Calders is the overlord of the southern Howgill Fells and is second only to The Calf in terms of height.
| Height (m): | 675.4 |
|---|---|
| Height (ft): | 2216 |
| Prominence (m): | 34.2 |
| Classification: | Nuttall, Hewitt |
| Hill No: | 2737 |
| Grid Ref: | SD670960 |
| OS Map | OL19 |
| No. of Visits | 4 |
The spot height on the Ordnance Survey map shows the height of Calders as 674m. However, a survey in April 2014 found that the highest point is actually 675.4m. This means that Calders is just 60cm or 2ft lower than The Calf, two-thirds of a mile to the north.
The survey found that the highest point of Calders is actually a spot on the path 5m west of the cairn. The latter is obviously lower than the path but makes a good spot to take a summit photo.
As with most of the Howgills the view from Calders is superb. Indeed, whilst The Calf excels in its view to the north, Calders has a fantastic panorama to the south. The view extends right down the Lune valley towards the distant Bowland moors. To the west is the Lakeland skyline while nearer to hand the southern Howgills and the hills of Garsdale and Dentdale are well seen.
There are two other features of note on the summit. The first is the fence. Fences are few in the Howgills and in fact it is many miles to the north until another wall or fence is encountered, a state of affairs that make it such a great home to fell ponies. Secondly, just below the cairn are three stone blocks which hold a geocache.
Calders has two subsidary tops, Bram Rigg Top to the north and Great Dummacks to the west. Bram Rigg Top was once classed as a separate summit on the list of Nuttalls. However, in October 2016 a survey found that it just failed to achieve the requisite 15m prominence and so was relegated from the list.
Great Dummacks has a height of 663m. Whilst its summit is nondescript a bit further to the west is the spectacular rim of Cautley Crag. One of the few places in the Howgill Fells where the underlying Silurian rock can be seen, Cautley Crag stands in places 400-500ft in height overlooking the side valley of Cautley Holme Beck.
Most people who climb Calders do so almost by accident as it lies right on the popular path from Sedbergh on The Calf. The path crosses the narrow ridge of Rowantree Grains, which connects Calders from the southern Howgill Fells.
From the Cross Keys Inn to the east a good route climbs up alongside Cautley Spout before following the rim of Cautley Crag round on to Great Dummacks and thence on to Calders. A less obvious, steep, but hugely enjoyable route from the west approaches via Bram Rigg Beck before climbing directly up Calders Rigg.
Calders is a majestic fell and would be much better known were it not for the fact that The Calf is slightly higher. Certainly it is one of my favourite hills in the Yorkshire Dales.