Hampsfell - Route Five

 

Start - Hampsfell Hall SD 391 805 Distance - 1.54 miles Ascent - 555 feet Time - 55 minutes

 

 

Hampsfell from the Hampsfell Hall Farm access lane which leads off Old Town Hill road. There is a long lay-by a little further along the road which provides ample parking 
Approaching Hampsfell Hall Farm
A signpost indicates the right of way which leads along a farm track between the barns
Hampsfell Hall was built in 1635.  Behind the Hall, a little further up the slope, are the remains of a medieval pele tower which was demolished in 1814 and its materials used to extend the farm's outbuidings
The farm track is only followed for 250 yards to a gate which gives access to a green path rising through a pasture
The path climbs up to and follows the edge of Heaning Wood
looking over to the Coniston Fells
looking over to White Stone and Saskills on Newton Fell
A gate by the edge of Heaning Wood gives access to another pasture
A distant view of thhe Langdale Pikes from the gate
The Coniston Fells from higher on the second pasture
The path curves around the edge of Heaning Wood at the top of the pasture
Saskills from the top of the second pasture
Another gate gives access to Forestry Commission land
The path splits we take the right fork which climbs south through Hampsfield Allotment
The thin path initially passes through a dense area of coppiced trees .....
..... but soon emerges onto more open slopes
The Forestry Commission have removed all of the pine trees in Hampsfield Allotment to allow the native trees to regenerate
Newton Fell from Hampsfield Allotment
The Langdale Pikes over Denning Wood
The path broadens as it gains height through the sparse woodland
Cartmel comes into view, the stumps of the pine trees can be seen on the slope above Denning Wood 
Approaching the two erratic limestone boulders known as Robin Hood and Little John
The Coniston Fells and the Langdale Pikes across the Cartmel Valley
Cartmel from one of the boulders which is about six feet high
The upper part of the Cartmel Valley
Robin Hood and Little John ....or is the other way round!
The summit of Hampsfell comes into view
Looking across the middle part of the Cartmel Valley
The Forestry Commission uses conservation grazing by cattle to aid regenaration, this calf is busy nibbling away at some invasive thorn shrubbery
To the left is a long line of limestone escarpment
Looking back some of the higher fells appear on the horizon incuding Helvellyn, Red Screes and High Street
Leaving Hampsfell Allotment by a handgate in its enclosure wall
The path splits beyond Hampsfell Allotment enclosure wall .....
..... we continue on the left branch as it runs below the limestone escarpment
Looking back to the handgate in the Hampsfield Allotment enclosure wall
The path approaches a wide gap in the limestone escarpment
The Coniston Fells from the gap in the limestone escarpment
A path continues on through the gap to approach the summit from the east
We continue straight ahead directly towards the summit
Looking over the escarpment gap to the Kent Estuary
The summit should come into view on passing the tree on the right
Lots of cattle on the fell today
The hospice on the summit comes into view
Approaching Hampsfell Hospice
The Reverend Thomas Remington who was vicar of Cartmel between 1835-1854 made a habit of walking to the top of Hampsfell every morning before breakfast and in thanksgiving for all the beauty he had seen, he had the hospice built as a shelter for travellers.  There are stone steps inset into the north wall to access the roof which serves as a viewing platform.  The interior is furnished with stone seats and a fireplace
Looking north from the summit of Hampsfell to Helvellyn and Red Screes on the left with the Far Eastern Fells of Caudale Moor and High Street on the right
The Howgills from the summit of Hampsfell
Ingleborough from the summit of Hampsfell
The Kent Estuary from the summit of Hampsfell 
The  Forest of Bowland hills from the summit of Hampsfell
Morecambe Bay from the summit of Hampsfell
The Leven Estuary and the Furness Peninsula from the summit of Hampsfell
Black Combe from the summit of Hampsfell
The Coniston Fells from the summit of Hampsfell

 

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