Cumbria
1 NY618044 From the road junction in the centre of Tebay take the lane east towards Gaisgill, but immediately turn right on the narrow lane opposite the tennis courts. This leads to the start of Open Access land – fork left onto a track after 300m and walk south, then south-east, to cross a ford at Tebaygill Beck. Continue ahead for 1.1km, over the beginning of open fellside, and then turn south by a low knoll named Weather Hill. Walk uphill for almost 1km to reach the top of Knott, turn south-east and descend to cross the stream, with a wall on the left. Now walk eastnorth-east to contour along the tussocky slopes of Uldale End and, as a wall comes into view, drop steeply down to another stream crossing.
NY646023 Look for 2 a sheepfold on your right, walk south-east up the steepening slopes of Middledale End and continue up the broad ridge to the trig point on an unnamed top. The ridge now narrows with the sweeping valleys of Churn Gill on the right and Great Nevy Gill on the left. The latter merges with Little Nevy Gill and flows north into Langdale – this wild shadowy gulch marks the true heart of the Howgills. Continue up the ridge, which turns south-east to the rounded summit of Simon’s Seat, marking the top of Langdale Fell. Look down into the headwaters of Langdale and observe the multitude of gullies which cascade down the precipitous slopes.
SD659999 Leave 3 Simon’s Seat by walking south for 300m to a grassy col and climb south-south-west, up another broad ridge, over Wethercalf Moss and Bleagill Head to reach the northern brow of Wind Scarth. More hidden valleys come into view; Great Blea Gill on the right and West Grain on the left. The ridge bends to the right just before a plateau named as Breaks Head on the OS map. From here, if time allows, it is possible to walk south-east (4.5km there and back) to the highest summit in the Howgills, known as The Calf. Turn north-west when the ridge starts to bend to the left and descend the easy-going slopes of Ulgill Rigg. Keep walking north, downhill, towards a green bowl in the hills known as Blakethwaite Bottom. This is actually a watershed and Great Ulgill Beck bends west, joined by other streams, to push its way west through a scree-lined cut at Force Brow. There are numerous waterfalls here and the narrow defile of Carlin Gill is one of the more rugged parts of the wild but generally fairly gentle Howgills. SD647997 Leave the 4 hollow by walking west, uphill, for 400m. Veer right along another open ridge to the top of Uldale Head, with views west to Whinfell Common. The ridge now broadens out into the damp ground at Archer Moss – walk north-west for 900m, then contour above Grains Gill to the gentle summit of Blease Fell.
NY623003 Head 5 north with the M6 below, left, as it twists through the Lune Gorge. Gradual slopes now lead down to Powson Knott, from where there are fine views across the Shap Fells and into littleknown Borrowdale. Quad bike tracks will become evident as you continue through grass and rushes to a last gentle hump named Roger Howe.
NY618030 Walk on 6 to meet the track by the isolated cottages at Tebaygill and now simply follow this back down to the start.