The Howgills Loop

by Pete Jones

The Howgills are a graceful range of hills lying immediately north of Sedburgh, between the Lake District and the northern Dales. Their undulating grassy ridges and steep flanks provide great riding - fast descents and climbs that are tough enough to walk up without feeling guilty....mountain biking paradise!

The Howgills were finally re-opened to the public at the end of October 2001 following the FMD debacle. Restrictions do still apply to some tracks, but all the stuff south of the Yorkshire Dales National Park boundary is open. This route is a Figure 8 loop that has two big climbs and two killer descents. Time and distance? Irrelevant - take the time to lie back in the grass near the Calf and chill out to the sound of the skylarks sawing through the air overhead.

Map

OS Outdoor Leisure #19: Howgill Fells & Upper Eden Valley 1:25,000

Click here to open a 12 KB sketch map of the route in a new window.

Route Description

• Start at the free car park in Sedburgh, just next to the mini roundabout. Head back over the roundabout to the north, following the road round to the left to the Dalesman pub. Take the minor lane right by the pub; follow it up the hill to GR 642 929 where the offroad track comes in from the right. Head up the rough stony track to the gate, then take the grassy track that zig zags up to the Winder trig point (GR 654 929; picture below). From here the onward track up the hill is obvious. Bear right rather than taking the left fork to the summit of Arant Haw; this takes you round its right flank, down a short descent then up a loose, gravelly climb to Calders (GR 671 960).

• Take the newly surfaced stony track across the tops to the Calf (GR 667 971) and its battered looking trig point. This track was upgraded to bridleway status in April 2001, so it's no longer a bit naughty riding it. Rest up and get ready for the first big descent of the day.
  
  

• The White Fell track is an incredibly steep, grassy slope that provides a superb descent (tricky if it's wet). Take the path that descends gradually NW from the Calf to the skyline, then plunge over the edge of White Fell. Hang onto your bars for grim death until you hit the ford at GR 645 963. Cross the ford, climb briefly up the concreted farm track, then drop quickly down to tarmac at Four Lane Ends (633 958).
  
  

• Turn left and head south along the road to Birkhaw Farm on the left (signposted, GR 636 945....and pray the dogs are chained up). Cycle through the yard and up the track beyond. The path heads round and down to a ford at GR 651 957, then begins a brutal grassy climb up the side of Bram Rigg Fell (GR 669 965). At the top, the Calf is a short distance uphill to the left, but you'll be heading right along the way you originally climbed up.
  

• Ride back south over Calders and drop down the steep, loose slope beyond. Climb round the east side of Arant Haw then bomb back down the path towards Winder. At GR 658 937 the path splits. You can continue along the main track back over the Winder summit, the way you climbed up. Alternatively, take the much narrower track that branches off left and drops down to Lockbank Farm (651 924).

Access: get to Sedburgh from the M6 via Junction 37. Before I had a car I used to get a train to Oxenholme (near Kendal) then ride along narrow country lanes to Sedburgh. This option will probably entail an overnight stay in Kendal, though (there's loads of accommodation available in Sedburgh).

Alternative: when the FMD restrictions are further relaxed, there is a great loop you can do from the northern end of the Howgill fells. Start at Wath (GR 684 051) on the A685, between Tebay and Kirkby Stephen. Take the bridleway that climbs up into Bowderdale, heading south along the steep sided valley. The main uphill drag begins at c.GR 678 989 - it's probably rideable but I always end up walking and admiring the views out over the valley. Get back on the bike when the gradient eases and finish off the trail across to the Calf. Best done as a route up into the Howgills - it's a bit scrappy and unsatisfactory as a descent. From the Calf, return NE along the main track until you meet the small pond at GR 671 974; there's a vague track that leads north just past it, rapidly improving as it undulates away over Hazelgill Knot (673 997). Continue north over the tops to West Fell (669 020). Drop down to the farm track that takes you back to Wath.

Sedburgh Tourist Information: telephone 015396 20125