Howgill Fells, The Calf, Bush Howe, Cumbria
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[ 14.7 km] Thu 30 Aug 2012

SD 6339 9503

I drove via the Crook of Lune Bridge to Howgill lane and Chapel Bridge. By Holy Trinity Church there is a small car park so that’s where I started. The weather was overcast; low cloud and rain threatened. The road was still very wet from recent rain. I headed south along Howgill Lane which is also the line of the old Roman Road. A left turn took me up the access road to Birkhaw Farm and on to the fell track through a lovely wooded area.

Higher up the track turns left and levels off as it goes round Seat Knott. Approaching Swarth Greave Beck is the wonderful view up the ridge to Bram Rigg Top. I couldn’t see the summit because of low cloud but after negotiating the ford at Bram Rigg Beck the green track heads diagonally up the ridge side to an old sheepfold and on to the summit plateau of Bram Rigg Top. I reached the main summit ridge path and followed it to The Calf.

The clouds had just lifted enough to give me reasonable views. I took the path to the NW which headed off towards Bush Howe. It’s a good route as there are impressive views all around, especially to the north and the Great Asby Fells. Windscarth Wyke gap lived up to its name with its steep descent and climb up the other side with the wind blowing through. Approaching Linghaw I came to one of my favourite paths in the Howgills. It’s the green track that runs along the west face of Fell Head Scar, crossing Blind Gill on the way.

The descent is easy but gets rather wet approaching Beck Houses Gate. The path down to Beck House Farm is far from straightforward. A path post is stuck in the ground at the field edge but gives little idea where to go. A gate by the infant Ellergill Beck is the only clue. It emerges into the farmyard where the farm access track leads down to the road. After a short bit of sunshine the rain hit with a vengeance but didn’t last long. About a 1.5mile walk took me back to the car.