Half Lakes, half Dales, the Howgills's distinctive rolly landscape is well worth a visit.
Walking Route - The Calf, Howgill
Fells
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Sedbergh > The Calf
> Waun Lefrith > Glyntawe
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Average Time: 4 hours 40
mins
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Distance: 8.4 miles (13.6
Km)
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Height Gain: 2607 ft
(764m)
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The Calf is the Howgills' highest point and a circular
ascent from Sedbergh gives you a chance to see just what
this often overlooked region has to offer.
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Maps: Explorer OL19
Online: Streetmap
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Strenuousness: 2
Technicality: 2
Photo Grade: 3
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Start Point: SD
660 921
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Overview There's more to The Howgills than just being a
back-up option if you can't make it as far as the Lakes. They're are
a strange hybrid range with some of the best bits of the Lakes
softened by a smattering of the Dales. The Calf is the Howgills'
highest point and a circular ascent from Sedbergh gives you a chance
to see just what this often overlooked region has to offer.
'Like green suede'' - John
Fitzpartick
Section 1: Sedbergh to The Calf
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Distance: 3.6 miles (5.8km)
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Height Gain: 2124ft (647m)
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Average Time: 2 hours 30 mins
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Starting from the car park a sign saying "To the fell" points you
up the road to a gate. Head for the top corner of the field and a
path that joins Settlebeck Gill heading northwards.
Once onto the open fell continue with Settlebech Gill on your
right to meet an obvious path. Turn right to follow the path uphill
between Arant Haw and Sickers Fell, then down into Rowantree
Grains.
Classic rounded Howgills scenery - Jon
Smith
As the path clims again on the other side of the bowl it first
curves left then sharp right to emerge on top of Calders. From
here a gentle stroll across the ridge, passing or taking in Bram Rigg
Top, brings you to a final short climb up the slope to The
Calf.
At 2218 ft, just seven feet higher than Calders, this is the
highest point in the Howgills, and gives a unique view of the eastern
Lakeland fells.
Section 2: The Calf to Sedbergh
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Distance: 4.8 miles (7.8km)
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Height Gain: 383ft (117m)
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Average Time: 2 hour 10 mins
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You can return to Sedbergh the way you came up to The Calf, with a
detour to take in Arant Haw and Winder's summits, or take in Cautley
Spout and Cautley Crag.
Cautley
Crag lies less than a mile from the summit of The Calf the
path being across open fell with no distinct path to join Swere Gill.
Follow the Gill to join a path just above the upper falls of Cautley
Spout.
After taking a look at the falls return to the path and follow the
edge of Cautley Crag to Great Dummocks. The descent follows the South
Ridge of Great Dummocks, dropping 1500ft in a mile and a half.
On the summit of The Calf - John
Fitzpartick
From the summit of Great Dummacks the path fades away, but
route finding is simple as you follow the ridge south east then south
over Fawcett Bank Rigg. As you approach the end of the ridge swing
left to join a wall at an almost 90 degree corner.
A few more yards brings you to a bridleway where you turn right.
The bridleway follows the river valley, occassionally straying onto
short sections of road, to Stone Hall. At the bridleway crossroads go
straight ahead, to enter Sedbergh. Follow the bridleway as it turns
into a road and follow it down to the main road. A right turn here
will bring you back to your starting point.
