The summary information below is relevant to Questions C22 to C28 in the Response Form.

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Context

The southern part of the Howgill Fells is already within the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Together, the northern and southern Howgill Fells form a distinct geological entity, a continuous landscape. The Mallerstang area is also similar in character and quality to adjacent areas within the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Extent to which the Natural Beauty criterion is met

The northern part of the Howgill Fells is, like its neighbour, clearly one of great natural beauty. The natural beauty is strongly influenced by the underlying geology of hard, erosion-resistant rocks, which have produced the high, smooth, rounded ridges, and dome-like summits that contrast so markedly with the other uplands nearby. These are cut by deep valleys, and small streams cascade down narrow rocky gills, resulting in occasional dramatic waterfalls.

The vegetation is dominated by acid grassland, especially matt grass, which gives a smooth texture and light colour to parts of the fells. This contrasts with areas of bracken and remnant broadleaved woodland in some valleys which add to textural and seasonal variations. The prominent and visually striking landform, smooth sweeping profile and grassy grazed slopes are widely known and recognised, and give the whole of the Howgill Fells a very strong sense of place. Their landform is referred to locally as the ‘area of the sleeping elephants’ and in the winter months in snow as the ‘sugar loaf mountains’.

The area is associated with local tradition and folklore. The open expanses of upland also offer memorable, uninterrupted long distance views. There is a strong sense of wildness with a feeling of remoteness on higher ground, resulting from the large tracts of open land and a notable absence of settlement, roads, buildings, walls or other enclosures apart from occasional sheepfolds. The open expanses of upland, uninterrupted views and in parts, remote and isolated character also mean that away from the M6, this area is highly tranquil.

The deep, glacial valley of Mallerstang, associated steep escarpments, and long, flat, upland summits at High Seat and Wild Boar Fell, form an area of great natural beauty. It contains open uplands, with patches of white limestone pavements and screes, and grassy upper slopes. The dale is patterned by a network of drystone walls, enclosing pasture and meadows, with added interest provided by streams feeding into the River Eden, and in the lower end of the dale, patches of broadleaved trees. The long, straight dale and the cliffs and vertical escarpments of High Seat and Wild Boar Fell, shaped by glaciers and erosion, create a visually exciting landform on a majestic scale. Wild Boar Fell itself is one of the most distinctive summits of the central Pennines, with its flat level summit plateau and easily recognisable, steep, stepped profile of rocky cliffs to the east. Extensive areas of upland, without roads or tracks, give the area an open, isolated character, with a strong feeling of remoteness and apparent wildness. This contrasts with the settled landscape of the dale, where the more domestic pattern of limestone walls, farms and field barns, typical of the Yorkshire Dales, is set against the wild and dramatic backdrop of the fells. The ruins of Pendragon Castle are a distinctive and romantic landmark within the dale associated with Anne Clifford and King Arthur and commented on by Defoe. This is a highly tranquil landscape, with an absence of intrusive features or significant traffic or other disturbance.

Extent to which the Opportunities for Recreation criterion is met

The northern Howgill Fells provide an outstanding recreation experience, of equivalent quality to that gained in other remote parts of upland National Parks. The expanses of open access land and rights of way link seamlessly with the southern Howgill Fells, with Calf Top, the highest point, directly on the current boundary. The steep terrain and the relative remoteness means that there are particular opportunities for challenging walks which offer a high degree of solitude. Once the ascent to the higher parts of the range has been made, the effort is repaid with broad sweeping ridges and panoramic views. The northern Howgill Fells also have two lengths of bridleway which offer access on horse or bicycle to skilled riders.

In the Mallerstang area a combination of extensive open access land and a network of rights of way make this area valuable for recreation, with good opportunities to enjoy a variety of landscape experiences. Upland walks offer a high degree of solitude and an experience of relative wildness. In contrast, routes along the dale floor offer a sheltered and enclosed, pastoral valley experience and memorable views to the surrounding fells. Several of these routes are already promoted locally. The Settle-Carlisle railway runs along the dale, providing access to the area via Kirkby Stephen and Garsdale stations, and high quality views from trains passing through. Potential recreation opportunities include the approved route for the Pennine Bridleway National Trail which will continue from the existing National Park north through part of Mallerstang, over Wild Boar Fell to Ravenstonedale.

