To the west of the area dealt with in the main part of the guide are other similar hills such as Wild Boar Fell and Mallerstang, and across the valley of the Rawthey (which follows the major structural feature of the Dent fault) lie the Howgill Fells, made of older rocks, mainly sandstones. Compared with the peaty wastes and heather moorland found on the Yoredale rocks, these sandstones generate rounded grassy hills whose lengthy ridges are well suited to nordic skiing, but also some steeper corries which hold ice climbing potential at Cautley Spout, and could provide some steeper alpine-style skiing in good years when the snow lies for long enough.

There are few high access roads, and the minor roads serving small outlying farms south of the A685 (from Kirkby Stephen to Tebay) are unlikely to be cleared when snow lies low down on the fellsides. But the ridges are steeper at their ends, and it is seldom too far to reach skiable snow. A tiny road south from Ravenstonedale reaches 375m at a bridge with parking space for a few cars before a steep bit may preclude progress without 4-wheel drive. The highest point, at 413m, lacks anywhere to park.

I did a short exploratory tour from this spot (NY 716 011) in 2003, ascending a short ridge to Ravenstonedale Common. My target was Green Bell, with a trig point at 605m (NY 698 011) and a short, initially steep descent back to the car. But once up on the plateau, the whole of the Howgills are accessible to the south, with the good paths holding snow even if blown mostly clear of the ridges. The mainly grassy summits don't need a lot of snow to give good touring, but the Howgills do have a reputation for catching the wind. On the day I visited, standing up was quite hard on the tops, so a lengthy tour would not have been ideal. But the next day (when I was in the Lakes) with little wind, would have been near-perfect.

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