13.4 miles / 21.6km with 2530ft / 770m Total Ascent
This walk visits two hills clearly seen from the
A590, but not so often visited. The first is the limestone escarpment of
Whitbarrow, its white cliffs dominating the road. The second is Dixon
Heights, part Newton Fell, with its bracken covered slopes, ruined tower
and fell ponies. Finally, returning to limestone, we climb Hampsfell
before descending to Grange-over-Sands.
We leave the coach at the bus stop on the A590 immediately after the turn off to Mill Side and Beck Head. We head towards Mill Side, then Low Fell End and follow a winding path through the woods onto Whitbarrow. We continue on the path along the escarpment past Lord´s Seat, then turn left and follow the wall to descend via Bell Rake, before heading to Witherslack church via High Park Wood and Yewbarrow.
From Witherslack church we take the path to Bleacrag Road, then along Holme Road and Back o´ th´ Fell Road, where we take the footpath to Tom Tarn. Here we take a quick detour to the top of Dixon Heights before returning to Tom Tarn, then continuing past Eller How and crossing the A590 towards Hollow Lane.
If time permits we will head westwards past
Great Wood and climb Hampsfell from the north before descending to
Grange-over-Sands. Alternatively we can go directly to Grange-over-Sands
via Hampsfield, Merlewood and Eggerslack Wood.
9 miles / 15km with 1500ft / 457m Ascent.
From Grange climb steeply through Eggerslack Wood to Hampsfell Hospice. Descend northerly through Hampsfell Allotments turning south then west past Hampsfell Hall. Briefly left onto road and right over a stile and across the field. Right onto a road taking a path on left to Broughton Hall, lunch at a barn on the way.
Continue on a network of paths, tracks and minor roads passing Beck Side, Wall Nook, Hard Crag Wood to the road at Well Knowe. Cross this taking a path which goes through woods and down to Cartmel racecourse. go through Cartmel, up Hampsfell again past Pitts Farm descending before the summit via Fell End to Spring Bank and Grange.
7 miles / 11.26km with 1076ft / 328m Total Ascent
From the car park we make our way to the clock tower where the walk starts. We then walk up Hampsfell Road climbing gently to reach the summit of Hampsfell where a hospice was built in 1846 to provide a shelter for travellers. Here we have spectacular views of Old Man of Coniston, the Langdales and Morecambe Bay.
Heading South we head for a cairn at Fell End before descending to the road to make our way to Allithwaite crossing green pastures. We then descend down hill until we reach Kents Bank Station, turning left here and down some steps to meet a path which follows the railway line. Passing the Lido (now undergoing renovations) which was the location for a scene in the first series of the crime drama The Bay, from here is a stroll along the promenade back to Grange for refreshments.
5.5 miles / 8.9km with 500ft / 152m Ascent.
From Grange coach park (toilets nearby) we wind our way through Eden Mount, climbing gradually to Nutwood Manor and on to High Farm. Most of the climbiing has been completed at this point. Turning west along good tracks, we reach Spring Bank, where, hopefully we have wonderful views towards the estuary. Continuing along this track we come to the road, which we cross to reach High Fell Gate Caravan Park.
Continuing along the road, we reach a stile, which leads into a field and where we cross and eventually drop down to Allithwaite. From here it is mostly road walking until we reach Kent´s Bank where we join the coastal road back to Grange.