February 20th Strenuous

Walk:	Arnside, Arnside Knott, Castlebarrow (Pepperpot), Hawes Water, Hazelslack, Fairy Steps, Storth, Arnside
Start Point:	Arnside	Grid Reference:	SD 453 786
Distance:	13 miles	Ascent:	1,670 feet
Time:	6 hours
Weather:	Very mild, cloudy day
Comments:	Six set off from Arnside following the coast around Arnside Park before ascending up onto Arnside Knott where we made our first stop of the day for our tea / coffee break. Unfortunately, the splendid views that can be had from here, across to the Lakes in the north and west to the Pennines, were not to be had today due to the low lying cloud. We dropped down from the Knott passing Arnside Tower on our way to the Pepper Pot at the summit of Castlebarrow. The Pepper Pot was built to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria and Arnside Tower was built around 1340 as a Pele Tower. Click on the link for more information on the tower. http://beatingthebounds.wordpress.com/arnside-tower/ We dropped down from the Pepper Pot to skirt past Hawes water and on to Hazelslack from where we made our way up to the Fairy Steps. This is where a narrow passage squeezes between two sheer rock faces via a flight of natural stone steps. Legend has it that the fairies will grant you a wish if you are able to climb the steps without touching the sides of the narrow gully. Try as we did we were unable to see the fairies. We stopped here for lunch before dropping back down through the village of Storth to the coast from where we followed a very well maintained grassy footpath to the “Harry Potter” like railway station at Arnside where trains appeared to be departing in both direction what ever time you arrived at the station! A good time was had by all.

Sunday, 20th February 2011