The Grey Panthers
11 May 2011, - Bowlees & Cronkley Fell


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12.1 miles

Explorer Map OL19, - Howgill Fells

Choose a fine day for this walk and there are some spectacular views.
There are a couple of modest ascents, with the longest uphill climb being the one from the River Tees up to Cronkley Fell.
There is also one quite steep descent, from Holwick Fell down to Hield House.
The footpath beside the River Tees below Cronkley Scar can be quite uneven in places, and needs some care.
Navigation is very straightforward, though the section btween Holwick Fell, Hield House, and Low Force is very poorly marked and requires use of the 1 : 25000 map to be followed accurately.
Although the walk is essentially for those who are fit and reasonably experieinced walkers, the rewards are great in terms of splendid landscapes and great views.
But do choose a fine day, - and optimally in dry weather.

Memory Map
For a Memory Map overlay of the walk described, please select the above link.
(Overlay made with Version 4 of Memory Map)

Some new mapping software is now availabe which you may want to try, - QUO mapping. You can download the software for free from the link below, complete with demonstration maps. Having installed QUO, you can import and export Memory Map overlays. Thus YOU DON'T NEED Memory Map to use any of the overlays provided on the Grey Panthers website, - just use QUO!!

Quo logo

Start from the Bowlees Picnic Area, near Newbiggin (NY90776 28299).
Leave the picnic area past the Information Centre, and take the farm track that heads in a Westerly direction to the hamlet of Dirt Pit.
Cross the Etter Beck then take the footpath that follows a farm track beside the Etter Beck.
Where this farm track turns sharp right, there is a footpath across a small valley to the minor road.
Turn right here, then shortly afterwards take the footpath (past a farm, to join a minor road / farm track that heads North Westwards towards Hanging Shaw Farm.
Take the road down to the picnic area beside the B6277.
Head Westwards along this road for a short distance, the follow the footpath (indicated as leading to the Pennine Way) that heads to Wat Garth Farm and the footbridge over the River Tees.
Turn right once over the footbridge, then follow the footpath that takes you near High House Farm and onwards to Cronkley Pasture.
Continue beside the River Tees on a narrow footpath, until at NY828 281) there is another footpath that ascends Eastwards up Cronkley Fell.
Continue Eastwards up and across Cronkley Fell, following cairns where necessary, to eventually descend on a grassy track.
Continue Eastwards on this grassy track, crosing several becks, including the Blea Beck and (further East) another un-named beck which can require some care in getting across.
The grassy track joins a farm track. Continue along this to NY889 275, where there is a small stile that crosses the boundary fence. The footpath here is unmarked, and is faint to follow.
The footpath descends to the farm at Hield House, where the onward directions have been marked by waymarks.
Continue on the footpath to Low Force, and then finally back to the Bowlees picnic area.