Western Howgills

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Saunterings:  Walking in North-West England

Top 10s

Below are the Top 10s for Saunterings (a set of reflections based upon walks around the counties of Cumbria, Lancashire and North Yorkshire in North-West England). Various features of North-West England (as defined in the Preamble) are ranked according to manifold criteria – much too mani to be mentioned here – which have been combined in a devilishly complex formula – much too complex to specify here – to derive a single coefficient, the Worth-visiting Coefficient (WC). If this thoroughly scientific methodology does not convince, I am open to persuasion, preferably monetary.

Only features mentioned so far in Saunterings are listed. As new features are mentioned they may be added below, at the risk of stimulating unbridled excitement. I've also sprinkled a few Top 10s that cannot be visited at all, such as of people who are no longer with us. (As in the Index, a bold number indicates that the item was a main focus of a saunter and an italicised number indicates that the item was shown in a photograph.)

Ancient Sites;  Beaches;  Becks;  Birds;  Bridges;  Castles;  Caves;  Churches;  Crags;  Dales;  Geological Sites;  Halls;  Lakes;  Men;  Moors;  Mountains;  Mynopes;  Nature Reserves;  Reservoirs;  Rivers;  Saunterings;  Tarns;  Tourist Attractions;  Viewpoints;  Villages;  Waterfalls;  Ways;  Women;  Woods

Top 10 Ancient Sites of North-West England
      Including stone circles, Roman forts, old earthworks, and so on. Meg

