WADDINGTON FELL, BEACON HILL & EASINGTON FELL

 


Summary

Date - 30th May 2015 Distance - 8.75 miles
Ascent -
1360ft
Map - OL41
Start point - Parking at Newton Fell Road top (SD 7189 4805)

 

Summits Achieved

Name Height (ft) Height (m) Grid Ref
Waddington Fell 1297 395 SD 7148 4749
Beacon Hill 1001 305 SD 7538 4807
Easington Fell 1300 396 SD 7303 4868

 

Preface

We were all settled having tea and cakes, as usual. "This mincemeat slice is quite delicious Grizzly", said Southey.

"It's Little Eric you have to thank for it actually", he replied. "I have had a day off from baking."

Our thoughts now turning inevitably to walking, Tetley said, "that was quite a walk over Burn Moor and White Hill. So perhaps we should find something a bit less demanding for the next in our exploration of the Bowland Fells."

"We did at least get one of the hardest out of the way", replied Allen, who had picked up the print out of the summits.

Looking over his shoulder Shaun suggested, "how about we look at Easington Fell."

I'll get the map ", called out Little Eric, and meanwhile Allen had grabbed the iPad and searched for walks to it.

The map was spread out and the fell located. "There is a walk here that is about 9 miles, starting from a road side parking area below Waddington Fell."

"That is in the opposite direction, but has a trig point and it is not far, so we should take that in too, adding to our overall total", suggested Shaun.

"Agreed", replied Tetley.

With Allen reading out the instructions the the route was progressively highlighted. Grizzly pointed out, "Beacon Hill is not on our listing either, but has a trig point, so that is another we can include."

"That's three summits then", cheered Southey. "Great!"

"OK now all that remains is to see what Dad thinks", said Allen, draining his mug and picking up the map.

"Oh I hope Dad will like our suggestion", said Southey.

"I am sure he will, as for one it will be easier walking than last time", said Little Eric, giving his pal a pat on the shoulder.

Just minutes later Allen returned, and the smile on his face told us all was well. Without him needing to say anything Tetley cheered, "Roll on Saturday."

 

The Walk

So on a day that was dry with some sun, but still windy as it seems to be perennially at present, we called out goodbyes to Uncle Brian as we dashed out to settle in the car.

Our route was out past Williamson Park in Lancaster and on the road through the Trough of Bowland towards Slaidburn. Coming to Newton in Bowland, Dad turned off to take the road signed to Waddington, passing the Parkers Arms.

"That is nostalgic for me", said Dad. "I used to come here many years ago with my mum and dad. Happy times", he said rather wistfully.

The road climbed steadily to its summit where on the left was the parking area marking our start. As Dad got ready we looked about.

"Pointing across the moor Tetley said, "that's Easington Fell our last summit."

Shaun then directed, "Waddington Fell is first, and we take that grassy path on the opposite side of the road."

Just look at those lambs sitting peacefully by that long grass", said Southey mischievously.

"You're just trying to wind me up", replied Allen. Then seeing Dad had the camera in hand, conceded, "no sheep picture free story yet again."

"Right Lads, get settled".

"OK Dad", said Little Eric.

Across the road we started up the grassy track, leaving the parking area, where there was just Dad's and one other car.

The gradient soon eased as we came by the fence surrounding the huge hole of Waddington Fell Quarry.

" It's like a giant bite has been taken out of the fell", laughed Allen.

The clear path led on round the quarry, with numerous warning signs to keep out, being affixed to the fence.

Tetley called out, "there's Parlick and Fair Snape Fell, which was the trigger for our latest challenge."

"To get to the summit we should follow the fence right", instructed Shaun.

Shortly the fence became a wall at a corner, where the trig point marking the summit was just a few yards to the right.

"I know it's a bit windy, but can we try and sit on top for our picture?", asked Southey.

"Sure lads", replied Dad. "You are good at hanging in there."

This part of the walk was a spur off the main route, so now it was necessary to return to the car park. Here Shaun said, "we go right a little way and then take the signed track across Tagglesmire."

The gate was padlocked, but a stile had been provided over the fence on the left. The track stretched away before us, having been reinforced in places, using discarded bricks.

"Accrington bricks", remarked Southey.

"They have a very distinctive red colour, and the many many houses built using them were instantly recognisable", said Dad.

"What do the initials 'NORI' mean?", asked Southey.

