One Howgill Fell.

Start. Sedbergh.

Route. Sedbergh - Howgill Lane - Winder - Green Mea - Settlebeck Gill - Hill Farm - Sedbergh.

Notes. Call me a miserable sod if you like but this walk was supposed to be at least two tops, probably three or maybe five, now I suppose your going to call me a liar. In my defense I got held up at home then when on the hill an elderly gent stopped to talk, “nothing wrong with that” I here you say, but I could not get away from him, the day was cold the wind chill well below zero, he didn’t seem to notice, I was bloody frozen. I eventually made my excuses and headed on up the hill, but I couldn’t get warm, my teeth chattered, I had uncontrollable shivers, my hands, body and legs were frozen the only thing warm was my feet. After donning two more layers with no improvement I thought it wiser to head off the hill.

After parking in Sedbergh I headed up Howgill Lane (the lane next to the Dalesman Inn), passed the football field I wandered then passed the entrance to Lockbank Farm, I opted not to go through the farm today, for a change I continued over the tarmac of Howgill Lane. Just over half a mile of road walking deposited me at a walled and fenced track ascending to the final intake, this was my route onto the slopes of Winder.

Up I went slow and steady, I thought the ascent would be in the shelter of the hill but the wind ripping down the slope was freezing, not far from the top I stopped to talk to the elderly gent. It was uncanny how much we had in common, I’d even worked with him over 35 years ago, he knew my next door neighbour, went shooting and fishing with him, he’d been friends with my dad, see how I just couldn’t ignore him.

Anyway frozen I made my excuses then continued to the summit, stopped for a few seconds before continuing. A good path guided me to the coll above Green Mea, it was at this point I decided to throw the towel in, head down, live to fight another day even the wild ponies were descending to lower pastures. So with Settlebeck Gill to my left, a good path under foot I descended back into the warmth of the streets of sleepy Sedbergh.

view route map.

home.

Owshaw Hill and Firbank Fell as seen across the Lune valley from Howgill Lane.

Seen over the rolling pastures of Lunesdale the Holme Knott slopes of Middleton Fell.

Looking north from Howgill Lane, on the far horizon Greyrigg Fell, the Lune Gorge and Blease Fell.

Ascending the walled and fenced track mentioned in the text above looking back over the pastures of the Lune valley.

On the slopes of Winder looking over the shadowed fields of Lunesdale to Whinfell Beacon and Greyrigg Pike.

Toiling up Winder with this stunning view behind me.

On the upper slopes of Winder with this spectacular panorama to look back on.

The twin tops of Crook backed by the flat top of Wild Boar Fell.

Under a dark cloud Arant Haw.

Soaking up the view from Winder, in the middle distance the Frostrow Fells lead to Aye Gill Pike, then we have wonderful shining levels as Whernside, Crag Hill and Middleton Fell melt into the haze.

Crook across Settlebeck Gill.

The sheer beauty of a winter morning on the Howgill Fells.

A low winter sun paints the pastures of the Rawthay Valley.

Baugh Fell viewed over the Soolbank slopes of Crook.

Seen over Settlebeck Gill the Soolbank slopes of Crook.

The deep cut chasm of Settlebeck Gill

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