  1.  Castlerigg 31, 42.
  2.  Brocavum 7.
  3.  Long Meg and Her Daughters 42.
  4.  Maiden Castle (Swaledale) 25.
  5.  Heysham rock graves and St Patrick's Chapel 101.
  6.  Virosidum 10.
  7.  Gosforth Cross 141.
  8.  Mayburgh Henge 7.
  9.  Victoria Cave 133.
  10.  Apronfull of Stones 47.
Top 10 Beaches and Bays of North-West England
      Some of these are on the sea coast; others at a lake side. Fleetwood
  1.  Morecambe Bay 1, 4, 21, 36, 41, 52, 70, 101.
  2.  Blackpool 5, 21, 74.
  3.  Silecroft 107.
  4.  Sandscale Haws 57.
  5.  Fleetwood 21, 53.
  6.  Cowpren Point 52.
  7.  St Anne's on the Sea 74.
  8.  Lowsy Point 57.
  9.  Half Moon Bay 76, 101.
  10.  Eskmeals Dunes 142.
Top 10 Becks of North-West England
      Only becks that are called Becks or Brooks are considered here. Kingsdale Beck
  1.  Lyvennet Beck 97.
  2.  Borrow Beck 38.
  3.  Grisedale Beck 65.
  4.  Kingsdale Beck 22, 62.
  5.  Barbon Beck 71.
  6.  Chapel Beck (Chapel-le-Dale) 62.
  7.  Clapham Beck 63.
  8.  Great Rundale Beck 35.
  9.  Fairmile Beck 68.
  10.  Chapel Beck (Howgills) 68.
Top 10 Birds of North-West England
      Birds don't always stay put, but I've indicated where they might be spotted. whoopers
  1.  hen harrier (Bowland) 59.
  2.  skylark (Roundthwaite Common) 4, 6, 14.
  3.  martin, sand (middle Lune) 50, 79.
  4.  cuckoo (Littledale) 51, 91.
  5.  plover, golden (Dodd Fell) 14, 58.
  6.  curlew (Lune floodplain) 14, 50.
  7.  swan, whooper (Thurnham Moss) 37.
  8.  goose, pink-footed (Pilling) 112.
  9.  egret, little (Ribble estuary) 4, 50.
  10.  heron, grey (rivers) 85.
Top 10 Bridges of North-West England
      Including bridges, aqueducts and viaducts over rivers or roads. Devils Bridge
  1.  Ribblehead Viaduct 41, 132.
  2.  Devil's Bridge 50, 139.
  3.  Lune Aqueduct 72.
  4.  Artengill Viaduct 132.
  5.  Lowgill Viaduct 38, 68.
  6.  Eamont Bridge 7.
  7.  Edisford Bridge 77.
  8.  Stainforth Bridge 8.
  9.  Ashness Bridge 18.
  10.  Ribchester Bridge 39.
Top 10 Castles of North-West England
      I don't include castles that are closed to visitors. Lowther Castle
  1.  Brougham Castle 7, 51.
  2.  Muncaster Castle 69.
  3.  Lancaster Castle 72.
  4.  Pendragon Castle 51.
  5.  Bolton Castle 33.
  6.  Sizergh Castle 69.
  7.  Skipton Castle 51.
  8.  Wray Castle 69.
  9.  Dalton Castle 57.
  10.  Kirkoswald Castle 42.
Top 10 Caves, Caverns and Potholes of North-West England
      After the first few, which can be entered by anyone (after payment), the rest are assessed on their surface properties only. Rowten
  1.  White Scar Caves 62.
  2.  Ingleborough Cave 24.
  3.  Gaping Gill 24, 40.
  4.  Yordas Cave 47.
  5.  Butter Tubs 26.
  6.  Victoria Cave 133.
  7.  Rowten Pot 22, 47.
  8.  Browgill Cave 102.
  9.  Ibbeth Peril 135.
  10.  Jingling Pot 22, 47.
Top 10 Churches and Abbeys of North-West England
      For the non-religious and including some that are no longer functioning as religious establishments. Cockersand Abbey
  1.  Bolton Abbey 40.
  2.  St Patrick's Chapel 101.
  3.  Lancaster Priory 72.
  4.  St Helen's Church, Overton 123.
  5.  St Peter's Church, Heysham 101.
  6.  St Martin's Church, Bowness 137.
  7.  Cockersand Abbey 37.
  8.  All Hallows Church, Great Mitton 77.
  9.  St John the Baptist, Pilling 112.
  10.  St Lawrence's Church, Crosby Ravensworth 97.
Top 10 Crags of North-West England
      Including crags, cliffs, scars, etc. that aren't considered as Mountains or Viewpoints. Langdales
  1.  Malham Cove 75.
  2.  Crinkle Crags 9, 12, 49.
  3.  Langdale Pikes 49, 65, 69.
  4.  Dow Crag 5, 28.
  5.  Gordale Scar 5, 75.
  6.  Studrigg Scar 63.
  7.  Kilnsey Crag 140.
  8.  Riggindale Crag 12.
  9.  Moughton Scars 63.
  10.  Langcliffe Scar 133.
Top 10 Dales of North-West England
      Including dales that aren't called dales. Wensleydale
  1.  Langdale 28, 49.
  2.  Borrowdale (near Derwent Water) 18, 28, 49.
  3.  Wharfedale 47, 75, 140.
  4.  Ennerdale 141.
  5.  Crummackdale 47, 63.
  6.  Duddon valley 28.
  7.  Wensleydale 10, 13, 14, 33, 47.
  8.  Wasdale 49.
  9.  Swaledale 25, 47.
  10.  Dentdale 2, 13, 22, 47, 67, 127, 132, 135.
Top 10 Geological Sites of North-West England
      Some of these may appear under other headings as well. Studrigg
  1.  High Cup Nick 5, 35, 56.
  2.  Craven Faults 62, 63.
  3.  Norber erratics 63.
  4.  North Pennine Faults 35.
  5.  Studrigg Scar 63.
  6.  Ribblesdale drumlins 102.
  7.  Gaping Gill 24, 40.
  8.  Dent Fault 95, 127.
  9.  Black Force 15.
  10.  Hutton Roof Crags 98.
Top 10 Halls of North-West England
      A Manor, Villa, Grange, House, and so on that is not called a Hall is not included. Bolton Hall
  1.  Holker Hall 69.
  2.  Levens Hall 69.
  3.  Nappa Hall 33.
  4.  Lytham Hall 74.
  5.  Brougham Hall 7.
  6.  Hacking Hall 39.
  7.  Great Mitton Hall 77.
  8.  Bolton Hall 39.
  9.  Blencow Hall 54.
  10.  Leck Hall 22.
Top 10 Lakes of North-West England
