Walking

The Howgill Fells provide excellent walking opportunities with terrain distinctively different from the neighbouring craggy Lakeland Fells and rolling Yorkshire Moors. Although many of the hills are fairly steep sided they are gently domed and ideal for ‘Free Range’ walking with very little interruption by walls and fences above the intake walls. At a lower level the valleys of the rivers Lune, Rawthey and Eden provide a wide choice of walks on paths and quiet country lanes.

Walk the Sedgwick Trail in Garsdale to explore the fascinating geology of the Dent Fault, a major fracture in the Earth's crust formed about 290 million tears ago. Leaflets for this 1 mile trail are available from the Sedbergh Tourist Information office.

The poetry path is circular walk by the River Eden at Kirkby Stephen with twelve short poems written by Meg Peacock carved on stone blocks, one for each month, covering a year in the life of a hill farmer.

The Sedbergh Tourist Information Centre stocks a range of walking guides and maps for the Howgill Fells and surrounding area,

Long distance walking routes

The Dales Way, a 78 mile route from Ilkley to Bowness-on-Windermere.

The Dales High Way, a 90 mile route from Saltaire to Appleby.

Lady Anne's Way, a 100 mile long distance path from Skipton to Penrith passes along Mallerstang Dale on the eastern side of the Howgills.

Walking websites

Where2Walk features 100 walks in the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District and includes a number of walks in the Howgill Fells and Dentdale. The brief details for each walk show the key features: what to look out for, a start point and some good refreshment stops, a few photos which are much better than words in characterising the walk but most importantly a map. The page on each walk is downloadable on a single page.

The Walking in Cumbria website has links to details of Cumbria walks to download along with details of books, maps and walking groups in the country

The Walk4Life enables you to search for ideas for a number of walks in the Howgills selected from their database of thousands of walks all over the country.

Top Cycling

The Howgills are an ideal area for cyclists wishing to explore the quiet country lanes. Three National Cycle Network routes pass through the area: the Pennine Cycleway (Route 68), the Walney to Wear Cycleway (Route 20) and the Yorkshire Dales Cycleway.

Mountain bike enthusiasts can explore the numerous bridleways and tracks over the fells including one of the best mountain bike rides in the United Kingdom: the ridge route along the top of the Howgills from the Calf south to Arant Haw followed by the descent from Winder to Sedbergh.

More information about cycling in the area, including cycle routes, cycle dealers & repairers, cycle hire and guide books can be found at www.sedbergh.org.uk/travel/cycling.html.

Top Fishing

Sedbergh & District Angling Association owns, leases or rents some 15 miles of the Rivers Lune and Rawthey and their tributaries. The waters contain native and stocked brown trout together with significant numbers of sea trout and salmon. Fishing permits are available from the Premier Express store in Sedbergh (015396 20913).

The 37 acre Killington Lake reservoir, about 1 mile from junction 37 on the M6,is ideal for both the Coarse and Game Angler. Day and season permits are available from the Lock Keepers Cottage situated at the side of the lake just past the boat house.

Bessy Beck Trout Fishery offers the complete angling experience on their 3 lakes and stretches of the upper Lune; tuition, fishing tackle for all game angling, hard fighting rainbow trout reared in their own fish farm, and fishing for all levels of ability.

Tebay Anglers' waters cover some 15 miles of Brown Trout, Sea Trout and Salmon fishing along the River Lune, and its tributaries, from Kelleth to the Sedbergh end of Fair Mile.

Kirkby Stephen and District Angling Association controls some 9 miles of fishing on the River Eden with a further 4 miles on the River Belah and Scandal Beck. All these waters offer fly fishing for wild brown trout amid beautiful scenery.

Top Golf

Casterton Golf Course provides spectacular views in all directions. The design of the 9 hole course makes use of the natural landscape. There are no water features but the rocky outcrop and undulating terrain provide challenging conditions. There are sand bunkers and natural grass bunkers in strategic positions.

Riverside Golf Club at Ravenstonedale is a picturesque course in an idyllic setting. This is a unique 18 hole, 9 green, small course specialising in par-3 short holes with character 70-140 yard fairways. The course is ideal for first time golfers, young and old, male and female. It is perfect for practising short game and is considered by many local golfers to involve a high degree of difficulty.

Kirkby Lonsdale Golf Club, where every hole presents a new and different challenge, provides a fair test of golf and a most enjoyable experience with its lush fairways and a natural undulating terrain.

The 9 hole Sedbergh Golf Club course has been designed to make the most of the naturally undulating parkland between the rivers Dee and Rawthey with several tree lined holes and fairways crossing or running alongside both rivers. The emphasis is placed upon accuracy, rather than distance. Well guarded greens (made to USGA specifications) and water features aplenty ensure that Sedbergh Golf Club provides a test for golfers of every ability.

Kendal Golf Club enjoys an elevated position overlooking the town of Kendal with breathtaking panoramic views that unfurl as one plays the course>

Top Horse Riding

BHS approved Eden Valley Trekking and Trail Riding Centre near Ravenstonedale offers guided treks from half an hour to a full day with routes tailored to suit riders ability.

BHS approved Holmescales Riding Centre at Old Hutton offers access to private hacking over varied terrain and provides tuition to all standards with facilities including indoor school, outdoor arena and jumping paddock, and cross-country fences

BHS approved Larkrigg Riding School at Natland offers riding tuition and hacking through nearby rolling countryside..

Top Hot Air Balloon Rides

Become a hot air ballooning adventurer with an unforgettable Champagne balloon flight from a launch site near Kirkby Lonsdale.

Paragliding

Sun Soar Paragliding at Kirkby Stephen offer 1 day Introductory, 2 day Elementary Pilot and 5 day Club Pilot courses using state of the art, purpose-built training wings and modern harnesses. The area is ideal for paragliding with grassy slopes for every wind direction, free from fences, power lines, trees and crowds.