Farleton Fell and Hutton Roof Crags.
Start. Holme (Old Burton Road).
Route. Holme - Lancaster/Kendal Canal - Farleton - Farleton Fell - Newbiggin Crags - Hutton Roof Crags - Lancelot Clark Storth - Slape Lane - Burton-in-Kendal - Tanpits Lane - Station Lane - Lancaster/Kendal Canal - Holme.
Notes. Two lesser heights of exceptional interest rising above the flatlands that carry the Lancaster/Kendal Canal, West Coast Main Line and M6 Motorway, plus numerous country roads leading to and from sleepy villages. Farleton Fell with it's distinctive limestone terraces, instantly recognisable, marks the approach from the south to junction 36, the gateway to the Lake District home to some of the best hill walking in the country. Limestone pavements, erratic boulders and grassland welcomes you to the plateau above the scars, stunning vistas from Morecambe Bay to the Lakeland hills, the Pennines and the Dales of Yorkshire, a panorama to die for and it can all be yours. In contrast Hutton Roof presents an entirely different scene, broken, shattered and weathered limestone pavements, grassland and woodland, low limestone cliffs make for difficult navigation, the views aren't quite as extensive but the walking is just as exciting. So, next time you're heading into the Lake District take a right turn at junction 36 you won't be disappointed.
Canals, not my favourite place to ramble, but there I was wandering along the tow-path leaving Holme village behind, the song of the M6 Motorway ever present. Via canal and field paths I made my way to Farleton village, on entering the village a finger-post on a sharp bend invited me to Farleton Fell, I obliged ascending field paths before a stile allowed access to the scree and gorse of the fells northern facade. I ascended into a landscape of limestone scars, spectacular pavements and plunging cliffs shining in the morning sun. On an excellent path I traversed the plateau before descending through a large sheep pasture, I accessed the narrow fell road via a stile opposite a gate leading onto Hutton Roof Crags.
I ascended through woodland, climbed limestone terraces, traversed shattered limestone pavements, without warning the trig point appeared through the tree cover, I sat a while drinking in the views before heading west. My descent took me through Lancelot Clark Storth, way-marked paths guided me between exposed limestone, through woodland, scrub and cow pastures before depositing me in Slape Lane. Between dry stone walls and hedge rows I wandered, alighting into Burton-in-Kendal. Tanpits Lane is a good guide back to the canal, I followed it, turning right into Station Lane which in turn carried me over the motorway and on to New Mill Aqueduct, after passing under the aqueduct a set of steps ascended to the canal. I casually wandered back, there are some good views to be had from this section of waterway, just over a mile of easy walking saw me approaching the waiting car.
Seen from the canal side path, Farleton Fell with Holmepark Fell to the right.
The Lancaster/Kendal Canal looking north towards Garth's Bridge.
View taken south with my back to the M6 Motorway.
Escaping the flatlands, ascending through Gorse and limestone scree.
Wonderful views over the pastoral land of South Lakeland.
Looking west to Arnside and Silverdale, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The summit Farleton Fell, looking to the blue/grey hills of Lakeland.
The cliffs of Holmepark Fell with stunning views to Morecambe Bay.
Clints and Grikes on Farleton Fell.
Seen over Holmepark Fell, Hutton Roof Crags.
Limestone pavements on Farleton Fell.
From near Newbiggin Crags views to Hutton Roof Crags.
The vast expanse of the Lune Valley, on the far horizon the hills of the Yorkshire Dales.
View taken from above Newbiggin Crags, the dark mass of the Middleton Fells and Barbon Low Fells, catching the light on the horizon, Crag Hill and the Barbon High Fells.
A mosaic of green sheep pastures, a civilized landscape that carries the eye into the Lune Valley.
Ascending Hutton Roof Crags looking back to the stunning limestone scenery of Holmepark Fell (to the left of the wall) and Farleton Fell.
As seen over upper Morecambe Bay, another exceptional limestone fell, born of the same parents as Farleton and Hutton Roof, Whitbarrow.
The summit Hutton Roof Crags.
Holmepark Fell captures the morning sunlight, in the distance, blue/grey today, melting into the horizon the Howgill Fells.
The scene across the summit of Hutton Roof Crags, shattered limestone and dwarf flora.
Seen from Lancelot Clark Storth, visited many times Arnside Knott.
Above my head the Lancaster/Kendal Canal passes over New Mill Aqueduct.
Wandering back I passed this interesting feature, when the northern reaches of the canal were opened in 1819 these coke ovens were built, used to burn volcanic impurities such as sulphur out of coal to make it ideal for iron smelting, this would suggest that somewhere near by there were once coal pits.