Name of walk	Hampsfell and Kirkhead Tower
Date of walk	2010-04-08

Yesterday afternoon was warm and sunny so Ged, Kas and I went to Grange Over Sands to walk up Hampsfell (727ft). The circular walk is from Wainwright`s Outlying Fells book. It is very easy and only three and a half miles long, beginning and ending at the car park up behind the Clock Tower. Later in the afternoon we detoured to look at Kirkhead Tower and the lambs.

View to Arnside knott from the car park.

We headed off up the Grange Fell Road for about a mile and then took a right via a stile in the wall which is sign posted for Hampsfell and walked up amongst the gorse bushes to the top of Fell End.

The cairn on Fell End. Cartmel Village on the left.

Close up of Cartmel and the 11th century Priory. When I taught at Cartmel Priory I used to take the students on cross counry runs through the village, over the racetrack and into the woods behind. It was always my favourite activity, but four consecutive lessons in one morning was my limit! Part of School Sports Day always included a whole school run up Hampsfell and back.

Dow Crag, Coniston Old Man, Swirl How and Wetherlam.

Route to Hamsfell Hospice.

The Hospice comes into view.

The Hospice was constructed in 1846 by the vicar of Cartmel. On the top is a list of fells with numbers beside them. You move the pointer around the numbers to identify which fell is which. The Greek inscription on the front translates as "rosy-fingered dawn".

One of four notices inside the Hospice.

West view. Part of the fell list can be seen on the right.

South view.

View north from the top over the limestone pavement.

On top of the limestone pavement.

We headed east off the fell and joined the wide track beside Eggerslack Woods. Tiny lambs!

Sooo cute!

We then joined the Hampsfell Road path that leads back down to the car park.

An old Lime Kiln.

Once we reached Grange we took a walk around the duck pond. I used to take Tom here when he was small as they have lots of interesting duck and goose species.

Pintail.

Eider duck

Red Crested Pochard.

Mandarin duck.

and my favourite, the Carolina Wood duck.

On the way back we stopped off at Kents Bank to investigate the folly you can see on the hill on Kirkhead. We located an access point on the road down to the station. Kirkhead Tower

View from the steps.

View out from inside.

Allithwaite on the left.

Lots of lambs in this field too.