Cautley Spout & The Calf

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SD698969 Your walks all start by the historic Cross Keys Inn, from where the mile-long sweep of Cautley Crag will grab your attention. You’ll also spot Cautley Spout as it tumbles 200m down a long shady ravine and this route climbs past the falls on the way up the The Calf – the highest summit in the Howgills. Cross the footbridge next to the inn and turn left on a good path up the broad glacial valley. Keep above the right-hand side of the beck and continue steeply uphill on a zigzag path up the side of the Spout, with several opportunities to peer into the narrow gorge.

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SD680975 The path turns left at the top, crosses Swere Gill and continues along the west bank of Red Gill Beck. Make sure you turn round for a fine framed view of Yarlside – that’s one of tomorrow’s hills – and after 500m there’s an eye-catching sheepfold on the far side of the beck. This was restored by sculptor Andy Goldsworthy as part of a local project following the foot-and-mouth outbreak in 2001. The path continues ahead alongside Force Gill Beck and climbs up the valley to meet a wide path on a flat col. Turn right for 350m to reach the trig point on The Calf.

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SD667970 Re-trace your steps to the col and continue south over Bram Rigg Top to the cairn on Calders, just two metres lower than The Calf. Turn east to follow a fence for 350m and continue ahead when this turns south over the slopes of Middle Tongue. Continue for 700m to the tiny cairn at the top of plateau-like Great Dummacks. Turn north to enjoy the walk along the crest of Cautley Crag with fine views across the northern Howgills and east to Wild Boar Fell. A rough path, gradually descending, follows the top of the crags – follow this for around 500m.

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SD678968 Turn round and return to Great Dummacks. Leave the top in a south-southeast direction and follow the long spur above the east side of Grimes Gill. After 1.5km, head left at Fawcett Bank Rigg towards the corner of a wall and continue downhill, across a steep area with scrubby trees, to meet a bridleway above the west bank of the River Rawthey.

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SD688946 Turn left, cross a footbridge after 2.4km, then go right to return to the bridge by the Cross Keys Inn.

3 The cascades known as Cautley Spout tumble 200m through a steep narrow ravine. 4 2 5 1

The mile-long Cautley Crag seen looking south-west from the valley below the waterfall.

Looking north along the top of Cautley Crag with Yarlside in the centre of the photo.