CLIMB A WATERFALL

Cautley Spout, Howgills

There’s nothing like a good waterfall to enhance a walk. In fact us humans seem to be irresistibly drawn to the things. Scientific studies have tried to identify just why we’re so in love with waterfalls, with some suggesting that the ‘negative ions’ are increased around them, causing an actual boost in our serotonin and therefore our happiness! Whatever the chemical impact on our bodies, the drama and beauty of waterfalls are obvious, and Cautley Spout is one of England’s most impressive, being its highest waterfall above ground.

Cautley Spout can be found nestled between the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales, in the rolling green hills of the Howgills – an often neglected haunt of hillwalkers. The 198m falls tumble down a vegetated ravine that cuts into the head of the valley, framed by the cliffs of Cautley Crags to the left and scree slopes to the right. A steep path intimately accompanies the waterfall, so you can peer deep into its depths, feel its force when in spate, and wonder at its deception as its waters swirl benignly in rock pools at its source before hurling themselves at full throttle into the abyss. It’s truly an impressive spectacle.

But the magic doesn’t end there. You discover that there’s far more to the landscape of the Howgills than it seems from afar. The sleeping elephants, as Wainwright described them, upon closer exploration become a maze of mini habitats, hidden in deep gorges and cut by peaceful becks as they flow from the undulating plateau. Here you’ll find The Calf, the highest peak of the Howgills at 676m. It’s a fine vantage point over to the Lake District and a grand place to explore the quiet of these fells, which are so unusually devoid of fences and walls. The Dales High Way bridleway passes through, or you can head off-path and explore this unique place that will do its best to test your navigation skills if the mist comes down.