Arnside & Silverdale Walks
Farleton Fell & Holme Park Fell
Date: 13th March 2013
Distance: 6.0 miles
Ascent: 984ft
Time: 4 hours
With: On my own
Start Grid Ref: SD541821
Walk Summary:
Superb limestone scenery, wonderful long distance views and a lovely section of canal towpath made this walk on to Farleton Fell a day to remember.
Route Summary: Moss Side - Nook Bridge - Aikbank - Puddlemire Lane - Farleton Fell - Newbiggin Crags - Holme Park Fell - Farleton Knott - Duke's Bridge - Lancaster Canal - Moss Side
Pictures:
1. The gorse lined path climbing Farleton Fell
2. A lone tree on a limestone outcrop
3. Ingleborough from Newbiggin Crags
4. The snow covered Howgill Fells as seen from Newbiggin Crags
5. Hutton Roof Crags from some limestone pavement on Newbiggin Crags
6. The view towards Warton Crag
7. Entering the National Trust owned Holme Park Fell
8. Warton Crag from the limestone scar of Holme Park Fell
9. Farleton Knott from a limestone scar on Holme Park Fell
10. A zoom in on the Langdale Pikes in the Lake District
11. Arnside Knott
12. On the top of Holme Park Fell
13. The distant Howgill Fells as seen from the top of Holme Park Fell
14. The cairn on Farleton Knott
15. Holme Park Fell from Farleton Knott
16. The Lancaster Canal
17. Farleton Fell from the Lancaster Canal
18. Looking back towards Farleton Fell
Video:
Walk Detail: After another bout of snowfall and the risk of further snow showers I didn't fancy heading into the higher hills. Instead I decided to head for Farleton Fell, situated just to the south-east of the junction of the A65 and M6, and whose height is much lower than its steep slopes suggest.
The first mile or so from Moss Side to Puddlemire Lane was fairly uneventful, the highlight being a field full of young lambs frolicking in the early spring sunshine. From Puddlemire Lane I took a track along the base of the fell before doubling back up a slanting path which was soon lined with gorse. Quickly gaining height I soon began to enjoy some wide ranging views, a major feature of this walk, towards the Lakeland Fells, Howgill Fells and the Dales.
After reaching a grassy plateau I passed through a wall to arrive at Newbiggin Crags which, in addition to some fine limestone scenery, had some particularly impressive views towards Ingleborough. A wide grassy path contoured above and below limestone outcrops to a super section of limestone pavement before dropping down through a couple of sheep pastures to cross into the National Trust owned Holme Park Fell.
Perhaps the finest section of the walk was the climb to the top of Holme Park Fell on a grass ledge between a substantial crag on my left and tilted limestone outcrops to my right. By this time the views were west over the M6 to Warton Crag and Arnside Knott in the Arnside and Silverdale AONB. Looking back, to the south, I could also see Ward's Stone, Grit Fell and Clougha Pike in the Forest of Bowland.
The weather was perfect for walking with plenty of sunshine and broken cloud cover, there was a slight breeze and the long distance visibility was superb. Upon reaching the top of Holme Park Fell, at 265m the modest high point of the walk, I could clearly make out a number of individual Lakeland fells, over 20 miles away, from Dow Crag round to Ullscarf. In particular the view of the Langdale fells was simply stunning considering how far away I was.
From Holme Park Fell I dropped down to a nearby wall and crossed back to Farleton Fell and then on to the cairn on Farleton Knott. From the cairn it was a steep descent, in the latter stages on a thin slippery path through head high gorse - shorts would definitely not be advisable even in the summer!
The final section was a walk back to the start via the Lancaster Canal on a grassy towpath. It proved to be an idyllic end to the walk with the blue sky reflected in the still waters of the canal, great views back to Farleton Fell and a swan that went passed me a couple of time, most memorably as it flew along the canal as I was filming myself walking along the towpath.
This was a fabulous walk and one that I would highly recommend to anyone. Try saving it for a day with good visibility but even if that is not possible the limestone scenery and walk along the canal would still provide ample reward.
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