19th October 2024 - The Howgills
Walk Details
Distance walked: 11.6 miles
Total ascent: 3201 ft
OS map used: OL19 - Howgill Fells & Upper Eden Valley
Time taken: 7.5 hrs
Route description: Loftus Hill car park, Sedbergh-Sedbergh School-A684-Howgill Lane-Four Lane Ends-Castley-Long Rigg-Fell Head-Breaks Head-Windscarth Wyke-Bush Howe-The Calf-Calders-Arant Haw-Winder-Lockbank Farm-Howgill Lane-A684-Sedbergh School-Loftus Hill car park, Sedbergh
For my walk this weekend I decided to head north to Sedbergh and the Howgills. 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. However, part of the route that I took up onto Fell Head was new to me. It's been several years since I last made an ascent of Fell Head via one of its ridges that descend into the Lune Valley, and using one of those would have meant an even longer walk along Howgill Lane. After a bit of time looking at my map I thought that I'd give the ridge of Long Rigg a try. Going that way would take me directly to the top of Fell Head, and it seemed easy enough to get onto from the Castley to The Calf bridleway. The ascent was a bit of slog, but it was a good way up and one I'll use again. The forecast was for a day of improving weather, and setting off from Sedbergh with dull and overcast skies and the cloud sitting on the fells, I had my fingers crossed that it would prove to be accurate. It was. By the time that I reached Four Lane Ends on Howgill Lane the skies were clearing and the cloud was lifting off the fells. My walk across the fells in the afternoon was done in a mixture of fair weather clouds, sunny spells, and a strong breeze.
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, where 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 Four Lane Ends and a bridleway on the right up the track to Castley. I took this and followed it past Cookson's Tenement and Castley Farm, then down to the ford on Long Rigg Beck. The bridleway was left here for a quadbike track by Long Rigg Beck that took me to the foot of the ridge of Long Rigg, where I stopped for lunch. After this break I made my way up the ridge of Long Rigg to the summit of Fell Head. I then made my way east to Breaks Head, descended to Windscarth Wyke, ascended Bush Howe and then followed the moorland ridge to the trig point on The Calf. Once I'd taken in the view, 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 to reach Howgill Lane, which I crossed to take a footpath south to the A684. After crossing the road I retraced my steps back to the Loftus Hill car park.
Total ascent: 3201 ft
OS map used: OL19 - Howgill Fells & Upper Eden Valley
Time taken: 7.5 hrs
Route description: Loftus Hill car park, Sedbergh-Sedbergh School-A684-Howgill Lane-Four Lane Ends-Castley-Long Rigg-Fell Head-Breaks Head-Windscarth Wyke-Bush Howe-The Calf-Calders-Arant Haw-Winder-Lockbank Farm-Howgill Lane-A684-Sedbergh School-Loftus Hill car park, Sedbergh
For my walk this weekend I decided to head north to Sedbergh and the Howgills. 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. However, part of the route that I took up onto Fell Head was new to me. It's been several years since I last made an ascent of Fell Head via one of its ridges that descend into the Lune Valley, and using one of those would have meant an even longer walk along Howgill Lane. After a bit of time looking at my map I thought that I'd give the ridge of Long Rigg a try. Going that way would take me directly to the top of Fell Head, and it seemed easy enough to get onto from the Castley to The Calf bridleway. The ascent was a bit of slog, but it was a good way up and one I'll use again. The forecast was for a day of improving weather, and setting off from Sedbergh with dull and overcast skies and the cloud sitting on the fells, I had my fingers crossed that it would prove to be accurate. It was. By the time that I reached Four Lane Ends on Howgill Lane the skies were clearing and the cloud was lifting off the fells. My walk across the fells in the afternoon was done in a mixture of fair weather clouds, sunny spells, and a strong breeze.
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, where 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 Four Lane Ends and a bridleway on the right up the track to Castley. I took this and followed it past Cookson's Tenement and Castley Farm, then down to the ford on Long Rigg Beck. The bridleway was left here for a quadbike track by Long Rigg Beck that took me to the foot of the ridge of Long Rigg, where I stopped for lunch. After this break I made my way up the ridge of Long Rigg to the summit of Fell Head. I then made my way east to Breaks Head, descended to Windscarth Wyke, ascended Bush Howe and then followed the moorland ridge to the trig point on The Calf. Once I'd taken in the view, 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 to reach Howgill Lane, which I crossed to take a footpath south to the A684. After crossing the road I retraced my steps back to the Loftus Hill car park.
