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.

After a really bad nights sleep which ended with me laid on the settee watching Bear Grylls in the Ring of Fire and Alaska at some unearthly hour I knew that if I left going for a walk until later in the day I would probably not bother. Edith wanted to be back by midday to spend some time in the garden which meant no travelling so we found ourselves at 8:20am on the RSPB Visitor Centre car pack at Leighton Moss with the place to ourselves. I last did this walk in this direction on the 1st February 2009 before my lungs were damaged with the Methotrexate medication that I had just started taking. I did it that day with Steve & Lorraine from the Online Fellwalking Club and I was delighted to find that it only took us 5 minutes longer today, but on the last occasion we probably spent longer taking pictures and admiring the views.

The Route

Having parked the car at the Visitor Centre we walked up the road towards the causeway across Leighton Moss. Here we are looking across the moss to Grisedale Wood and Moss House Farm.

A rather "wonky" signpost points to the causeway across the moss.

The main pool from the public hide.

There didn't seem to be much action but I'm no twitcher.

No reflections at my favourite spot today. There's a good breeze.

A look back as we leave the moss.

Grisedale Farm.

These youngsters hadn't woken up yet!!

"Do I have to get up?"

Leighton Hall....The historic home of the world-renowned Gillow furniture making family......More Info......HERE

From the hall there is a public right of way up the small hill. The rest of the grounds are private.

A view to the Coniston Fells as we climb the hill.

And from the top a view over to Grange with Black Combe peeking out.

There then follows a short walk down the road towards Three Brothers....

......which can be seen over the wall.....

.....and is entered by this lane at what is shown on the OS map as Piggeries.

I love walking through here. Despite the lack of views it is an area that is constantly changing. At the gate ahead we enter a lane known as the old coach road. Turn right......

....and in a few yards enter the Warton Crag Nature Reserve. Follow the gently rising path and in no time at all.....

.....we arrive at the summit with its Trig point and leaning beacon.

A great viewpoint for looking down the bay towards Morecambe.

And not half bad for looking over Jenny Browns Point towards Grange and Black Combe.

Another delightful path through woods and mossy limestone leads us towards the old coach road...

.....which we follow down towards Crag Foot

The old chimney is all that remains of the old pumping house that used to keep Leighton Moss dry.

From Crag Foot there is a short road walk back to the Visitor Centre passing the listed buildings of Slackwood Farm which is undergoing renovation work. I'm not sure but I think this is going to be a combined AONB/RSPB Visitor Centre.

Nearly back as we pass the practise green at Silverdale Golf Club.

And finally.....the RSPB Visitor Centre at Leighton Moss

Next Walk:   15th August 2010 - South Cumbria - The Helm at Natland  

Last Walk:     12th August 2010 - Arnside & Silverdale - 100 up on Arnside Knot!!!

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