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.

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It's the May Bank Holiday Monday and we have other plans for the afternoon so it's an early start and we are parked up on the Grange to Cartmel road at Spring Bank around 08:45hrs. This short walk over Hampsfell is always a pleasant experience but on days such as today it is a joy.

Route Map

We left the car at the roadside near the lane to Spring Bank.

As we walked up the lane slowly gaining height the views down Morecambe Bay were good and clear.

Looking over Spring Bank into the sun, towards Arnside Knott.

The lane is classified as a B.O.A.T (By-way open to all traffic) but I have only ever seen it used by the farmer.

Another look back and the wooded headland of Humphrey Head can just be seen on the far right.

A look up towards our destination. There is a path up from just past this spot but we will not be using it.

Not content with feeding the horses on our walks, Dr Doolittle as now taken on the job of feeding the cows!!

High Farm

A look back to High Farm as we leave the B.O.A.T. to take a path along the top of Eggerslack Woods

We followed the path along the top of the woods.....

......where there were lots of orchids to admire along the way.

A short distance after leaving the woods we turned up this path which wends its way up the fellside in a couple of large zig-zags. Impatient travellers in their haste to reach the top have cut the corners in a few places but I urge you not to do the same or you will miss some good views. The path is the bridleway from Grange to Longlands.

The tops of some familiar friends come into view as we gain a little height.

Looking into the sun towards Clough Pike and the hills of Bowland.

The path we are following is well trodden and leads up to a gate in the wall....

.....which after passing through it becomes less distinct as it passes through some limestone outcrops but it is waymarked.

There was lots of fine looking orchids in this area.

Looking eastwards over Whitbarrow

Eastern & Far Eastern Fells over Newton Fell.

We carried on along the waymarked track for a while and then near its highest point turned off to the left.

Lots more orchids (l) around here and a nice view across the Cartmel Peninsula and Levens Estuary to the Furness Peninsula and the windfarm off Walney Island (r)

A look down to Cartmel with Howbarrow behind.

The Coniston Fells

We made our way to The Hospice on the summit. For more information regarding this click HERE (opens in new page)

Again into the sun, a view across the Kent Estuary to Arnside Knott and a distant Ingleborough.

Hospice & Orchids......sounds a bit like a TV programme ;-)

The Conistons beyond the limestone pavement.

Our return route is a gentle descent southwards along the crest of the ridge.

The stunted trees give a good indication of the direction of the prevailing winds.

Close up Conistons.

And a wider view.

Looking to the Furness Peninsula

The delightful but usually busy Cartmel village

A time check!!

The Cairn on Fell End with the Conistons behind.

Towards home with the OFL of Humphrey Head in centre picture.

And finally......Arnside Knott with Ingleborough behind.

Next Walk:      3rd May 2011 - Arnside & Silverdale AONB - A south Silverdale tour

Last Walk:       30th April 2011 - South Cumbria - Holme Park Fell & Farleton Knott

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