Led by Jim

 

Seven members of Cumbria LDWA met by the Lowgill viaduct, relic of a once busy branch line to Ingleton.
Heavy rain showers were forecast for the afternoon, but the sun was shining and the temperature rising as we followed the Dales Way to the Crook of Lune Bridge and a view of the Howgill Fells beyond.

The Dales way continued as a pleasant walk alongside the river Lune before taking higher ground and a prospect of the even more impressive Lune viaduct.

Descending to pass beneath it, we followed the Dales Way alongside the river Lune again to the main road at Lincoln's Bridge.

Two miles and a short section of road walking later we found ourselves on the bank of the River Rawthey (a tributary of the Lune) near the historic Quaker meeting house at Brigflatts.

A coffee stop was made on the riverbank before following the Dales Way up-river into Sedbergh.
On the edge of Sedbergh School we stopped to have a look at the Pepper Pot, a distinctive circular building which may have been built as a TB isolation house, and which has recently been restored.

At the next bridge we left the Dales Way and continued alongside the river to New Bridge.

Passing through the narrow streets in Sedbergh and stopping briefly to use the facilities, we then started the long climb into the Howgills, now following the Dales High Way. The weather was warm and the views good as we took lunch on the slopes below Arant Haw, meeting a rain squall shortly before reaching the Calf which at 676m (2218 ft) is the highest point of the Howgill Fells.

 

Leaving the second of the two Dales Ways we then descended White Fell to cross Long Rigg Beck at the bottom. Luckily the recent hot weather meant that there was no danger of getting wet feet this time. On reaching the tarmac again we followed a minor road back to Crook of Lune Bridge and the cars a further mile beyond. We were very lucky with the weather - five minutes after driving away the heavens opened in a predicted torrential summer downpour.