October
8:00 start with 17:00 return
11 miles / 17.7 km with 2536 ft / 773 m Total Ascent
Today The Howgills, that sleeping herd of elephants according to Alfred Wainwright, is our destination in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Our route starts and ends in Sedbergh, whose name derives from the Old English setberg meaning 'flat topped hill'. Skirting Winder, our first flat topped hill, reached by a non-flat ascent is Arant Haw. Crossing Rowantree Grains we head for Calders (674m) and then to The Calf, a Marylin, the highest peak in the Howgills and the highest point of our walk at 676 metres. Crossing to Cautley Spout we descend sharply into the valley alongside the beck and down to the bridge before the Temperance Inn. Avoiding the temptation of a slug of sarsaparilla, we follow the River Rawthey valley through Fawcett Bank and Ellerthwaite on the long walk back to Sedbergh.
10 miles / 16 km with 1804 ft / 550 m Total Ascent
Starting from Sedbergh we head up to Hill then walk west under Canada Wood to Lockbank Farm.
We then start the steady climb up Winder. This is the southern most hill in the Howgills and one of the smallest at 1551 ft (473m). From the summit we will head down for a probable lunch stop before heading north past Craggstones to Eller Mire.
It’s then east to Birkhaw and Howgill Lane to reach the lovely little church of Holy Trinity, Howgill.
From here we drop down to the Dales Way and follow the undulating path via Bramaskew and Low Braithwaite from where we have a final stretch uphill to join Howgill Lane back to Sedbergh.
There is a small ford to cross near Craggstones. If you pack a couple of heavy duty bin liners these will keep boots dry while we paddle across! May not be needed if not much rain.
7.5 miles / 12 km with 500 ft/ 152 m Total Ascent.
We head south west out of Sedbergh, crossing the River Rawthey at Birks and then following the River Dee from Abbott Holme to Rash Bridge. We cross the Dee here and face a short but steep climb out of the valley up Moser Hill. At this point we are on the Dales Way and we follow this to the village of Millthrop. Here we pick up the Rawthey again and proceed along the river bank as far as Buckbank. We then head westwards towards Sedbergh, initially along a quiet minor road and then through fields to Underbank and Castle Haw, an 11th century Motte and Bailey castle which we can explore. It is not far from there back into the centre of Sedbergh with its cafes, pubs and shops.
6 miles / 9.7 km with 500 ft / 152 m Total Ascent
Leaving the coach park (toilets here) we immediately turn right on to Joss Lane, to climb gradually up this lane for a quarter of a mile until it peters out to a footpath. From here we cross a field and a stream to reach Castleshaw. Going along a lane we pass Underbank, then go through fields to Stone Hall, a very unusual style of farmhouse. Here we change direction to head southwest along a path to reach the River Rawthey.
We walk alongside the river for about two miles, passing two weirs before eventually reaching Birks We now leave the river to walk through Segbergh School grounds to reach Main Street in Sedbergh. HAPPY DAYS !
