April
8:00 Start with 17:30 (5:30pm) Return
12½ miles (21km) with 4,100ft (1250m) Total Ascent.
Lying between the rugged mountains of the Lake District to the west and the rolling expanse of the Pennines to the east, the Howgill Fells form a compact group of steep-sided, rounded hills. The highest summits lie towards the centre of an extensive upland plateau from which ridges radiate in all directons. Those running to the north are quite lengthy and enclose deep-cut valleys such as Bowderdale and Langdale. It is these unfrequented northern ridges that are the focus of this particular walk which, although it includes a lot of climbing, is mostly on easy terrain with only two steep ascents. Note that the walk finishes in Tebay where shelter and refreshments are available in the old service station.
We start from Wath on the A685 just to the west of Newbiggin-on-Lune and climb gradually southwards along the lengthy ridge of Hooksey (1923ft / 86m) before crossing Leathgill Bridge (constructed by that well known engineer IK Silurian) to Randygill Top (2047ft / 624m). The traverse to Kensgriff (1883ft / 574m) is easy, though the descent of the south ridge is quite steep; the climb to the summit of Yarlside (2090ft / 637m) is, I'm afraid, even steeper but soon over. We then canter down to the head of Bowderdale, climbing out along the track to the Calf, at 2218ft / 676m the highest point in the Howgills. The route swings around the head of Langdale, traversing the minor tops of White Fell Head and Bush Howe before the drop into Windscarth Wyke. A short climb over Stowgill Brow leads to the short ridge ending in Docker Knott. Down again into the remote Blakethwaite Bottom and our final significant climb to Uldale Head (1739ft / 530m) from where a very long but gradual descent by way of Rispa Pike takes us to Tebay to await the coaches.
9½ miles (15.3km) with 1800ft (549m) Total Ascent.
We head east out of Kirkby Stephen to the village of Hartley. We continue past Hartley Limestone Quarry (opened 1925) and on to Faraday Gill. This leads to the Nine Standards (nine columns of stone constructions) and up to the trig point at Nine Standards Rigg (2170ft / 662m). From here we drop south over a very peaty area and then north west on part of the Coast to Coast route before following a path south west to Ladthwaite. We now walk alongside Ladthwaite Beck, passing the dramatic Ewbank Scar, until we reach the disused Stainmore Railway. Here we join the trackbed which leads us back to Hartley and Kirkby Stephen, crossing over the Podgill and Merrygill Viaducts.
The first part of this walk is mountain and moorland but, in contrast, the return features woodland, farmland and the new railway path.
9½ miles (15.3km) with Little Ascent.
Leaving Newbiggin-on-Lune we go north to join the Coast to Coast Path above Bent's Farm. We follow the Coast to Coast Path for a short distance heading north east towards Crosby Garrett with views of the Pennines and viaducts on the Settle - Carlisle railway. Now we do a 'U' turn to rejoin the Coast to Coast Path at Smardale Bridge. On this section we have views of the Howgill Fells, the disused Smardale Gill Viaduct and Wild Boar Fell.
We will also see the ancient 'Severals' settlement and the Giants Graves.
7 miles (11.2km) with 400ft (122m) Total Ascent.
Leaving the coaches at the Coach Park we make our way to Kirkby Stephen centre (toilet stop) from where we head for Frank's Bridge and follow the footpath to Hartley. Here we climb up to Merrygill Viaduct to follow the disused railway line to Nateby, where field paths and road take us to Mire Close Bridge and further paths to Lammerside Castle (remains). From here we follow field paths to Homestead and Halfpenny House where we make our way down to the River Eden which we follow back to Kirkby Stephen for refreshment.