Simon's Seat

About Simon's Seat

Rising steeply above the Rawthey Valley near Sedbergh, this often-overlooked summit offers a quieter alternative to the neighboring Howgill Fells. The terrain consists of broad, grassy slopes that can be heavy going underfoot, but the reward is a crisp, unobstructed perspective of the Howgills’ velvet-like ridges across the dale.

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Did You Know?

• •The name is likely derived from a medieval personal name, though the identity of the original 'Simon' is lost to history. In Northern English hill nomenclature, 'seat'—derived from the Old Norse 'sæti'—traditionally denotes a high place or a prominent summer pasture.
• •Although it stands in the shadow of the more famous Howgills, this hill is a distinct geographical entity separated from the main massif by the deep trench of the River Rawthey. It serves as a key high point on the ridge that carries the Eye of the Howgills toward the remote reaches of Garsdale.
• •From the summit, the view into the heart of the Howgills is exceptional, offering a clear profile of the steep, glacial hanging valleys around Cautley Crag and the rounded dome of The Calf to the northwest.
• •The hill lies on the historic boundary of the West Riding of Yorkshire. For centuries, these slopes served as common grazing land for the farming communities near Sedbergh, and the remains of old boundary walls still snake across the high ground near the top.
• •Anyone expecting a literal throne at the summit will be disappointed; the only 'seat' available is the ground itself, which is usually saturated enough to ensure your lunch break is a very brief affair.