Slack Head from Arnside.
Start. Arnside (Briery Bank).
Route. Arnside - Hazelslack - Fairy Steps - Slack Head - Dollywood Lane - Arnside.
Notes. A late start today, Sue accompanied me to Arnside in the hope of capturing some Autumn colours, our day was spent wandering across green pastures, along ancient lanes, through woodland and over the odd stretch of tarmac, an afternoon when extensive views were replaced by the odd sparkle of gold, russet and red, maybe a promise of the delights to come this Autumn.
We left the car at the top of Briery Bank next to the Telephone Exchange, our route took us down hill to access the Limestone Link Footpath, across the railway line then through fields crossing Carr Bank Road before reaching Hazelslack Tower, here we crossed the Storth Road to enter more fields en route to Underlaid Wood home to the Fairy Steps. After ascending the highly pollished fissure in the face of Whin Scar we followed the main path through dence woodland, on reaching a small cairn and direction indicator we turned right to follow the path to Slack Head.
It seemed a rather long walk over tarmac through Slack Head before we entered Dollywood Lane, on this green lane we descended between hedge rows and dry stone walls eventually reaching Storth Road, here we made a left turn to reach the junction with Cold Well Lane, a short walk west brought us to a fingerpost directing us to Hagg Wood, after crossing long disused salt pits we passed under the railway line to make a sharp right, this path soon brought us to a farm from where we were able to enter and ascend through Hagg Wood to reach the Silverdale Road, all that remained, a short walk down hill over yet more tarmac to the waiting car.
Seen from Briery Bank, Underlaid Wood.
The South Lakeland skyline as viewed over the Kent Channel.
Moss Hall Wood seen from Carr Bank Lane.
In the fields above Hazelslack looking to Underlaid Wood.
A hint of Autumn, Underlaid Wood.
The Old Corps Route now part of the Limestone Link Footpath.
Autumn foliage lit by the afternoon sun.
Not so well known and not such a tight squeeze, the first set of Fairy Steps.
The Fairy Steps, "I'm sure this gap's got narrower over the years".
A stunning view from the top of the Fairy Steps, Arnside Knott and the Kent Channel.
Sue emerges at the top of the Fairy Steps.
On the Limestone Link path heading to Slack Head.
Dollywood Lane.
Rising to the west the sylvan slopes of Arnside Knott seen from Dollywood Lane.
Striding out along Dollywood Lane with no views just the one ahead, oh! the one behind's just the same.
Seen from the salt pits near Black Dyke, Arnside Knott over Hagg Wood.
Looking to the dark silhouette of Middlebarrow Wood with Hagg Wood to the right.