Walk title: Howgills: Arant Haw and The Calf
Meet time: 9.15am
Start time: 9.30am
Estimated finish time: 3pm to 3.30pm
Distance: 10 miles (16 kilometres)
Ascent: About 2900 feet (884 meters)
Ramblers walk grading: A (Strenuous)
Start point: Joss Lane Car Park
Postcode: LA10 5AS
Car parking: Joss Lane Car Park which is in the centre of Sedburgh. There is another nearby car park called Loftus Hill Car Park. There are also numerous residential streets which (if they have not become permit areas) have free parking upon the road- in particular Howgill Lanewhich passes by the Sedbergh People’s Hall and a playpark.
It is the responsibility of each walker to make sure they understand where to park. If you are not sure where the car parking/meeting point is, you must contact the walk leader at the latest the day before the walk. You should not rely on mobile phones or postcodes. There is often no mobile reception near walk meeting points and postcodes are for the nearest place nearby but should only serve as a guideline. Please allow plenty of time to find a parking space so that walks can start promptly.
Description: We begin at from Joss Lane Car Park in the centre of Sedbergh and go along Howgills Lane for a bit until taking the quick track to Lockbank Farm. Once past the final gate then we’re into the territory of the Howgills Fells and upon the southern slopes of Winder.
With a bit of zig-zagging on ourselves the path then starts going in a northeasterly direction gradually gaining height until the first mountain of the walk eventually comes into view: Arant Haw. It’s a gentle ascent to Arant Haw (605 meters), but once at the top of this mountain (which almost touches 2000 feet) we get the first big views of the day, plus we see the trio of the three high points of the Howgills: Calders, Bram Rigg Top and The Calf.
From Arant Haw it’s a slight descent to pick up upon the main path. Then it’s a few hundred feet up Calders (the Cow) and it’s steep but it does end quickly. Once at Calders (674 meters) the true majesty of the Howgills becomes apparent. While the path becomes a track as it runs from Calders to the Calf.
Once at the Calf (676 meters), the high point of the walk, we take a grassy trod northwest to come to White Fell Head (640 meters). This is where the descent begins, and we take one of the Howgills’ distinctive tongues (a long and smooth grassy ridge that extends out from the mountain) and descend quite a bit to reach a crossing at Bram Rigg Beck.
From Bram Rigg Beck we have to regain a slight bit of height as we head in a southward’s direction coming close to Seat Knott and then following the stone wall, dividing the fells from the fields, to head southwards. We keep an elevation of about 250 meters which means wewill keep getting a good vantage point of the valley where the River Lune runs. Thus to our right will be the valley and to our left the lower slopes of first Arant Haw and then Winder.
The path returns back to the maze of paths and trods criss-crossing Winder, and eventually we return back to Lockbank Farm and back to Sedbergh for coffee and cake.
Please contact Miles on 07842 783319 by 10pm on Friday 12 Januaryif you are coming on this walk (text or phone, or message on Facebook (Miles Saunders-Priem)). This walk is suitable for dogs as there are not too many sheep milling around the Howgills.
Please check the weather and bring appropriate clothing (waterproofs and spare warm clothing), footwear and enough food and water. The leader reserves the right to turn away any walker not suitably equipped. The leader may cancel the walk or modify the route dependent on conditions.
Car sharing is now possible – please contact the walk leader to arrange.
New members: please note the walk leader may ask for more information about your walking experience. This is to ensure you have the fitness required to complete the walk that is planned safely.