      Lakes, meres and waters (and pools, ponds and puddles, if good enough). Derwent Water
  1.  Buttermere 3, 5, 9, 75.
  2.  Derwent Water 3, 9, 11, 18, 19, 143.
  3.  Wastwater 3, 9, 12.
  4.  Ennerdale Water 3, 141.
  5.  Ullswater 3, 7, 9, 17, 104.
  6.  Grasmere 3, 5, 9, 65.
  7.  Coniston Water 3, 32.
  8.  Windermere 3, 9, 12, 32, 69, 137, 143.
  9.  Crummock Water 3.
  10.  Bassenthwaite Lake 3, 18, 19.
Top 10 Men of North-West England
      Men who have helped make North-West England what it is today! Ruskin
  1.  Wordsworth, William 9, 11, 42, 62.
  2.  Wainwright, Alfred 2, 9, 13, 24, 28, 38, 43, 49, 51, 52, 100, 102.
  3.  Griffin, Harry 9, 13, 51, 55, 65.
  4.  Nicholson, Norman 23, 32, 62, 107.
  5.  Sedgwick, Adam 95, 135.
  6.  Ruskin, John 62, 139.
  7.  Romney, George 57.
  8.  Heaton Cooper, William 65.
  9.  Leonard, Thomas 11.
  10.  Baddeley, M.J.B. 9, 23, 51, 60, 125, 137.
Top 10 Moors of North-West England
      I include Commons here too: I'm not sure of the precise difference between a Moor and a Common. Broughton Moor
  1.  Harkerside Moor 25.
  2.  Broughton Moor 28.
  3.  Brown Moor 68.
  4.  Sunbiggin Moor 31.
  5.  Anglezarke Moor 27.
  6.  Billington Moor 39, 42.
  7.  Stainmore Common 56.
  8.  Caton Moor 1, 41, 76, 80, 94.
  9.  Grayrigg Common 38.
  10.  Deerplay Moor 34.
Top 10 Mountains of North-West England
      Considering their appearance, the appeal of walking upon them, and so on. Pendle
  1.  Scafell Pike 5, 6, 9, 12, 49, 104, 124.
  2.  Blencathra 3, 7, 9, 12, 42, 54, 61, 75, 104, 143.
  3.  Helvellyn 3, 5, 9, 12, 43, 49, 65, 75, 104.
  4.  Great Gable 9, 12, 49, 75.
  5.  Bowfell 6, 9, 12, 28, 49, 55.
  6.  Ingleborough 1, 5, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 24, 40, 41, 47, 50, 62, 63, 67, 75, 102.
  7.  Old Man of Coniston 5, 12, 28, 75.
  8.  Pendle 6, 11, 20, 34, 39, 40, 46, 64, 77, 109, 121, 124, 129.
  9.  Pen-y-ghent 1, 8, 16, 24, 41, 56, 63, 67, 102, 124, 133.
  10.  Black Combe 28, 57, 107, 124.
Top 10 Mynopes of North-West England
      An eponym lends their name, for example, Adam to Adam's apple. There doesn't seem to be a word for the recipient of the name - mynope, perhaps. The following mynopes pinch our place-names. Eric Morecambe
  1.  Nelson, Lord
  2.  Bentham, Jeremy
  3.  Eden, Sir Anthony
  4.  Morecambe, Eric
  5.  Cocker spaniel
  6.  Bainbridge, Beryl
  7.  Fleetwood, Tommy
  8.  Dent, Arthur
  9.  Lancaster, Burt
  10.  Appleby, Sir Humphrey
Top 10 Nature Reserves of North-West England
      Including nature reserves, SPAs, SACs, SSSIs and so on. Whitbarrow
  1.  Ingleborough National Nature Reserve 16, 102.
  2.  Whitbarrow National Nature Reserve 55.
  3.  Wyre-Lune Sanctuary Nature Reserve 112.
  4.  Bowland Fells Special Protection Area 59, 64.
  5.  Sandscale Haws Special Protection Area 57.
  6.  Great Asby Scar National Nature Reserve 31.
  7.  Eskmeals Dunes Nature Reserve 142.
  8.  Hay Bridge Nature Reserve 32.
  9.  Cragg Wood Special Area of Conservation 70.
  10.  Roeburndale Woods Site of Special Scientific Interest 78, 126.
Top 10 Reservoirs of North-West England
      The reservoirness of the body of water must be apparent for it to qualify here. Stocks
  1.  Haweswater 3, 50, 60, 104.
  2.  Stocks Reservoir 5.
  3.  Thirlmere 3, 50.
  4.  Anglezarke Reservoir 19.
  5.  Winterburn Reservoir 46.
  6.  Cow Green Reservoir 56.
  7.  Holden Wood Reservoir 48.
  8.  Calf Hey Reservoir 48.
  9.  Ogden Reservoir 48.
  10.  Lower Ogden Reservoir 20.
Top 10 Rivers of North-West England R Ribble
  1.  Duddon 57.
  2.  Wharfe 140.
  3.  Ribble 8, 14, 29, 39, 45, 66, 77, 102.
  4.  Eden 7, 42, 51, 97.
  5.  Dee 2, 132.
  6.  Ure 10, 33.
  7.  Lune 38, 40, 50, 68, 70, 72, 76, 79-93.
  8.  Hodder 5, 30, 39, 77.
  9.  Roeburn 78, 121, 126.
  10.  Caldew 61.
Top 10 Saunterings
      Or, rather, the most commented upon items (which are biassed towards the more recent, as the number of readers of Saunterings grows): The Nab
  1.  74.  Blackpool Promenading
  2.  140.  Short-Circuiting Wharfedale
  3.  113.  White Stoats on Caton Moor
  4.  123.  Over to Overton and Around Little Fylde
  5.  108.  Westward Home!
  6.  96.  Castles and Towers from the Cross of Greet
  7.  51.  On Wild Boar Fell
  8.  73.  The Raygill Foraminifers
  9.  76.  The Belted Beauties of Sunderland
  10.  135.  By the Old Farmhouses of Dentdale
Top 10 Tarns of North-West England
      For a discussion of what a 'tarn' is, see 65. Easedale Tarn
  1.  Red Tarn 9, 65.
  2.  Blea Water 12, 65.
  3.  Grisedale Tarn 65.
  4.  Tarn Hows 9, 69.
  5.  Easedale Tarn 9.
  6.  Bowscale Tarn 61.
  7.  Codale Tarn 9.
  8.  Little Langdale Tarn 49.
  9.  Malham Tarn 10, 75.
  10.  Burnmoor Tarn 65.
Top 10 Tourist Attractions of North-West England
      Of course, I don't go sauntering in order to visit tourist attractions, so I refer you to the official list given in 69.

