Fair Snape Fell and More 14th August 2010

The upper sections of Saddle Fell and across the valley Wolf Fell.

Parlick from the slopes of Fair Snape Fell.

Educational flower beds at Chipping, learning about the butterflies and bees.

Dave realises that we've missed out a bit of the walk!

Martyn at the trig point on Fair Snape Fell.

Dave and Richard a the trig point on Fair Snape Fell.

Walk stats: Distance:10.2 miles; Climb:1938'.

Time:5 hours 38 minutes; On the move walking average:2.1 m.p.h.; Overall walk average:1.8 m.p.h.

Group:Martyn, Richard and Dave J.

A good day weather wise, no rain, quite a bit of Sun and a cool breeze.

Chipping village has a good car park that doesn't charge an arm an a leg, and an like Slaidburn the toilets were excellent. The track across Saddle Fell was a gentle grassy track, but on the opposite side of the valley on Wolf Fell a grouse shoot was taking place. We didn't hear the guns fire very often, so I don't think many grouse were shot. I think more grouse were on our part of the fells, I wonder if they knew!

Once on the top of the fell, the path soon weaved its way through the peat hags and bogs, but thankfully no-one got wet feet and we didn't find any unexploded ordnance!

Having missed out a part of the walk, looking at the map afterwards it was probably a good mistake to make, we decided to do a there and back to Fiendsdale Head before heading for Fair Snape Fell. It was a there and back, but to make it a little different, we followed the East side of the fence on the way out and the West side on the return.

Lunch was taken, sheltering from the cool wind with a peat hag to our backs and views of Blackpool tower in front of us.

Dave kindly provided small sponge cakes from Libby's first birthday party yesterday.

The ridge from Fair Snape Fell to Parlick was probably the best part of the walk, and probably explains why were saw lots of people on this section.

From Fell Foot, we decided to use field paths as much as we could back to Chipping.

Birds seen or heard included:House sparrow, Barn swallow, Red grouse, Red-legged partridge, Snipe, Dipper, Mallard, Collared dove, Black-billed magpie, Snipe, Wheatear, House martin, Chaffinch, Woodpigeon, Carrion crow, Meadow pipit and Common starling.

After walk drinks were enjoyed in the only real ale pub in the village, The Tillotsons and the landlaord's choice, Sawley Tempted by the Bowland Brewery went down well.

A good walk, soured only by Martyn scratching the side of his car on the corner of a wall!