Arant Haw and Winder, a Howgill Ramble.

Start. Sedbergh (Back Lane).

Route. Sedbergh (Back Lane) - Davis Yard - Main Street - Joss Lane - Hill - Settlebeck Gill - Green Mea - Arant Haw - Hobdale Scar - Swere Gill Well - Green Mea - Winder - Lockbank Farm - Howgill Lane - Sedbergh.

Notes. Late start today, things to do at home, so it was nearly noon when I rolled into Sedbergh, slotted the car into a vacant space in Back Lane (the main road through the town) then headed for the fells. First Davis Yard guided me to Main Street, Joss Lane then ushered me to Settlebeck Gill passing Hill Farm on the way. A good path then guided me to the final intake wall, which I crossed to access the open fell. Laying before me an obvious path climbed in the company of the gill, after what seemed an eternity I reached the coll at Green Mea.

I was now on the main trod traversing these rolling fells, but not for long, a steep path ascends Arant Haw’s southern ridge, I grabbed a drink, grit my teeth and started the ascent. Quite a while later on the summit sitting amongst stunning views, a small cairn for company, I opted for another brew. Arant Haw locally known as Higher Winder is the dominant fell in the Southern Howgill’s, ridges radiate in all directions, the southern ridge terminates at Winder. I was heading there next but not that way, I’d just climbed the bloody thing, my intended route followed the summit ridge north re-joining the main trod above Hobdale Scar.

Once on the main trod I turned towards Sedbergh, the long easy descent that followed passed Swere Gill Well and crossed Green Mea before the simple ascent of Winder. Dominating the town of Sedbergh Winder is one of the lower hills in the Howgill Fells, located at the southern most tip of the massif, it’s aloof position gifts the lucky rambler with some of the best views. I sat soaking them in until heavy rain started blowing in from the west, I left sharpish. The main trod descended Winder’s west ridge, I descended with it, easy walking over a green path. The path swung left crossing three gills before descending to the Intake wall, the wall then guided me to Lockbank Farm followed by Howgill Lane, all that remained, try to reach the car before the rain reached me.

view route map.

home.

Ascending the Settlebeck Gill path into....

....stunning views over the sheep pastures of Rawthey Dale.

Above Settlebeck Gill viewing Whernside, Crag Hill and Middleton Fell above the much lower Frostrow Fells.

A slice of the picturesque, deep cut Settlebeck Gill backed by Crag Hill and Middleton Fell.

Seen over the Crosdale slopes of Winder the sun lit lowlands of the Lune valley.

Magical views from the ascent of Arant Haw, dark in the foreground Crook, across the skyline Whernside with Crag Hill to the right.

Dappled light across Winder seen from the ascent of Arant Haw.

From the summit of Arant Haw, Brant Fell leading to Calders, the slopes of Bram Rigg rising to a sun lit Bram Rigg Top and dark in the distance White Fell.

Dappled light across the many ridges of the Howgill Fells.

View taken down Arant Haw's west ridge, across a distant horizon the blue/grey hills of the Lake District.

Striding out along the wide grassy ridge of Arant Haw, looking to Wild Boar Fell and Swarth Fell.

In sunlight descending the main trod across these fells, looking to Winder, if you squint you can make out the squat towers of Heysham Power Stations far across Morecambe Bay.

Looking to Crook across Settlebeck Gill.

Near the summit of Winder soaking in views over Rawthey Dale, in sunlight the Frostrow Fells leading to shadowed Aye Gill Pike, across the horizon from left to right Whernside, Crag Hill and the Combe Scar face of Middleton Fell.

Wonderful views from the summit of Winder, across the Lune and Kent valleys a distant Morecambe Bay.

Sunlight paints the mouth of Rawthey Dale, with Lunesdale stretching into the distance to the left.

There are some wonderful views to be had from Winder, here we have sunlight on Firbank Fell, backed by wind turbines on Lambrigg Fell, but what concerns me is the storm rolling in over Western Lakeland.

The view north from Winder, Jeffrey's Mount and Blease Fell guard the entrance to the Lune Gorge, passing through that narrow gap, the M6 carrying traffic 230 miles through England into Scotland, the A685 Kendal to Tebay road, Fairmile built and christened by the Romans, the River Lune and finally the West Coast Main Line the most important railway corridor in the United Kingdom.

The weather's changing and I'm descending this wonderful path, the view Whernside, Crag Hill and Middleton Fell.

back to top

back to list