Desirability to Designate

River Eden, Mallerstang © Natural England & Simon Warner

We consider it is desirable to designate this area as National Park. It should be included as an extension to the Yorkshire Dales National Park for the reasons outlined below.

Significance

The Howgill Fells are a unique landscape in England and stand out due to their striking landform, even among the many other striking upland landscapes in this area. The northern Howgill Fells show a clear expression of the typical landscape features of the Howgill Fells Character Area, half of which is already within the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The Howgill Fells also provide magnificent views of all the surrounding upland landscapes in the area.

Mallerstang and Wild Boar Fell have stunning limestone and glacial landforms and other characteristic landscape elements typically representative of the northern gritstone moors and central moorland landscapes of the Yorkshire Dales Character Area. The whole proposed northern extension has considerable tranquillity and relative wildness, with the Howgill Fells in particular offering a degree of remoteness and solitude rarely found in England. Overall, the area is rich in natural habitats, rare geological features, multi-period archaeology and significant built heritage. The area has exceptional opportunities for promoting the understanding and enjoyment of the landscape since it has excellent opportunities for open-air recreation and a rich landscape resource.

Much of the area has been recognised as being worthy of national recognition for over 60 years.

Issues affecting its special qualities

The entire area is highly vulnerable to major or large-scale development, due to its high scenic quality, tranquillity and relative wildness. Parts of the Howgill Fells in particular are vulnerable, due to their prominence and focal position. The landscape is intact and generally in good condition but the area would benefit from improved management of herb-rich meadows, pastures, gill woodland, scrub, river banks and boundaries for nature conservation and landscape purposes. There is considerable grazing pressure in places, especially on the Howgill Fells, with loss of heather and species diversity. Cultural heritage features such as settlement earthworks, ancient hedgerow patterns and traditional farmed landscape features are at risk in some parts from neglect and the impacts of more intensive agriculture. There is considerable unrealised scope to improve access to, and accessibility and interpretation of, the area’s special qualities.

Delivering purposes of designation

Geographically, the area is directly adjacent to the Yorkshire Dales National Park. This area includes the only parts of the Yorkshire Dales and Howgill Fells Character Areas which are not covered by an integrated management plan. Including them in the Yorkshire Dales National Park would ensure more consistent forward planning and decision-making in this very special landscape. The dedicated purpose of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Management Plan, and the assistance the National Park Authority can provide in supporting land managers, is likely to bring great improvements in landscape condition. It would also assist in managing access and promoting the area’s special qualities.

This extension is entirely in Eden District which does not currently have land in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

The inclusion of this area would mean that the membership of the National Park Authority would have to be adjusted.

The proposed boundary

The boundary has been drawn to include the entire Howgill Fells range, Wild Boar Fell and most of Mallerstang. Around Tebay there is a considerable amount of transport infrastructure, a motorway junction and industrial development, all of which affect the quality of the landscape in the Lune Valley at its confluence with Birk Beck. The boundary has been drawn to exclude this area, the village of Tebay in its entirety, and sites allocated for development which would extend the size of the village.

To the north, the boundary follows the A685 road, then lanes and field boundaries around to the south of Newbiggin and Ravenstonedale, then the A683 to the North Pennines AONB boundary and finally the existing Yorkshire Dales National Park boundary. This boundary broadly follows the transition in character from the Howgill Fells, Wild Boar Fell and Mallerstang into the upper Lune Valley and the Orton Fells. Quality remains very high throughout this transition.

Newbiggin and Ravenstonedale have been included in the Orton Fells area due to their strong cultural and landscape association with the Orton Fells (the Orton Fells area is considered seperately in the next section).

Simon’s seat from Langdale, Howgill Fells © Natural England & Simon Warner