We were pleased to welcome members from Plymouth and Basingstoke on the walk and have the opportunity to showcase the Howgills on a glorious Spring day. The group of nine set off from Sedbergh and immediately started a stiff climb up the Dales High Way on to Calders and then to The Calf, which is the highest point on the Howgills at 676 metres. We then set off across the plateau with superb views in all directions with Cross Fell to the north, the Lakeland fells to the west, Ingleborough to the south and Wild Boar Fell to the east.

After reaching Fell Head we descended into Lunesdale and followed the River Lune southwards enjoying the sight of two impressive medieval stone bridges across the river as well as a now disused Victorian railway viaduct; a glimpse of history amidst the farmlands. We were now on the Dales Way, which we followed for most of the way back to Sedbergh. We found that the February storms had brought down a lot of trees and at one point a bit of limbo dancing was required to get past trees that were lying across our path – not a problem for our intrepid group! We were then into pastureland where we saw lots of newborn lambs playing in the sunshine and had a long chat with a friendly farmer who was rounding up some of the newborns to check that all was well.

We returned to Sedbergh across the Sedbergh School playing fields where a contingent from the Yorkshire Regiment was camped out by the side of a rugby field. A hugely enjoyable day on a route that was new to most of the group. We capped it off with a café visit to review the day’s events.

Photos by Paul Rodgers