Is it the Lakes or the Dales? Who knows, but the Howgills are lovely in a rolling, rounded way.
Walking Route - Cautley,
Howgills
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Cautley > Great
Dummacks > Cautley
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Average Time: 3 hours 10
minutes
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Distance: 5.2 miles
(8.4km)
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Height Gain: 1935 ft
(590m)
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On the "wrong" side of the M6 and well away from the
honeypot towns the area offers some of the best walking in
the north west of England.
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Maps: OS LR 98, Explorer OL
19
Online: Streetmap
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Strenuousness: 2
Technicality: 1
Photo Grade: 3
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Start Point: SD698
969
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Overview Describing the Howgills is always a difficult
task. On one hand they're part of the Yorkshire Dales, but wholly in
Cumbria, and on the other hand they're geologically part of the Lake
District but the southern end lies within the Yorkshire Dales
National Park.
Anyone heading along the M6 will see them,and they've built a
reputation for offering solitude but still the majority of people
drive past. Being on the "wrong" side of the M6 and well away from
the honeypot towns the area offers some of the best walking in the
north west of England with five hills topping 2000 feet, waterfalls
and even a classic lakeland crag.
Cautley Crag and Cautley Spout are two of the highlights of the
Howgills, and although only a half day walk in terms of distance
don't be surprised if the views and atmosphere hold you longer than
expected.
The
distinctive rounded, grassy humps of the Howgills -
Jon Fitzpatrick - OM
album
Section 1: Cautley to Great Dummacks
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Distance: 2 miles (3.3km)
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Height Gain: 1579ft (481m)
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Average Time: 1 hour 40 mins
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The ideal starting point is the Cross
Keys on the A683 Sedburgh to Kirky Steven road about a mile
and a half past Cautley.
A footbridge crosses the River Rawthey to join a wide track below
Ben End. Turn left here and follow the path around the base of Ben
End to Cautley Home Beck. The path now starts to climb as you head
north west, and the valley narrows to a ravine as you approach
Cautley
Spout.
Cautley Spout - Dave Mycroft
Take the left hand fork where the path splits at the entrance to
the ravine. The path crosses a small stream then climbs steeply above
the lower falls and up to the main falls. The path steepens again
above Cautley Spout then abrubtly turns left as it levels out and
joins Red Gill Beck.
Ahead lies Great Dummacks, but the real view is to your
left as the path follows the amphitheatre of Cautley Crag. As you
approach the southern end of Cautley Crag a large gulley splits the
face, offering superb views across the length of the amphitheatre and
on to Bowderdale and the Pennines.
A final 100 ft of ascent will bring you to the top of Great
Dummacks, though it may take a while to find the highest spot.
The rocky amphitheatre of Cautley Crag -
John Fitzpatrick again
Section 2: Great Dummacks to Cautley
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Distance: 3.2 miles (5.1km)
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Height Gain: 356ft (109m)
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Average Time: 1 hour 30 mins
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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.
On a good day you can pick out Ingleborough in the distance as you
descend towards Cautley. 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 left to contour the
base of the hill.
Pass Rooker Gill and Hollow Gill to finally arrive at a footbridge
over Cautley Home Beck. Turn right here to rejoin your outward leg
and follow the easy track alongside the river and back to the bridge
and Cross Keys.
