Hampsfell above Grange-over-Sands.
Start. Grange-over-Sands.
Route. Grange-over-Sands - Carter Fold - Kents Bank Road - Cartmel Road - Low Fell Gate - High Fell Gate - Grange Fell Road - Spring Bank Road - Fell End - Hampsfell - Eggerslack Wood - Windermere Road - Grange-over-Sands.
Notes. Grange-over-Sands a quiet seaside retreat on the southern edge of the Cartmel peninsula, gifted with a mild climate and kissed by the waters of Morecambe Bay. Rising to the west of this Victorian seaside village a wide undulating grassy ridge grazed by cows and sheep, at it's highest point standing proud as it has since 1846 a hospice topped with a view indicator. At just 722ft this mere pimple of a hill proves something I've said many times, “you don't have to climb very high to get a good view”, on a clear day the view from Hampsfell Hospice is staggering.
Main Street car park marked my starting point, a path under the railway allowed access to the promenade, an ideal place to stroll. I strolled with views over upper Morecambe Bay to Arnside Knott and the Lancashire coast for company, lots of people had the same idea, after passing the derelict swimming baths the crowds evaporated, I was left alone for the short walk to Kents Bank. The path then guided me under the railway lines into Carter Fold, with tarmac under foot I wandered up the road to access Kents Bank Road, across this busy highway a narrow ribbon of tarmac climbed the hill, Cartmel Road shepherded me between hedge rows alive with spring flowers. Passed Low Fell Gate I climbed, passed a caravan park of the same name, after passing Middle Fell Gate a welcome finger-post invited me to Spring Bank Lane. I entered a narrow trod which in turn guided me into a wild flower meadow, I exited the meadow via a ladder stile onto Grange Fell Road near the golf course, a short walk up hill lead to Spring Bank Road.
From Spring Bank Road a finger-post points the way, Hampsfell, up hill I climbed, between erratic boulders and flowering gorse. This was the south face of Fell End the start of the grassy ridge leading to Hampsfell, a substantial cairn marked the summit. I continued along the ridge line, the Hospice growing larger with every step. Once at said Hospice I spent five minutes drinking tea and soaking up stunning views before making my way down. I descended East to reach a dry stone wall, this accompanied me to a stile, I crossed to descend the meadow stopping at the edge of Eggerslack Wood, I entered continuing my descent. Through dappled light I walked, passed derelict water tanks last used in the 1940s, through swathes of Bluebells the path guided me before ejecting me onto Windermere Road, all that remained, a short walk back to the waiting car.
Views taken from the promenade, Arnside Knott with little Holme Island far left.
Big skies over Morecambe Bay.
Sylvan Humphrey Head seen from the end of Grange promenade.
Ascending Cartmel Road looking back across the shifting sands of Morecambe Bay.
En route to Spring Bank Road.
Ascending Fell End with views to Park Point and the Silverdale coast for company.
Cartmel Sands backed by the Furness Peninsula.
High, wide and handsome views over the sands of Morecambe Bay.
As seen from the broad grassy saddle of Fell End, Arnside Knott with Ingleborough melting into a grey horizon.
The Newton Fells seen from the approach to Hampsfell.
Limestone scenery on the summit of Hampsfell.
The Hospice, built in 1846 by the vicar of Cartmel the Reverend Thomas Remington, sanctuary for travelers across the fell, above the entrance a quote from Homer, "RODODAKTYLOS EOS" translates "Rosy-fingered dawn" presumably because it faces east into the rising sun.
Wonderful views from the summit of hampsfell.
Descending with this dry stone wall for company and views to Arnside and it's knott across upper Morecambe Bay.
Looking over Eggerslack Wood.
A tranquil corner of Eggerslack Wood, a chance to sit in the sun and....
....view Bluebells through coppice woodland.