6th April 2025 - Baugh Fell
Walk Details
Distance walked: 10.0 miles
Total ascent: 1832 ft
OS map used: OL19 - Howgill Fells & Upper Eden Valley
Time taken: 6 hrs
Route description: Grisedale Road-Old Road-A684-Blake Mire-Grisedale Road-East House-Flust-Rawthey Gill Foot-Rawthey Gill-Knoutberry Haw-Tarn Rigg Hill-Grisedale Pike-Grisedale Road
It's been the best part of fourteen years since my one and only previous walk up Baugh Fell. About time that I paid it another visit then, and now is probably a good a time as any given how dry it's been in recent weeks. The route that I followed that first time was from a guidebook, and started from Handley's Bridge on the A683 to the northeast of Sedbergh and took in Rawthey Gill, and the two tops of Baugh Fell before heading north back to Handley's Bridge via West Baugh Fell and Bluecaster. I decided to come up with a new route for this time, taking in the remote upland valley of Grisedale, Rawthey Gill, the tops of Baugh Fell, East Baugh Fell, and the cairns of Grisedale Pike. The forecast was for a beautiful spring day with wall-to-wall blue skies and sunshine, and that's what I got. It was the perfect day for this walk. Rawthey Gill was running low, so it was relatively easy to follow upstream, the normally boggy ground of the moors had had a chance to dry out, and excellent visibility meant great views from the top of Baugh Fell.
After parking my car in the layby at the top of Grisedale Road I walked south down the road to Old Road, turned left and then walked east down Old Road to the A684. A brief walk east along the A684 brought me to a footpath on the left (opposite the turning for Garsdale Station), which I took and followed north across the moor, passing above Clough Force, to Blake Mire. From here I continued north along the footpath across fields to a track and Grisedale Road. I then walked north along Grisedale Road to its end at East House and past it onto a track, which I took west across the hillside to Flust. A footpath was then followed west across the moor to the top of Grisedale and along the side of Holmes Moss Hill, from where I left it to make my way down to Rawthey Gill Foot, where I stopped for lunch. After this break I made my way up Rawthey Gill to its top at Gill Head, and then up to the trig point on Knoutberry Haw. Once I'd taken in the view I followed the summit wall east to Tarn Rigg Hill, then Tarn Hill, before starting to follow it downhill towards Grisedale Road. I wasn't making my way down for long when I left the wall to visit the cairns of Grisedale Pike. After returning to the wall I continued to follow it downhill to eventually arrive back at the layby at the top of Grisedale Road.
Total ascent: 1832 ft
OS map used: OL19 - Howgill Fells & Upper Eden Valley
Time taken: 6 hrs
Route description: Grisedale Road-Old Road-A684-Blake Mire-Grisedale Road-East House-Flust-Rawthey Gill Foot-Rawthey Gill-Knoutberry Haw-Tarn Rigg Hill-Grisedale Pike-Grisedale Road
It's been the best part of fourteen years since my one and only previous walk up Baugh Fell. About time that I paid it another visit then, and now is probably a good a time as any given how dry it's been in recent weeks. The route that I followed that first time was from a guidebook, and started from Handley's Bridge on the A683 to the northeast of Sedbergh and took in Rawthey Gill, and the two tops of Baugh Fell before heading north back to Handley's Bridge via West Baugh Fell and Bluecaster. I decided to come up with a new route for this time, taking in the remote upland valley of Grisedale, Rawthey Gill, the tops of Baugh Fell, East Baugh Fell, and the cairns of Grisedale Pike. The forecast was for a beautiful spring day with wall-to-wall blue skies and sunshine, and that's what I got. It was the perfect day for this walk. Rawthey Gill was running low, so it was relatively easy to follow upstream, the normally boggy ground of the moors had had a chance to dry out, and excellent visibility meant great views from the top of Baugh Fell.
After parking my car in the layby at the top of Grisedale Road I walked south down the road to Old Road, turned left and then walked east down Old Road to the A684. A brief walk east along the A684 brought me to a footpath on the left (opposite the turning for Garsdale Station), which I took and followed north across the moor, passing above Clough Force, to Blake Mire. From here I continued north along the footpath across fields to a track and Grisedale Road. I then walked north along Grisedale Road to its end at East House and past it onto a track, which I took west across the hillside to Flust. A footpath was then followed west across the moor to the top of Grisedale and along the side of Holmes Moss Hill, from where I left it to make my way down to Rawthey Gill Foot, where I stopped for lunch. After this break I made my way up Rawthey Gill to its top at Gill Head, and then up to the trig point on Knoutberry Haw. Once I'd taken in the view I followed the summit wall east to Tarn Rigg Hill, then Tarn Hill, before starting to follow it downhill towards Grisedale Road. I wasn't making my way down for long when I left the wall to visit the cairns of Grisedale Pike. After returning to the wall I continued to follow it downhill to eventually arrive back at the layby at the top of Grisedale Road.