Route map
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The cloud is sitting low on Holme Fell as I make my way through the grounds of Sedbergh School
Leaving Sedbergh on Howgill Lane
Grey and murky skies over the valley of the River Lune
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Walking north along Howgill Lane..
To my right, Fell Head, and the slopes that rise to White Fell Head, The Calf, and Bram Rigg Top. The cloud is definitely lifting.
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Following Howgill Lane down and across Chapel Beck..
At Four Lane Ends and this is as far as I'm going along Howgill Lane. The improvement in the weather has arrived at just the right time as I look north to Blease Fell and Linghaw.
Looking across the valley of the River Lune to the west, and I can make out the Lowgill Viaduct
From Four Lane Ends I take the bridleway east to Cookson's Tenement and Castley
Castley Farm and the valley of the River Lune
Following the bridleway through the gate onto access land, and down to Chapel Beck....
When the bridleway reaches the ford on Chapel Beck I leave it and take a quadbike track north by Long Rigg Beck..
Crossing Long Rigg Gill
Looking down along Long Rigg Beck from the foot of Long Rigg
Making my way up Long Rigg. To call it a bit of a slog is an understatement.
Looking back down to Long Rigg Beck, with Brown Moor on the right
Taking in the view from Fell Head. It's a bit murky looking west towards the Lake District..
..as it is for looking north towards the North Pennines
Randygill Top, Yarlside, and other northern Howgill fells
Blake Ridge on the other side of the deep valley of Little Ulgill Beck, Grayrigg Forest and the Shap Fells on the other side of the Lune gorge, and Blease Fell and Uldale Head on the right
The summit of Fell Head
Leaving Fell Head I follow the ridge east towards Windscarth Wyke and Bush Howe
The ridges of the northern Howgill fells to my left
and the deep valley of Long Rigg Beck to my right as I head down to Windscarth Wyke
On Bush Howe and heading to The Calf
Looking back across the slopes of White Fell Head to Fell Head
Simon's Seat, West Fell, Hazelgill Knott, and Randygill Top, with the North Pennines in the distance
A sunlit Arant Haw to the south
At the trig point on The Calf. The weather has improved a bit on the way across from Fell Head, the visibility certainly has.
The North Pennines in the distance on the other side of the Eden Valley
The Lake District fells in the distance to the west, beyond the nearby White Fell Head and Fell Head
Leaving The Calf I take the bridleway to Calders..
Middleton Fell and Arant Haw as I arrive at the summit cairn on Calders
Great Dummacks, Wild Boar Fell and Swarth Fell
Looking across the Rawthey Valley to Aye Gill Pike, Whernside, Great Coum and Middleton Fell
Looking back to Bram Rigg Top and The Calf
Lots of ridges descending from the neighbouring fells into Lunesdale, with increasingly murky Lake District fells in the distance
Taking the bridleway down from Calders and across Rowantree Grains to Arant Haw
Passing the sheepfold on Rowantree Grains, which I remember being much more substantial when I first passed this way many years ago
Looking back to Calders
On the summit of Arant Haw
The Lake District fells in the distance to the west
Fell Head, White Fell, The Calf, Bram Rigg Top, and Calders
Looking east to Wild Boar Fell, Swarth Fell, and Baugh Fell
Looking across the Rawthey valley to Garsdale, Aye Gill Pike, Dentdale, Whernside, Great Coum, and Middleton Fell, with the fells of Crook and Winder below..
Looking west across the Lune Valley towards the Lake District fells
A last shot from Arant Haw of Fell Head and White Fell
Heading for Winder
At the trig point on Winder
Looking across the valley of the River Rawthey to Baugh Fell, Garsdale, Aye Gill Pike, Dentdale, Whernside, and Great Coum..
..and to Middleton Fell, and Holme Knott
The Lake District fells in the distance
A steep descent of the southern slopes of Winder to Lockbank Farm..
Autumn colours as I make my way back through the grounds of Sedbergh School..