None of us could provide and answer just then but thanks to again to Wikipedia this was solved. The most commonly thought theory is that the letters IRON were accidentally placed backwards in the brick moulds thus spelling NORI. The bricks were produced from 1887 to 2008 when Hanson closed the factory citing the recession and standstill in house building. After a brief reopening in between August and November 2009 it closed again after a span of 122 years. By 2013 the site was up for sale, but with an upturn in the housing market it was decided in 2014 to reopen the factory. This happened early in 2015, the prime minister David Cameron performing the opening ceremony. Hanson say the works have the capacity to produce 45 million bricks per year.

After a gate the path went slightly right at an old gateway.

Through this we climbed above an angled wall to reach the woodland and a stony and grassy track. "It's right here", said Shaun.

The view in front was commanded by a distinctive fell. "That's Pendle Hill", said Grizzly.

"And one we have to climb in the challenge, being in a part of the Forest of Bowland that is separate from the main area", went on Allen.

"How about we make that the last one then?", suggested Shaun.

"I like that idea", agreed Tetley. There were murmurs of agreement from the rest of us too.

Pretty much arrow straight by the woodland the track led through two gates, becoming surfaced after the second. At a sharp corner, Allen called out, "look a seat. Let's stop for lunch."

"You're always hungry, just like Dad", laughed Southey.

We all munched away happily having the sandwiches and cake with tea to follow. Then refreshed we posed for our picture, prior to setting off again.

Heading downhill the track came to a road. "We go on along the road to a corner", advised Shaun. "Then it's off left on a narrow path that climbs through woods."

"We will come to a junction where we go left", said Shaun.

Dad did this and we followed a forest track down to a cross paths, and went on ahead. Checking the GPS Tetley said, "we seem to be going away from the location of Beacon Hill."

Stopping Dad and Shaun looked at the map and realised that in fact this was the path for later, so we had to backtrack.

"I'm sorry", said Shaun. "I seem to have got us off route."

"Not to worry lad", replied Dad, "We'll sort it out."

Retracing along the track, Tetley said, "no this is still not right."

So Dad turned round and soon noticed a path right. "This where we want to go", he said decisively.

Soon we were passing waymarks on the path that is gloriously called Shivering Ginnel!

"You were right", said Tetley looking at the GPS again.

This was rather boggy in places as it climbed gently crossing two stiles and reaching a gate.

"Look", whispered Little Eric. "there are two deer over to the left.

"There's the trig point on Beacon Hill", said Allen.

Through the gate it was just a short walk to it, and again we hung in to have our picture sitting on top.

A superb viewpoint in all directions, Tetley commented, "that is why it got it's name. Long ago before modern communications, the only way of giving warnings would be to light beacons on prominent hill tops. So around here we have Beacon Hill, and over there Beacon Fell", Tetley pointed.

"One such example was the lighting a string of beacons across the country to warn of the impending arrival of the Spanish Armada", added Grizzly.

Walking back, Shaun was looking at the map and said, "on the path from the road, we should have actually crossed the first track to get to the right path. I'm sorry Dad."

"Hey, don't worry", replied Dad. "All's well that ends well."

"Good title for a play", laughed Tetley.

Coming to the track, Shaun said, "Strictly speaking we should cross and then circle round to the right, but it's easier if we go right, and then onto that wide waymarked track, we started along before."

Woodland enclosed the track on the left, but for a the first section it was open to the right where the trees had been felled. "Nice to have the views", said Little Eric. "That's Ingleborough we can see, its profile is unmistakable."

At a gate the woodland closed in on both sides, and the dry track turned boggy. Eventually we exited the woodland by a gate left on to open fell.

A clear path climbed to come by the wall on the right to the end of wood.

"Where now?", asked Southey.

"Right by the woods to there far end again, and onto the the summit of Easington Fell."

Although the wall had been broken, Allen said, "there is the remains of a step stile, so it must be a proper path."

It was a bit of a rough traverse but soon we were came to the cross wall, and the cairn at the summit could be seen. "There's no stile in the wall", said Southey.

"I'm not going round in a wide circle being so close to the summit, so there is nothing for it but to climb these two fences to get on to open fell", said Dad firmly.

That done a clear path climbed gently the short way to the cairn on Easington Fell. The arrangement of the large stones on one side making a seat to sit for our picture.

Settled again, Shaun now said, "we need to retrace and follow the wall down to where it bends away left, then go on half left to intersect with a track.

This grassy track was then followed down to the road and where we turned left to the car, passing this ewe with its sleepy lamb.

"Hmph", complained Allen. "So this tale starts and ends with a sheep picture!"

"That was a good day. Thanks Dad", said Southey.

"And another three Bowland summit ticked off", added Little Eric.

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