Sails & Wild Boar Fell

[poppiesrara]

A long and hot hill-walk in the quiet western edges of the Yorkshire Dales. Wild Boar Fell is very much the headline act around this area – shapely and prominent in all views – but I was really here for the much lesser rise of Sails across the Mallerstang valley. A bit of nuisance remeasurement had elevated this (which, being a lump on the way to nowhere, I hadn't been to) by a whole two feet above the old Hewitt of Little Fell just to the north (visited with High Seat on a good day a few years ago). I doubt I'd have ever come here if not for that, but it wasn't far up from the roadside and the eastern ascent of Wild Boar Fell looked worth a visit – having waited first for a nice day after a decent dry spell.

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Mallerstang isn't great for parking, but there are two or three spaces opposite Aisgill Moor Cottages near a pleasant grass and lime footpath that works well to set off up Sails. There are a few glimpses of rocky gorge scenery in Hell Gill, but it mainly stays hidden. The gate onto the open moor was adorned with a scruffy A4 notice warning of the closure of the access land (right across to Great Shunner Fell) on several days across the summer, presumably for shooting. I was there just one day before a week of this, which would otherwise have been pretty infuriating – so worth a check with Natural England first if ever coming this way: it looks like there are some forbidden weekends to come this summer. On the largely-pathless moor it was basically a bearing east and a steady slog uphill through rough grass: two tall cairns appear on the skyline which might loosely mark the best way up and a chance of finding some helpful 4x4 tracks, but Sails is a little south of either. It was dry enough after a warm spring week, but still not easy – much of the area is rutted with long parallel dents (drainage channels?) cutting straight across the line every few steps and so you are always looking down to save the ankles. Good views back towards Wild Boar Fell and the Yorkshire Three Peaks, but the immediate surrounds are only for fans of cotton-grass and river sources. Still quite satisfying to find the flattish top and restore my Hewitts total.

Wild Boar Fell from Hell Gill Beck

Swarth Fell

Three Peaks country in the distance

Wild Boar Fell from one of the edge cairns

Baugh Fell from Sails summit

It's possible to undulate north on the high ground to High Seat from here, on rough but traceable paths, but it isn't great walking and the descent from that end is awkwardly steep. I'd remembered the terrace bridleway below (Lady Anne's High Way) fondly and so instead headed, equally roughly, back down over the moor to there. It's indeed a very good green track, through patches of limestone pavement, wild flowers and flocks of (I think) lapwings; excellent views to the hills both sides and a lovely piece of public artwork in 'Water Cut'. Probably best to follow that all the way to the road, although I short cut down through rank grass a little earlier.

Wild Boar Fell from the High Way

Water Cut (with nosey sheep) and Mallerstang Edge

Lower Mallerstang from Water Cut

Wild Boar Fell

The way up to High Dolphinsty, the ridge north of Wild Boar Fell, is marked as the Pennine Bridleway. The stony zigzags looked a bit challenging for a bike, but it's a good walking route – this side of the valley has definite paths and a few people about; clearly the popular way to go.

High Seat

High Bank

Across Mallerstang Common

Broad views spread out from the ridge across the headwaters of the Lune and the lumpy Howgills, before a steep pull up to the summit plateau of Wild Boar Fell. Everything is much the same height, but first-timers might want to follow the tread to the actual highpoint to the west. Otherwise the walking and views are better along the scarp above Mallerstang, steep edges and then an impressive collection of cairns on Yoadcomb Scar. Sails at least looks a significant hill from here, even if still a broad lump.

Ravenstonedale

Little Fell & Sails, Great Shunner Fell behind

High Seat

Yoadcomb Scar cairns

Very warm and very dry, I was grateful for an easy walk along the fence/wall and over Swarth Fell (another good hill, a mini-Wild Boar in profile) largely on firm flat grass, in pleasing contrast to the earlier going. Continuing to the slight rise of Swarth Fell Pike, new to me, is worthwhile particularly to locate the way down – a well-trodden line back to the start point, largely on grass and well-graded contours of the steeper parts. It might be less pleasant in wetter conditions, but then this whole route is really for the summer. Definitely recommended on its western half and along the valley; Sails though – well, it wouldn't take too long if you just went there, and that might be about the best I'd say for it.

Swarth Fell

Back to Wild Boar Fell

Howgills

Wild Boar Fell from Swarth Fell summit

Swarth Fell descent line

Sails

[johnkaysleftleg]

I bagged Sails when I visited it for the very reason someone might decide it was higher, such a great decision those drainage ditches put me on my face several times.
Still a lovely day to visit the wonderful fells on the Western side of Mallerstang. On the subject of access to Sails, I approached from High Seat, having parked at Outhgill. Hughie and I managed to traverse the whole ridge without sight of any access land signs forbidding dogs until we passed through a gate on the Pennine Bridleway which informed us that dogs must be on a short lead on public rights of way only. Oh well, we hurt less grouse than the landowners do, that’s for sure.

[poppiesrara]

Sounds about right, JK!

Everyone else seems to have picked up Sails when they were first around there... I don't remember thinking it looked any higher, or that it looked very appealing - that was half-right at least, I suppose.

[Broggy1]

Nice report.

I too got lucky with Sails first time but I am planning on a revisit anyway at some point.

Access closures like these are always annoying if you don't know about them but I guess anybody turning up here not wanting to stick to the right of ways can always drive back to the Howgills.

Wild Boar Fell is great and you've captured some good shots of it.