The Fairy Steps from Arnside.

Start. Arnside.

Route. Arnside - Station Road - Black Dyke Road - Arnside Moss - Hazelslack - Underlaid Wood - Fairy Steps - Cockshot Lane - Storth - Storth Road - Sandside - Station Road - Arnside.

Notes. I've encountered the demons of many a rambler today, not bovine lawnmowers (the humble cow), they're nearly all tucked up for the winter, not the fearsome farm dog, known to inflict panic into many a seasoned rambler, no a far more malignant predator, barbed wire. Why does it always make such a bloody mess? who on earth would invent something that cuts L shaped chunks out of everything it makes contact with, clothes, skin, etc, Josoph Glidden the pillock. I ruined an expensive gortex jacket today and my hand, alas my problems didn't end there. I'll be contacting the Ramblers Association prompt, a stretch of path I first walked with my uncle over 45 years ago has been woefully blocked with felled trees. Now that's off my chest shall we go a rambling.

I left Arnside via Station Road and Black Dyke Road, on reaching the foot of Briery Bank a finger-post pointed towards Arnside Moss, I followed said path, across the railway line to access a narrow fenced path, it was here I had my encounter with barbed wire. I squelched my way across a very wet moss, after picking my route carefully I reached Car Bank Road crossed to join field paths that would guide me to Hazelslack. At Hazelslack I stepped onto the old corps road, my guide through Underlaid Wood to the Fairy Steps. The Fairy Steps make for a perfect brew stop, I brewed before setting foot on a path that should have guided me above the Whin Scar cliffs to access the Beetham Fell trod.

Beetham Fell has had a trim, the tree cover cut back, the main route is now fenced, something to do with Phytophthora ramorum. a disease affecting only Larch trees, which as a matter of fact aren't indigenous to this country. The path I followed had trees deliberately felled across it and left to rot where they lay, no attempt had been made to cut a path, after a long torturous traverse I stumbled onto Beetham Fell with another rip in my jacket, splinters in my hands and claret running into my right boot, not a happy rambler.

I was soon striding north to be greeted by a small cairn and way-mark, I turned left to follow one of two paths leading to Cockshot Lane, after passing through walker friendly woodland, I stepped into Cockshot Lane, turned left and strolled into Storth. On reaching Four Lanes End I turned right into Storth Road, with tarmac under foot Storth Road ushered me passed smart bungerlows and houses. After passing the tiny village chapel a finger-post inviting me to Sandside, I obliged, in no time at all I was wandering along the main road to join the Arnside/Hincaster branch line at Sandside. I then wandered south the disused track bed made for easy walking back to Arnside and the delights of the Ye Olde Fighting Cocks.

view route map.

home.

Arnside seen from Arnside Moss.

The prospect north over Arnside Moss, the tree line marks the route of the Arnside/Hincaster railway, my guide later.

Sylvan Arnside Knott on view from the waterlogged fields of Arnside Moss.

Grey across the horizon, Underlaid Wood seen over Hazelslack.

Visited by many, The Fairy Steps.

Beetham Fell.

Seen from above the Fairy Steps, Hampsfell, the Kent Estuary and the white washed dwellings of Arnside.

Striding out through Underlaid Wood, destination Cockshot Lane.

Whitbarrow as seen from the Arnside/Hincaster rail link.

Looking south to Arnside.

Seen from the old railway line, now an excellent foot-path, Arnside Knott under a rather ominous looking cloud.

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