FAIRSNAPE FELL. | bowlandclimber

I’ve used various alliterations based on Fair and Fairsnape in past titles, so lets just keep it simple today, Fairsnape Fell. The last time JD and I were up here was nearly four years ago – time for a revisit. I was pleased with his suggested pick up time of 10 am, even more so this morning with ice on the bird bath.

We were parked up in a little layby under Saddle End Farm at 10.30. The hoards all use the narrow lane below Fell Foot as we were to see later. It was steadily uphill for a long stretch but the sun was warm, there was no wind and the Skylarks were singing. Since my last visit here they have installed some of those green metal kissing gates. We just pottered along chatting, a few fell runners passed us on the way. This circuit used to be my training run, JD had  lengthier projects.

We take the driest way along the ridge and visit the highest point of Fairnsape, 522m. despite the deep mud surrounding it.

More boot sucking areas were skirted on the way to the trig point, Paddy’s Pole and shelter. There are always a few people about up here. The last time I bivied here for the night there was a crowd of campers. Today there was room for us in the shelter, newly equipped with benches, for a light lunch.

I have to admit it’s been a difficult few days with one death after another of my closest and dearest friends. As I intimated, conversation with JD is easy, we have similar interests and political views. But what I didn’t expect as we exchanged anecdotes, as you do, how often my recently departed pal Alan, the plastic bag man, came into the conversation. Al and I went back 40 years with many adventures on the way. We can’t all live for ever. 

As we headed along the ridge towards Parlick the crowds were coming up. I love this stretch with the views down into Bleasdale, across the Fylde and Morecambe Bay. A couple of gliders slid past.

Taking the easy traversing route to the west of Parlick we find that it has been very much improved in the last year, what was a badly eroded track was now a pleasant promenade and some more of those metal gates have been added. Yes and there below were the lines of parked cars if you look carefully.

We slunk off towards Wolfen Hall after negotiating an old wooden gate held up by string, time for a replacement metal one. Rather muddy paths had us back to Saddle End. It will take some time this year for the fields to dry out.

Back at the car I regretted I had no loose change for their excellent free range eggs.

A great day to be out. Good company and warm sunshine. 1300feet in six miles.

                                                             Looking back at Parlick and Fairsnape.

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