Weasdale Horseshoe +

[Broggy1]

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A mixed weather forecast for the weekend and a gorgeous Wednesday. Only one thing for it, use a bit of flexi time and make a mad dash for the Howgills for an early evening walk in the sun!

I'd always liked the look of the Weasdale Horsehoe as a short walk and also thought it would be a decent chance to climb Yarlside - a hill that sticks out like a sore thumb - having previously climbed all the other Howgill Hewitts from different areas.

The weather was superb when I parked up on the minor road near Weasdale (you can actually park closer than I did but I panicked when I saw a good spot and left it) and I knew that I had picked a good day for this walk. The Howgills offer superb views and with no guiding walls and with many of the hills looking the same it is always advisable to try and do them on clear conditions.

I initially followed the road round to Weasdale Farm and up before branching off to the open fell on the left near a wall with an access sign showing the route ahead.

You then climb to the ridge and follow a good track for quite a long distance to the summit of Hooksey. From here it's a steep drop down to the interesting saddle called Leathgill Bridge and a steep, grassy pull up to the unspectacular Hewitt of Randygill Top.

The views were amazing in every direction. To my left was the rest of the Weasdale Horsehoe as well as Wild Boar Fell, Swarth Fell, High Pike and Nine Standards. To my right you could see the Lakeland skyline in all it's glory. Ahead lay the great lump of Yarlisde backed by The Calf and the outline of the Three Peaks and behind me the North Pennines and the majestic Eden Valley. The sun was shining and this was truly a wonderful afternoon to be on the hills.

Looking back at my starting point

Weasdale Farm

Great sky over the horseshoe

Following the track on Hooksey

Green Bell (the other side of the Horseshoe) from the ridge to Hooksey

Top of Hooksey

Randygill Top from Hooksey

Wild Boar Fell and Swarth Fell from Randygill Top

Kensgriff and Yarlside from the descent off Randygill Top

From here it was now time to work my way off the natural horsehoe towards the tops of Kensgriff and Yarlside. It's a steep route down to the depression and then a steady climb up to the top of Kensgriff.

It's then an even steeper drop down to the next depression before an even steeper climb still up Yarlside. I knew this would be a steep climb from looking at pictures on this site but it's not as bad as it looks (I think the featureless grassy slopes sometimes make the Howgills appear steeper than they actually are) and before you know it you are on the summit plateau heading towards the cairn.

Looking back at Randygill Top from Kensgriff

Yarlside from Kensgriff

Steep climb up Yarlside

The Calf from the top of Yarlside

Three Peaks from Yarlside (Pen y Ghent just sticking out on the left and Ingleborough and Whernside Central)

Lakeland from Yarlside

It needed care going back down the same way off Yarlside and as I didn't particularly trust an apparent bypass path avoiding Kensgriff, I went back over the top of that again to reach the depression between Kensgriff and Randygill Top.

An obvious track then branches off to the right to meet the depression between Randygill Top and Green Bell and then it's an easy climb up to the Trig Point on Green Bell (not a Hewitt but a satisfying top all the same) followed by a lovely grassy descent on a good track all the way back to the road. I actually left the track a few times but all roads lead to China here and it really is much of a muchness in good weather.

A fantastic route on a gorgeous summers evening.

Take care on the descent from Yarlside

Heading for Green Bell

The Trig Point on Green Bell with the North Pennines behind

The easy route down with the Eden Valley in front

[nigheandonn]

It was a gorgeous day - I was looking at the Pentlands and wishing I was up there instead of down here.

I've got my eye on the Howgills, but it's hard to know where to start...

[Broggy1]

Depends what you want to do.

I first looked at the Howgills after finishing the Wainwrights in 2011 without giving any thought to Hewitts/Nuttalls etc.

I did the classic Calf Walk from Sedbergh, I did an easy but scenic round of Blease Fell and Hare Shaw, another similar walk on Rispa Pike and Uldale Head. Walks around Cautley are excellent as was this one.

However, if you want to do just the five big Howgills in one go have a look at Poppiesrara report from the other week - if I was doing them again I'd probably be tempted to do that but you can also find lot's of really good short walks in the area as well.