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Route No. 105 - Tuesday 25 May 2004
Middleton, Simon's Seat, Langdale - 16km
Howgill Fells . . .
Map: OS OL19 Howgill Fells and Upper Eden Valley at 1:25000
Ordnance Survey route
map on the Landranger series map base
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Our parking spot off the A685
We set off at about 10.45am on the track passed Archer Hill farm. We
made our way across some rough marshy country to map ref. NY 650026
where there is a good path down the steep valley side into Langdale.
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It was a fine morning and there's plenty of daylight at this time of
year so we drove across the A66 and turned off through Kirkby Stephen
to the Howgill Fells. One of my favourite walking areas. We parked on
one of the little lanes off the A685 at the northern edge of the fells
(map ref. NY 659046).
Our route across some rough country to the edge of Langdale watched
by Howgill Lonk sheep
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Our first view across Langdale
We stopped here for a few minutes for a drink and to admire the view
before continuing for another 1.5km to the top of Simon's Seat at map
ref. SD660999.
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We crossed the river and followed the quad-bike track on to the ridge
of Middleton and then made the long steep climb along the ridge to the
trig point at map ref. NY 652012.
Lady's Slipper in the marsh grass
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Trig point at the top of Middleton
From here we followed a narrow precarious path that contours round
the steep valley side for about 1.5km to another col below Bush Howe
at map ref. SD 656983. From here there is a reasonable route following
the stream down into the head of the valley.
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We stopped here for our lunch with that amazing panorama of the Lake
District hills and the North Pennines and the Howgill Fells all around
us. After lunch we dropped down to a little col beside Simon's Seat
at map ref. SD 658996.
Following the stream down from the col below Bush Howe towards Simon's
Seat
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Returning down Langdale
A dung beetle going about its business
The route took us about five and a half hours including our stops.
We has planned to stop in Kirkby Stephen for our traditional cup of
tea and a toasted teacake but we were too late. All the tea shops seem
to shut at about half past four.
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The valley is a branch of the head of Langdale and we followed it for
about 5km back to the point where we had crossed the river this morning.
From there we retraced our route up the valley side and back to the
car. The route was about 16km over some steep rough country where a
good map and compass (and the skill to use them) are essential.
Returning down Langdale
Looking back up Langdale on our return
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