A couple of mates and I are planning a day out in the Howgills in mid-October. We have a back-up plan in place if the weather is iffy as we’re led to believe the area is pretty remote and not a place to be if it closes in.
We did a 40 mile crossing of the Yorkshire Dales in July, so we’re not total novices, but none of us has ever been to the Howgills before.
However, assumming all is well, we plan to start in Sedbergh. All the routes I can see seem to want to climb the Calf from Sedbergh and drop down the other side into Bowderdale – is this the best way to do it?
Also, which is the better way to climb the Calf – Brant Rigg or White Fell?
As far as I can see, you then have two basic choices, turn right at the top to make it a clockwise loop of 23-27 miles or turn left to cross the motorway and take in Borrowdale, a loop of 30+ miles. We will probably opt for the clockwise route back – again I can see a couple of options coming back SW this way – either hold the height by keeping right at Adamthwaite or do a drop to Murthwaite and rejoin at the foot of Ben End – any advice on this?
Any help will be gratefully accepted – I did something similar for our Dales day out and the responses were very useful indeed.