A Circuit from Myers Farm including Leighton Moss and Hawes Water.

Start. Myers Farm.

Route. Myers Farm - Storrs Lane - Leighton Moss - Grisedale - Yealand Storrs - Yealand Hall Allotment - Hawes Water - Gait Barrows - Challan Hall - Red Bridge - Trowbarrow - The Trough - Storrs Lane - Myres Farm.

Notes. We've had a pretty decent summer in the North-West of England, most of mine spent in doors renovating the ground floor of our little house, the jobs are almost finished unfortunately it seems so is summer. I found myself with time on my hands today, the weather gods promised a dry window, I took them at their word and made the short drive to Myers Farm, or to be more precise the Leighton Moss Visitors Centre.

The problem with visitors centres is, they find the need to part you from your hard earned cash, in the case of Leighton Moss the footpath now passes through the Visitors Centre Shop, as I didn't want parting from my cash (the builders have already done a good job of that) I wandered north over the tarmac surface of Storrs Road. After a couple of hundred yards I turned right, a good path then ushered me between the reed beds of Leighton Moss. I read somewhere this is the largest expanse of reed beds in the North-West of England, safely managed by the RSPB since 1964.

The path safely deposited me in Grisedale, after ascending passed Grisedale Farm a finger-post invited me to Yealand Storrs, I hesitated the fields were full of bovine lawnmowers, little black beady eyes fixed on me as I dared myself to enter their domain. Cows are usually just nosey, inquisitive creatures, if they give you any trouble make yourself look big, wave your arms they nearly always bugger off, if your in the company of a canine companion they may feel threatened, unclip the lead, it can run faster than you. Lesson one over, how not to get crushed by stampeding cattle, oh nearly forgot, if there's a Friesian bull in the field find another route.

I safely traversed the cow pastures above Leighton Moss, a good mix of cattle confectionery in each field all with little beady eyes, all looking my way. Once at the small hamlet of Yealand Storrs I stepped onto a wide path leading through Yealand Hall Allotment. The coppice woodland has been thinned, large glades cleared in the name of conservation, the woodland and surrounding grassland is now home to rare flora and fauna. A lovely track guided me to a narrow stile allowing access to yet more cow pastures, I passed through said stile before descending to Hawes Water, a gem in Silverdale's crown. Surrounded by reed beds and mixed woodland it's a good place to sit and relax, eat lunch as I did.

Once back on my feet I strolled through Gait Barrows Nature Reserve, home to the rare Lady's Slipper Orchid and equally rare butterflies. I traversed pastures to the rear of Challan Hall, my adversary in these fields, horses, more interested in idly grazing than who was invading their home. I crossed the railway line and another field full of cows to access Red Bridge Lane. The tarmac of said lane deposited me at the junction with Moss Lane, this narrow grey ribbon guided me over the railway line I'd just crossed, I left the lane after the bridge entering Trowbarrow. Interpretation boards told of the many important geological features and rock formations, the mosaic of wildlife that lives amongst them. Personally I find Trowbarrow's industrial history far more interesting, but that's another story for another walk.

From this vast quarry turned nature reserve I made my way into The Trough, a fascinating geological feature that cuts right across this limestone peninsula. Between the low limestone cliffs of The Trough I wandered to be ejected into Storrs Lane, I turned right to start the short walk back to Myers Farm.

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home.

Striding out between the reed beds of Leighton Moss.

Grisedale Wood as seen over Leighton Moss.

Free of the confines of Leighton Moss this track ushered me passed Grisedale Farm.

Looking to Yealand Hall Allotment from cow pastures above Leighton Moss.

Cringlebarrow Wood, for those of you unsure of cows, a path traverses the wood ejecting the weary rambler onto the road a few yards from Yealand Storrs, me included sometimes.

They may be no views but it's a lovely walk through Yealand Hall Allotment.

Arnside Knott rising above the woodland of Gait Barrows.

A gem in Silverdales crown, Hawes Water.

A new path through freshly felled woodland, a pleasure to walk.

Ruin in the forest, an old mill I presume.

Hawes Water seen from Challan Hall.

This wonderful trod guided me into Trowbarrow.

Trowbarrow Quarry once echoed to the sound of pick axes on limestone, over forty men worked the rock face, it's now a nature reserve home to rare flora and fauna, it's a special place take your time, have a wander around.

The Trough a geological oddity, we've talked about it before and will probably mention it again but not today.

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