Top 10 Viewpoints of North-West England
      Excluding those from hill-tops higher than 500m. Castlehead
  1.  Lingmoor Fell 49.
  2.  Latrigg 19, 49.
  3.  Castlehead Wood 18, 19.
  4.  Gummer's How 19, 69.
  5.  Loughrigg Fell 9, 49.
  6.  Orrest Head 19.
  7.  Walla Crag 18, 49.
  8.  Whitbarrow 55.
  9.  Winder 2, 67.
  10.  Clougha Pike 70, 109, 110.
Top 10 Villages of North-West England
      For their prototypical villageness. Pooley Bridge
  1.  Crosby Ravensworth 97, 140.
  2.  Dufton 35.
  3.  Grassington 5, 10, 140.
  4.  Chipping 64.
  5.  Dent 95, 127, 135.
  6.  Grasmere 3, 5, 9, 65.
  7.  Clapham 5, 24, 40, 63.
  8.  Pooley Bridge 17.
  9.  Slaidburn 96.
  10.  Downham 129.
Top 10 Waterfalls of North-West England
      Including only those that are publicly accessible (although I might delete those you're supposed to pay to see). Aysgill
  1.  Aira Force 143.
  2.  Thornton Force 47, 62.
  3.  Aysgarth Falls 33.
  4.  Black Force 15.
  5.  Cautley Spout 34.
  6.  Stockghyll Force 143.
  7.  Aysgill Force 58.
  8.  Catrigg Force 8.
  9.  Snow Falls 62.
  10.  Stainforth Force 8.
Top 10 Ways, Paths and Trails of North-West England
      If a Way extends outside the North-West England region then that part is ignored by the WC assessment. Dales Way
  1.  Dales Way 2, 14, 68, 132, 135, 140.
  2.  Pennine Way 2, 14, 35, 46, 56, 58.
  3.  Lady Anne's Way 51.
  4.  Ribble Way 29, 77.
  5.  Ullswater Way 17.
  6.  Dales High Way 2, 46.
  7.  Coast-to-Coast walk 31, 118.
  8.  Wyre Way 53, 103.
  9.  Pennine Bridleway 14, 132, 133.
  10.  Cumbria Way 19, 49.
Top 10 Women of North-West England
      I haven't met enough women on my saunterings. Harriet Martineau
  1.  Duke of Lancaster 30.
  2.  Potter, Beatrix 20.
  3.  Clifford, Lady Anne 7, 51.
  4.  Martineau, Harriet 23.
  5.  Hartley, Marie 26, 47.
  6.  Ingilby, Joan 26, 47.
  7.  Nutter, Alice 20.
  8.  Linder 36.
  9.  Liu, Anna 34.
  10.  Long Meg and Her Daughters 42.
Top 10 Woods and Forests of North-West England
      Considering only those woods that can be walked in. Gisburn Forest
  1.  Roeburndale Woods 78, 126.
  2.  Grizedale Forest 34.
  3.  Yewbarrow Wood 32, 69.
  4.  Eaves Wood 78.
  5.  Clapdale Wood 24.
  6.  Borrowdale Wood 38.
  7.  Lodore Wood 18.
  8.  Gisburn Forest 5.
  9.  Marles Wood 39.
  10.  Greta Wood 40.

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Blencathra

Top photo: The western Howgills from Dillicar; Bottom photo: Blencathra from Great Mell Fell