Route map
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A view of Grisedale from the layby where I've parked my car
I set off by walking south along Grisedale Road
and then east along Old Road down to the A684..
Grisedale Beck and Clough House
Leaving the A684 I take a footpath north across moorland towards Grisedale
Passing Grisedale Beck making its way through Clough Force..
Approaching Blake Mire. The footpath passes it to its right.
and then continues through fields and down to Grisedale Road
Walking up Grisedale Road to its end at East House
Looking across Grisedale to East Baugh Fell and Grisedale Pike from above East House
Following the track from East House to its end at Flust
Looking back along the track at Flust
There's a clear path to follow across the moor from the end of the track
Looking down Grisedale to Garsdale Common in the distance
and across to the slopes of East Baugh Fell
Following the footpath west towards Rawthey Gill Foot..
A last look down Grisedale before it disappears from view
The tops of a few of the Howgills appear ahead. A sign that I'm approaching the watershed and Rawthey Gill Foot.
My lunch stop by Rawthey Gill, below the slopes of Holmes Moss Hill and Swarth Fell
The hillsides have gentle slopes here, but they'll become much steeper as I follow the gill up towards its source
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Small waterfalls and pools on Rawthey Gill..
Rawthey Gill has a wide bed as I start to follow it upstream
Looking back and across to Swarth Fell
Swere Gill joins Rawthey Gill from the left. The hillsides have closed in as I continue on upstream.
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Views of Rawthey Gill as I follow it upstream......
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Looking up towards Gill Head. I've briefly left the bed of the gill to making the going a bit easier.
Back down into the bed of the gill..
Looking down Rawthey Gill as I leave it for good..
..and head up the hillside towards Gill Head
This shelter was in much better condition when I passed it that first time, nearly fourteen years ago. There was a central pillar of stones inside to support a roof.
Above Gill Head, where a collection of small becks meet to form Rawthey Gill
I stop at a rash of stones across the hillside to take in the view
Looking north across West Baugh Fell and Rawthey Gill to the North Pennines in the distance on the left, and Wild Boar Fell and Swarth Fell on the right
The Howgills and Wild Boar Fell rise above the broad slopes of West Baugh Fell...
I finally arrive at the trig point on Knoutberry Haw, the western top of Baugh Fell
There's a fantastic view to take in looking northwest to the Howgills and the distant Lake District fells
I've crossed the summit wall to look southwest across Garsdale to Aye Gill Pike, with Great Coum and Middleton Fell in the distance
Another shot of the Howgills from this side of the wall
I've returned to the north side of the wall, and before I move on I take in the great view across to the Lake District fells and the Howgills
Leaving Knoutberry Haw I follow the summit wall east towards Tarn Rigg Hill..
Looking back to Knoutberry Haw
A small cairn marks the top of Tarn Rigg Hill, the highest point on Baugh Fell
Looking across the broad slopes of Baugh Fell to the distant Lake District fells and the Howgills
Great Coum, Aye Gill Pike, and Middleton Fell to the southwest
Great Knoutberry Hill, Penyghent, Ingleborough, and Whernside to the southeast and south. The summit of Ingleborough is almost hidden by Whernside.
Looking along the summit wall to Great Shunner Fell and Lovely Seat in the distance as I leave Tarn Rigg Hill
I can just make out one of the East Tarns
A visit to the boulders of Todd Crag to take in the view across to Great Knoutberry Hill, Penyghent, Ingleborough, and Whernside
Wild Boar Fell and High Seat behind the tarn on Tarn Hill
A great view looking east towards Wensleydale is revealed as the summit wall starts to head downhill
A short diversion from the wall is needed to visit the cairns on Grisedale Pike. Some of the Howgills are in view through the gap carved by the River Rawthey down Uldale.
Wild Boar Fell and High Seat to the north and northeast
Taking in the view looking east towards and down Wensleydale
The largest of the cairns has been fashioned into a chair
Looking back to the cairns as I return to the summit wall
Great views of the moors around Garsdale Head as I follow the wall east towards and down to the top of Grisedale Road...
Grisedale bathed in late afternoon sunshine as I make the final descent to the top of Grisedale Road