For those of you that are thinking of going onto the hills I would strongly recommend that you read the advice given by the Mountain Rescue organisation of England and Wales. To read this advice, which will open in a new page please click HERE. If you would like to make a donation to the Mountain Rescue organisation which is purely voluntary please click HERE. Please make the time to read the advice page.

When AW did Hampsfell in his "Outlying Fells of Lakeland " book he started the walk from Grange over Sands with a mile walk up the Grange Fell road. I'm not sure of his reasons for starting at Grange as by this time he had trnsport available to him, but today I decided on something a little different. My reasons for this were twofold, one, my fondest for a cuppa and a scone part way round a walk, and two, and more seriously the breathlessness that I have been having since starting the Methotrexate was a lot worse and is now accompanied by a dry cough. By starting the walk at the top of the Grange Fell road it gave me the option of an "out and back" walk to the summit or, as we did, a visit to the delightful village of Cartmel with it's fine Priory.

There are a number of small "pull ins" available near the top of the Grange Fell road from where we started the walk

The path took us past the Golf Course. Our path went upwards to the right here. The path seen alongside the fence goes towards Cartmel and can be used on the way back to avoid road walking.

Looking over Cartmel Sands towards the Furness peninsula as we gain height

The cairn on Fell End with the Lakeland Fells behind.

A look over the Kent estuary towards Arnside Knott with Farleton Fell and Hutton Roof Crags behind.

At the cross wall we came across this old tank. Must have passed it loads of time without taking any notice. Strangely it appeared to have no outlet at the bottom.

Looking down to Cartmel with How Barrow behind.

Before long the summit with it's Hospice came into view.

Looking back along the well trodden path

A patch of limestone pavement near the summit complete with wind swept trees

The summit Hospice. The chains are to keep the cows out.

Built in 1846 by the vicar of Cartmel, Hampsfell Hospice has provided shelter for travellers ever since.

The four panels as described by AW on the walls

Looks like the Hospice as been used recently

From the Hospice we just headed N'wards.....

...and in a short time came to this cross wall. Ignoring the gate in it we took the path that first follows the wall down....

...and then swings round to the left to descend S'wards.

The path eventually drops down to pass through Longlands to the right of the walled garden.

I'm not sure what this tower on the hillside near Longlands is.

Longlands

Emerging onto the quiet road at Longlands we had a short walk to Cartmel overlooked by Hampsfell

The priory clock was striking noon as we entered the village

A magnificent building

After visiting the Priory we had a walk around the village and a visit to "The Mallard Tea Room" ....hot toasted crumpets .....yummy

Anybody still got one?

After a walk around it ws time to make our way back to the car. Like AW's walk this involves a bit of road walking but it is with better views than the streets of Grange. It is possible, if your not wheezing like I to avoid over half of the road walking by taking the path over the Golf Course shown in the second picture or to avoid it altogether by taking the Cistercian Way fro Cartmel back onto the ridge near Fell End.

Today my choice was the road and before long we were back at the car.

Next Walk:      16th October 2008 -- Lake District -- Rydal Water & Grasmere circuit from Pelter Bridge

Last Walk:       5th October 2008 -- Lake District -- Beacon Fell from Brown Howe

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