Hampsfell and Grange-over-Sands.

Start. Grange-over-Sands.

Route. Grange-over-Sands - Ornamental Gardens - Windermere Road - Eggerslack Wood - Hampsfell - Spring Bank - Grange-over-Sands.

Notes. Grange-over-Sands started life as a small fishing village, the arrival of the railway in 1857 transformed it into a popular seaside resort . The "over-Sands" suffix was added in the late 19th or early 20th century by the local vicar, who was fed up with his post going to Grange in Borrowdale. Hampsfell rises above Grange-over-Sands, it may only be a mere pimple rising to just over 722ft but the views from the hospice on it’s limestone summit are stunning. Well maybe not today, the whole of the north of England was enveloped in a grey shroud, visibility, poor to zero.

We had our apprentice with us granddaughter Luna, who never wants to go walking but thoroughly enjoys the experience. In a coffee shop in Grange later she spent some time explaining to my why we couldn’t see anything, she’d obviously been watching the weather forecast. Her final summing up “it would have been better staying at home” I’ll give her that, she was quite convincing, I told her it was the journey that counts and left her with that what you talking about look on her face.

We left Grange via Windermere Road soon ascending through Eggerslack Wood, heavily coppice in the past, the wood used to provide bobbins for the textile industry, it’s an interesting place to walk. After passing two abandoned concrete water tanks the boundary wall tilted into view, a stile allowed access to the fell side beyond. We ascended through limestone scenery into misty views, the next stile allowed access to the fell top, adorned with a squat limestone tower. This was Hampsfell Hospice built in 1846 by the vicar of Cartmel, the hospice has provided shelter for weary travelers ever since, on a clear day it boasts outstanding views, you’ll just have to take my word for that.

From the hospice we walked south a green trod guided us along a wide grassy ridge, a number of paths criss cross this ridge we ignored them all, after crossing another stile before ascending the next hill we took a left fork, this wide trod guided us below the slopes of Fell End ejecting us onto Spring Bank Lane. The path then ran parallel to the lane avoiding the farm, we soon found ourselves ascending the edge of a field containing a lime kiln, after crossing the next stile a muddy path guided us along the edge of a high boundary wall back into the streets of Grange, all that remained a long steep descent over tarmac to the coffee shop mentioned earlier.

view route map.

home.

The Ornamental Gardens, a quiet place to stroll.

Somebody's glad to be here.

Ascending through the tree cover of Eggerslack Wood.

One of two abandoned water tanks passed en route.

Misty views over limestone scenery.

Melting into the gloom Arnside Park.

From the slopes of Hampsfell stark views to the Newton Fells.

On these short rambles there's always time for a snack, Luna and Sue on the summit of Hampsfell.

The way ahead.

Hidden by the murk the Furness Peninsula, just visible tiny Chapel Island.

Overcast and somber best describes Morecambe Bay today.

Looking to sylvan Eden Mount with Arnside Knott rising grey beyond.

This is a view from above Spring Bank Farm, it's what I shall call over Limekiln Pasture views to Park Point and the Silverdale coast.

If this field isn't called Limekiln Pasture it should be, the view Hampsfell.

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