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.

It was our eldest granddaughters 11th birthday today and we we had promised to attend a party for her in the early afternoon. With it being the Bank Holiday weekend I had originally decided not to bother going for a walk but it was such a nice morning that I decided to do this short walk. It is only a 20 minute drive away so a 8am start at me back in plenty of time. Edith decided to catch up in her garden so I was by myself.

I left the car in our usual parking space near to Crag Foot and walked back to Crag Foot passing the area belonging to the RSPB at Leighton Moss.

From Crag Foot looking towards Leighton Moss. At one point in time this area was kept clear of water by a pump at Crag Foot. Nowadays however it is one of the RSPB's Nature Reserves and always a very popular place. From Crag Foot I walked up the old quarry road for some way.

After a short distance on your left this lane turns off. It is signposted The Old Coach Road. I'm not sure whether coaches actually used the lane or not but if they did I hope the seats were well cushioned because it's very rough in places.

I hadn't gone very far along the lane when I came across this little fella laying in the sun. At first because of it's part missing body/tail I thought it was dead but a gentle prod sent it scurrying away a short distance. Should I have put it out of its misery?.....I wasn't sure what it even was. An internet search later makes me think it was a slow worm which can survive with part of there body missing.....hope I was right!

Looking down the bay towards home as I get a little higher.

There two sections are probably the best surface on the Coach Road, some lengths are very lumpy.

At this gate I left the lane to walk through the reserve towards the summit.

Although there are very few views walking through here I just love it. Every time is different, even the limestone seems to have different moods.

If you have time just a short venture away from the well trodden path will reveal lovely limestone pavements and moss covered rocks.

The woods begin to thin as I approach the summit.

The summit Trig Point and the leaning beacon.

Looking over the salt marsh to Jenny Browns Point and over the River Kent estuary to Grange over Sands. The highest point in mid picture is Black Combe the southernmost of AW's Outlying Fells of Lakeland.

The Coniston Fells over Arnside Knott.

And after a fight with the shrubbery a view to the Fairfiled Fells over Whitbarrow.

With the tide out the many channels that spell danger to the unwary can be seen as I look down the bay to Heysham. A little to the left of the two Power Stations a white object can be seen, this is the Fleetwood to Belfast cargo ferry.

The bluebells were starting to flower but are a few weeks behind normal years.

Taken into the early morning sun, a look to the hills of the Forest of Bowland.

And to a distant Ingleborough.

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Making my way down through the woods to pick up the Coach Road again.

Having reached the Coach Road I followed it down a short way before taking the path through the area known as Three Brothers.

All very pleasant and easy walking.

At the bottom of this path I would turn left on the minor road for a couple of hundred yards before taking another path which would return me to Crag Foot.

The path initially is a quite broad track...

....make sure to take the path off to the right at the fingerpost ahead.

The path, now a narrower track starts to descend. It is quite well waymarked.

Keep an eye out for the Orchids, there are usually a few about.

Nearly back now as the environs of Leighton Moss come into view.

On a clear day you may even get a backdrop of Eastern and Far Eastern Lakeland fells.

The last section of the walk is through the richly scented woods down to Crag Foot.

The chimney is all that remains of the pumphouse that used to keep Leighton Moss dry.

All that remains is the short walk back to the car.

Next Walk:    3rd May 2010 - Lake District - Potter Fell

Last Walk:     30th April 2010 - Lake District - Sizergh Fell

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