Fell Head that I lost hope as the expected brightening of the skies to emerge into blue skies and sunshine never happened. The walk across the tops was not pleasant. Cold and windy with really poor visibility at times. Never mind, you can't win them all.
From the Loftus Hill car park in Sedbergh I crossed the road and took the public footpath that goes through the grounds of Sedbergh School and to the A684. I crossed the road, turned left and walked past the entrance to the SPAR supermarket, then took a public footpath on the right uphill to reach Howgill Lane. I then walked west and north along Howgill Lane until I reached a bridleway on the right up the track to Birkhaw. I took this and followed it through Birkhaw, then east up through fields, around the side of Seat Knott, and down to and across the ford on Bram Rigg Beck. The bridleway was left here to cross the ridge of Bram Rigg to reach the bridleway up White Fell (where I stopped for lunch), which I followed up to White Fell Head, and onwards to The Calf. From the trig point on The Calf I took the bridleway south to Calders, then down to and across Rowantree Grains before leaving it to head to the top of Arant Haw. I then descended from Arant Haw, made my way to the top of Winder, and took a steep way down to Lockbank Farm. A path was then followed along the edge of access land to Settlebeck Gill, and then a footpath down by Settlebeck Gill to Castlehaw at the top of Castlehaw Lane. A walk down Castlehaw Lane took me down to Sedbergh and back to the Loftus Hill car park.
Total ascent: 3068 ft
OS map used: OL19 - Howgill Fells & Upper Eden Valley
Time taken: 6 hrs
Route description: Loftus Hill car park, Sedbergh-Sedbergh School-A684-Howgill Lane-Birkhaw-White Fell-White Fell Head-The Calf-Calders-Arant Haw-Winder-Lockbank Farm-Settlebeck Gill-Castlehaw Lane-Loftus Hill car park, Sedbergh
Not the walk that I was hoping for when I set off from home this morning. There was a temperature inversion forecast, and at a level that a walk on the Howgills should mean that I get above it and into blue skies and sunshine. So, I drove north to Sedbergh and had my fingers crossed that the forecast was accurate. The route that I chose was a variation of one that I've done many times. Walk north along Howgill Lane from Sedbergh, then take one of the footpaths or bridleways that leave it to head up onto the fells to reach The Calf, then head south to Calders, Arant Haw, and Winder for a return to Sedbergh. As I was walking north along Howgill Lane in the morning I began to doubt the accuracy of the forecast. The cloud base just seemed too high. It wasn't until I was climbing White Fell Head that I lost hope as the expected brightening of the skies to emerge into blue skies and sunshine never happened. The walk across the tops was not pleasant. Cold and windy with really poor visibility at times. Never mind, you can't win them all.
From the Loftus Hill car park in Sedbergh I crossed the road and took the public footpath that goes through the grounds of Sedbergh School and to the A684. I crossed the road, turned left and walked past the entrance to the SPAR supermarket, then took a public footpath on the right uphill to reach Howgill Lane. I then walked west and north along Howgill Lane until I reached a bridleway on the right up the track to Birkhaw. I took this and followed it through Birkhaw, then east up through fields, around the side of Seat Knott, and down to and across the ford on Bram Rigg Beck. The bridleway was left here to cross the ridge of Bram Rigg to reach the bridleway up White Fell (where I stopped for lunch), which I followed up to White Fell Head, and onwards to The Calf. From the trig point on The Calf I took the bridleway south to Calders, then down to and across Rowantree Grains before leaving it to head to the top of Arant Haw. I then descended from Arant Haw, made my way to the top of Winder, and took a steep way down to Lockbank Farm. A path was then followed along the edge of access land to Settlebeck Gill, and then a footpath down by Settlebeck Gill to Castlehaw at the top of Castlehaw Lane. A walk down Castlehaw Lane took me down to Sedbergh and back to the Loftus Hill car park.
Route map
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Leaving Sedbergh I walk north along Howgill Lane...
I leave Howgill Lane and take the bridleway through Birkhaw
and then up through fields towards the western slopes of Arant Haw
Looking back and across the valley of the River Lune
Seat Knott ahead. The bridleway crosses the hillside below it.
Following the bridleway east towards Swarth Greaves Beck, and down to cross the fords on Swarth Greaves Beck and Bram Rigg Beck..
Looking back up the valley of Bram Rigg Beck
Heading down to cross Calf Beck and get onto the ridge up White Fell. It's not going to take me long to reach the cloud when I start going uphill.
A look back down the ridge as I head up. It will be the last that I'll have for a while.
Following the bridleway to The Calf (I hope). It's cold enough for rime ice to start to form on the grass.
At the trig point on The Calf. No stopping in the hope of getting a view.
At the summit cairn on Calders
The cloud clears as I take the bridleway down from Calders and across Rowantree Grains to Arant Haw
Looking back to Calders
On the summit of Arant Haw. Nothing to see here.
On the way down from Arant Haw and I join the bridleway to Winder that bypasses it
Heading for Winder
Looking back to Arant Haw as I approach Winder. The low cloud seems to be clearing.
and across the valley of the River Rawthey to Aye Gill Pike and Frostrow Fells
At the toposcope and trig point on Winder
Looking across the valley of the River Rawthey to Middleton Fell, and Holme Knott
A very murky valley of the River Lune
A steep descent from Winder down to Lockbank Farm..
I keep on access land and follow a path east to Settlebeck Gill
Looking across the valley of the River Rawthey to Baugh Fell, Garsdale, Aye Gill Pike and Frostrow Fells
Following the path down by Settlebeck Gill towards Sedbergh..
Walking down Castlehaw Lane back to Sedbergh