This guidebook offers a wide range of walks from the source of the river Lune in the Howgill Fells to Glasson Dock, just below Lancaster. The 40 day walks range between 3 and 11 miles in length and are all illustrated with extracts of 1:50,000 OS mapping.
The walks start in the north of the region and follow the River Lune southwards to the sea, with bases including Orton, Sedbergh, Kirkby Lonsdale and Lancaster. They explore the infinitely varied landscape as the river Lune flows between the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales national parks and the Forest of Bowland and Arnside and Silverdale Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Also included is an outline of a 60-mile, 6-day route walking the River Lune from end to end, with lots of background information about the area's history, geology and also all the local facilities to help you plan your trip. There are magnificent views from the empty hilltops, delightful natural woodlands full of wildlife, stunning secluded side valleys and open moorland vistas to be explored in Yorkshire, Cumbria and Lancashire.
CONTENTS
OS map key
Location of Walks
Introduction
Origins and landscape
History
Wildlife
Transport
Accommodation and facilities
Navigation and maps
Planning your walk
Using this guide
The Walks
Walk 1 Weasdale and Randygill Top
Walk 2 Newbiggin-on-Lune
Walk 3 Wath to Kelleth
Walk 4 Bowderdale and The Calf
Walk 5 Gaisgill to Orton
Walk 6 Orton Scar
Walk 7 Birk Beck
Walk 8 Bretherdale
Walk 9 Blease Fell
Walk 10 Jeffrey’s Mount and Borrowdale
Walk 11 Whinfell and Borrowdale
Walk 12 Carlin Gill
Walk 13 Beck Foot
Walk 14 Firbank and Bridge End
Walk 15 Winder, Calders and The Calf
Walk 16 Sedbergh and the River Rawthey
Walk 17 Frostrow Fells and Dentdale
Walk 18 Beside the River Dee from Dent
Walk 19 Killington
Walk 20 Calf Top
Walk 21 Barbon Low Fell
Walk 22 Around Casterton
Walk 23 Kirkby Lonsdale
Walk 24 By the Lune from Kirkby Lonsdale
Walk 25 Leck Beck
Walk 26 Arkholme and the River Lune
Walk 27 Melling
Walk 28 Roeburndale
Walk 29 Whit Moor
Walk 30 Littledale
Walk 31 Clougha Pike
Walk 32 Aughton and the River Lune
Walk 33 Halton, the Crook o’Lune and Gray’s Seat
Walk 34 Slyne and the Lune Aqueduct
Walk 35 Around Lancaster
Walk 36 The Lune and the Lancaster Canal
Walk 37 Glasson Dock and the Lancaster Canal Spur
Walk 38 Cockersand Abbey
Walk 39 Overton and Bazil Point
Walk 40 Sunderland Point
Appendix A Route summary table
Appendix B The Lune Valley end to end
Appendix C Useful contacts
Navigation and maps
The mapping extracts (1:50,000) accompanying each walk in this guide indicate the outline of the route and are not intended as a substitute for taking the map itself with you. The context of the wider area given by the larger scale (1:25,000) OS Explorer maps will not only add to the enjoyment of identifying neighbouring hills and other features, but is vital should you wander off course or need to find an alternative way back. Reference to the route description and appropriate map will avoid most navigational difficulties, but on upland routes competence in the use of a compass is necessary, particularly if there is a risk of poor visibility.
A view across the foot of Lunesdale from a splendid stone stile (Walk 5)
A GPS receiver (and spare batteries) can be a useful additional aid, but you should know how to use it and be conscious of its shortcomings. Be aware of your own limitations and do not start out if anticipated conditions are likely to be beyond your experience. If the weather unexpectedly deteriorates, always be prepared to turn back.
The area is covered by Ordnance Survey maps at both 1:25,000 and 1:50,000 scales, but the larger scale shows a greater detail that is often invaluable.
The Ordnance Survey Explorer maps for the walks in this guide are listed below.
OL19 (Howgill Fells and Upper Eden Valley)
OL7 (The English Lakes, South Eastern area)
OL2 (Yorkshire Dales, Southern and Western areas)
OL41 (Forest of Bowland and Ribblesdale)
296 (Lancaster, Morecambe and Fleetwood)
If your walking in the northwest has been concentrated on the Lakes and Dales then this is the book for you. But sssssh! Don't tell everyone or they'll all want to go there.
The Howgill Fells, that huddle of smooth sided hills that nestle between the grandeur of the Lake District and the beauty of the Yorkshire Dales, is one of the north’s best kept secrets. They are often overlooked as a walking destination in favour of their better known neighbours, but on a clear, dry day there is nowhere that I’d rather be, away from the crowds and alone with the curlews and Fell ponies.
Dennis and Jan Kelsall share my love of this landscape as their guidebook book Walking in the Lune Valley and Howgills clearly shows. This is the 2nd edition of the book they first wrote in 2012 and it celebrates the inclusion of much of the area into either the Lake District or Yorkshire Dales National Parks. It includes 40 day walks of between 3 and 11 miles in the catchment area of the river Lune, stretching from its emergence near Newbiggin-on-Lune and flowing for some 50 miles to the Irish Sea below Lancaster. To the east of the river lay the Howgill Fells and the Forest of Bowland and it is in these areas that there are some of the finest walks in the book. Base yourself in the lovely market town of Sedbergh and you can tackle anything from a strenuous circular climb over Winder, Calders and the Calf to a gentle stroll around Dent.
There are also clusters of walks in the north around Orton and Tebay where there are fine examples of limestone pavement, and further south in remote little Barbondale. The final section of the book takes you along the Lancaster canal and out to the Lune estuary were you can see the remains of Cockersand Abbey and explore Glasson Dock, still active after over 200 years, although mainly with pleasure craft these days.
The book is published by Cicerone and is in their distinctive style; pocket sized with 1:50,000 extracts of OS maps to accompany each route description. Directions in the text are enlivened by the historical and geographical snippets that add interest to any walk. If your walking in the northwest has been concentrated on the Lakes and Dales then this is the book for you. But sssssh! Don't tell everyone or they'll all want to go there.
Chris Grogan