Cautley Spout from Sedbergh.

Start. Sedbergh.

Route. Sedbergh - Thorns Lane - Underbank - Stone Hall - Hollins Hill - Ellerthwaite - Buckbank Lane - Thursgill - Fawcett Bank - Cautley - Cautley Spout - Force Gill Beck - Bram Rigg Top - Calders - Rowantree Grains - Swere Gill Well - Green Mea - Settlebeck Gill - Joss Lane - Sedbergh.

Notes. Sedbergh where many valleys meet, a great place for walkers, although you wouldn’t think so the streets are almost deserted. In my humble opinion this is the best walk out of Sedbergh, gifting the lucky walker with everything the area has to offer, green fields, ancient ways, quaint farmsteads and stunning vistas. If you've got the energy a lung buster of a climb up a spectacular waterfall visible from miles around, in the valley an Iron Age settlement with a stone avenue leading to the foot of the fall, then there’s the return over the Howgill Fells, rolling summits and wind swept ridge lines, solitude just you, the cool sierra wind and the song of mountain birds.

My day started in Sedbergh wandering east along the main road, just after a large book shop a finger-post invited me to Thorns Lane, this path I followed through sheep pastures behind housing to access said lane. Once in Thorns Lane I turned left letting the lanes rough surface guide me out of Sedbergh, between hedge rows alive with spring flowers and dry stone walls I walked, through farmsteads all very individual.

Passed Underbank I wandered, here the lane terminated to be replaced by field walking, I continued gates and stiles aiding my crossing of field boundaries. Passed Stone Hall, Hollins Hill and Ellerthwaite I wandered., at Ellerthwaite I stepped into a narrow lane displaying all the signs this was once an important right of way. It guided me to Thurs Gill where the tarmac ended to be replaced by a stoney lane, this lane in turn guided me to Fawcett Bank where field walking again took over.

The walk in gifted me with some stunning views over the valley of the River Rawthey, what I wasn’t looking forward to was the ascent of Cautley Spout. I walked into the valley, stopped for a brew, then proceeded to think up as many excuses as possible not to climb the waterfall. Having dismissed them all including heart failure and certain death I attacked the climb (slowly), stopping often to admire the views (code for a rest), stopping to take photos (another code for a rest), the leg burner of a climb over I stumbled into a high valley cut by the waters of Force Gill Beck.

The climbing eased as the dancing waters of the beck guided me to the coll between The Calf and Bram Rigg Top, I turned left towards Sedbergh. With the main trod across these fells under foot I wandered on slowly recovering from the ascent, I plodded over Bram Rigg and Calders, a steep descent deposited me on Rowantree Grains, tired legs were forced to ascend to the coll above Hobdale Scar, then the delight, it was down hill all the way back from here.

I descended across the slopes of Arant Haw, this was not a peak bagging mission, only tops that mattered, passed Swere Gill Well eventually reaching the coll at Green Mea. The path up Settlebeck Gill meets the main trod here, this I followed above the scree and gorse covered slopes of the deep cut gill. After passing through a metal kissing gate the descent eased the gill was now adorned by gnarly old oaks, I passed Hill Farm before a field gate allowed access to Joss Lane which in turn descended into the streets of Sedbergh.

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home.

The great bulk of Middleton Fell seen from Sedbergh.

Striding out between the hedge rows in Thorns Lane.

From Thorns Lane views over the Frostrow Fells to Middleton Fell.

Underbank backed by the shadowed slopes of Crook.

It's not all about the high ground, the walk in is just as alluring, beck and footbridge near Stone Hall.

Near Ellerthwaite looking over green fields to Baugh Fell.

The way ahead with views to Wandale Hill and Harter Fell.

Shadows dance across the steep slopes of Yarlside.

Viewing Cautley Spout with a little trepidation, do I really need to climb that.

A truly humbling sight, the rock and heather of Cautley Crag.

Misgivings cast aside as I attack the ascent of this spectacular broken cascade, just over 650ft of it.

A stunning view down the valley of Cautley Beck, across the horizon Swarth Fell and Baugh Fell.

Yarlside as seen from the high valley cut by Force Gill Beck.

Sheepfolds a major county wide project created by international acclaimed artist Andy Goldsworthy, this is one of them tucked away in a high valley behind Cautley Crag.

On the coll between The Calf and Bram Rigg Top enjoying stunning views over the Lune valley, god I've earned them.

Heading up Calders with views to Fell Head, the Whinfell range and Shap Fells.

Across the divide of Rowantree Grains, the shadowed summit of Arant Haw.

Dropping into Hobdale the steep slopes of Sickers Fell and Knott.

Some of the many grassy ridges of the Howgill Fells, on view from Rowantree Grains.

Ascending to Arant Haw with this view behind me, Bram Rigg and Calders.

On the edge of Settlebeck Gill soaking up views to a high skyline of Whernside, Crag Hill and the Middleton Fells.

Looking back over the drama of Settlebeck Gill.

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