Winder, Arant Haw, Calders, The Calf - 04/03/2020We took advantage of some good weather this week to go for a walk in the Howgills, only a 45 minute drive to our starting point in Sedbergh. Plenty of free parking on the side road near the cemetery on the west side of town.
We cut up onto the hill using a useful short path that runs beside the Spar shop, and a permissive path to Lockbank Farm, after which we were on open land. A track zig-zags pleasingly up onto the slopes of Winder (473m), views of the town unfolding behind us in the morning sunlight. We followed this track, which climbs across the face of the hill, before taking a more direct route up steep grassy slopes to the summit. The sun was warm, and I realised that I was rather over-dressed in my fibre pile salopettes - I soon got a sweat on!
SedberghWinder is a modest hill, but the summit is an excellent viewpoint. Sunlit Wild Boar Fell and Swarth Fell looked particularly fine to the east, and we could see into the Yorkshire Dales to the south east. The view west towards the Lake District was spoilt by haze and clouds on the fell tops, though - we had made a good decision in heading east. Arant Haw (605m) dominated the view to the NE, our next port of call.
Winder summit - Arant Haw to the left, Wild Boar Fell and Swarth Fell in the distanceArant Haw ahead, Fell Head to the leftThe walk along the broad grassy ridge was very pleasant, warm sunshine and skylarks - and a buzzard. It was a bit of a slog up to the summit of Arant Haw, but nothing too demanding. Once again, the views were magnificent, but we could see cloudier weather creeping in from the SW.
South from Arant Haw. Calf Top in the distance, Winder in the foreground to the right.Calders ahead, Bram Rigg Top and The Calf to the left.There was some snow on the northern slopes that Tess, our spaniel, delighted in rolling in - I was so hot that I decided to join her!
We walked northwards towards Calders, the ground to the west dropping away steeply to a lovely isolated valley.
Looking west, Fell Top to the right.More snow as we climbed the zig-zag path to the top of Calders (674m), where we stopped for lunch, a brief stop as the sun had faded and a cool breeze had sprung up.
The view southwards towards Arant Haw from CaldersNorth towards The CalfTough feral poniesThe Calf trig point, looking northAfter an easy walk across the moors to The Calf (676m), the path skirting Bram Rigg Top, we doubled back and took a path that traversed the steep northern slopes of Bram Rigg Top - so steep in fact that we took great care on the snow covered path. We descended the west ridge down to Bram Rigg Beck, which was troublesome to cross. The valley above looked very enticing, and is probably rarely visited. The weather was starting to improve again, a watery sun making an appearance. The views back up to the fells were lovely; bracken covered rounded hills.
The way down - we descended the ridge to the leftBram Rigg Beck, with Bram Rigg Top and Calders beyondWhite Fell Head, The Calf, Bram Rigg Head and Calders above bracken covered slopes. We descended the ridge.
Fell Head to the northThe track, now a decent farm track, traversed around the shoulder of a ridge, before dropping down through farmland to meet the minor road that runs down the eastern side of the Lune Valley. This took us back to Sedbergh, primroses and daffodils, newly laid hedges, and some new born lambs.
10 miles total, an excellent short day out on hills that have a special feel to them - the Howgills really are quite unique.
Route on Viewranger
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