Longdale, Middleton, Simon's Seat, Hazelgill Knott, Archer Hill, Cumbria.
[ 17.3 km] Thu 17 Mar 2011

NY 6450 0503
I left my car by the old farm trailers near the old school at Longdale and set off along the muddy and old vehicle clogged farm track by the fire damaged and dilapidated farm buildings. The map doesn’t show a path along the valley bottom fields but there are stiles through the walls further up the valley. Eventually I joined the main track and passed the old stone bridge now leading to the ruins of High Shaw.

Continuing I came to the old packhorse bridge over Langdale Beck. It’s such a nice spot that I stopped for a while to take a few photos. The bridge is also features twice in A. Wainwright’s book ‘Walks on the Howgill Fells’ where it is shown as a photograph and a line drawing. I continued south up the main ascent route to Middleton. Unfortunately the low cloud continued to linger and the visibility was poor. Across the valley towards Langdale Knott I could see old tracks running diagonally across the steep fell side.

I reached the trig point on Middleton and continued across the undulating fell to Simon’s Seat which was marked with a small stone cairn. A very steep path descended down to a saddle below Wethercalf Moss. Several of the Howgill ponies were grazing here by a small spring. As the visibility was still poor I decided to head for Hazelgill Knott. To get there I had a long descent followed by a long climb. I picked a steep descent by Stock Gill to West Grain where I reached a nice flat valley bottom. I descended to the start of Langdale Beck and the point where East Grain comes in from the right. There was an impressive view of the valleys so I stopped to take a picture before turning right and heading up East Grain.

Saddle Grain which has the appearance of Yarlside.

Up ahead was Saddle Grain which had the appearance of Yarlside about 1 mile to the east. From this viewpoint the two are easily confused. At the base of Saddle Grain I turned sharp left and took a pathless climb up the steep fell to Hazelgill Knott where I joined the main path. I wandered along to West Fell but still had no decent views. Part way down the descent I left the path and headed across Birkgill Moss which wasn’t as wet as the name suggests. I had tantalising views of distant sunshine on the Cumbria fells but there was none where I was. At Birk Gill I joined a track up the main fell gate near Dickey’s House and followed the farm track down to Archer Hill. I was now on the adopted road and descended to Cotegill where I continued along the narrow lane back to Longdale. In good weather it would have been a very impressive route and I always wonder while these secluded valleys are ignored by walkers as I rarely see anybody. Today I didn’t see a single person.