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Simon’s Seat, Howgills: another good Bank Holiday walk.

By Hugh Stewart May 29, 2019 Leave a Comment

Yet another walk where you will be away from the crowds, in fact we met no-one on this May half term day. From Carlingill bridge (good space for cars on the road 100m south), head up the Gill, initially on the south, but after that whichever side suits. If you don’t fancy scrambling along the Gill sides past the impressive Black Force and by the side of The Spout, take to the grassy slope just past Green Knott Gill and climb up either to where the ground levels out on the ridge descending from Uldale Head, then descend to the fabulous Blakethwaite stone, or, when meeting a sheep track half way up, traverse the steep slope overlooking the Gill for a lesser ascent/descent, but note there are several tricky areas of landfall to cross. From the Blakethwaite stone climb easily up to the col twixt Hand Lake (!)and Docker Knott, then pick out the best ascent of the ridge due E to Simon’s Seat, and descend obliquely to Churn Gill and ascend to the Seat. This is a central Howgill Fell, with a corresponding panorama. The summit is not so inspiring, however. A steep descent SSW and a gentler ascent on quad tracks takes you up to Breaks Head, where be careful to head W and round to Fell Head for a full view of the Lune Valley, including M6 and railway in the Gap, and the Lake District Fells, particularly the Coniston and Scafell massifs. Descend NW then head more westerly for the obvious col, then upto the rounded 500m summit and the final gentle 1 mile descent NW. This makes a 6 mile outing with 2300ft ascent

  • Carlingill Bridge.
  • The Carlin Gill valley from the south ridge of Uldale Head
  • Black Force.
  • The north ridge of Simon’s Seat.
  • The Lake district hills from Simon’s Seat.
  • The initial ascent ridge, showing the traversing path at half height, and the landfalls.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Download file: simons seat.gpx

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Hillwalks from the Settle to Carlisle Railway Stations

24 walks into the hills surrounding the historic and iconic Settle to Carlisle railway, based on the stations between Settle and Appleby. The area has some of the finest walking of the north Pennines: the Craven district around Settle; the Three Peaks area; Dentdale, and Mallerstang and the upper Eden valley.

£12.95 (P&P may apply)

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Mountain Biking Adventures: Multi-day Routes in Northern Britain

Over the last two decades, mountain biking has developed enormously as a “sport”. We greatly admire the technical and athletic capabilities of modern day mountain bikers and recognise that many excellent guides have been written and custom-built trails set up. In this guide we try to reopen a sense of adventure and wilderness to mountain biking, providing multi-day routes with a remoteness, continuity and “arc” missing from many modern guides with their focus on day and half day outings.

UK £13.95 ( inc. P&P)

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Settle to Carlisle – Hill Walk with Return by Classic Train Route

With over 22,000 ft of ascent in 105 miles set out over 8 days, this walk sets out from Settle, taking in the classic summits of the North Yorkshire Dales, Howgills, Eastern and Northern Lakeland Fells, to arrive at Carlisle. The return journey to Settle by one of the classic train journeys. Illustrated with photographs and route maps.

£12.95 (P&P may apply)

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Alternative start to the Malham Circular walk

Note, this is now fully described in the Second Edition of "Hillwalks from the Settle to Carlisle Railway Stations", 2014, walk 1b. If the long Langcliffe Scar track does not appeal, but a bit more hillwork does, try this start: as per the book, walk 1, but at the Malham/Settle road turn right … Read More » about Alternative start to the Malham Circular walk

The Highfields walk, Halton with Aughton.

Another plague walk which we could do from home, and although this seems to be a popular walk for locals, we had never done it, and decided to do it both because of that and as we thought it would be less popular and hence less boot-churned muddy than others round Caton and the Bowland Fells. The … Read More » about The Highfields walk, Halton with Aughton.

A Clougha Pike circuit, avoiding Rigg Lane.

I.e. avoiding any crowds parking there. Start at Little Cragg car park and go down the road, turning right to go over the top of Baines Crag for your first view of Morecambe Bay and the Lakeland Fells. At the road go down then left over the first ladder stile and cross the infant Condor by stone or … Read More » about A Clougha Pike circuit, avoiding Rigg Lane.

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