• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Hugh Stewart

  • Home
  • Books
    • Hillwalks from the Settle to Carlisle Railway Stations
    • Settle to Carlisle – Hill Walk with Return by Classic Train Route
    • Mountain Biking Adventures: Multi-day Routes in Northern Britain
  • About Hugh
    • Author
    • Orthopaedic Surgeon
  • Walking Blog
  • Contact

Ward’s Stone, an addition to a Bowland circuit from Littledale.

By Hugh Stewart April 1, 2020 Leave a Comment

So this addition to the jaunt of a week ago makes a ten mile circuit with 1700 ft plus of ascent, with better long distance views. Start as for the previous walk, but at the Duke’s track carry on across it on an obvious path, and then left at a “T” junction at the ridge top. Grit Fell has a large boundary stone before the summit cairn. The path goes down to a wide dip and up to Ward’s Stone, passing close to the “Christmas” tree mentioned in the parent post. It was in it’s Spring decorations today, see photos. The bushy lower part contrasts with trees grown at less windy altitudes. Remember that Ward’s Stone is the third highest Lancashire hill. It was on the long path to Ward’s Stone that I pondered on why gritstone on paths is often white, not the usual grey, and I think it is because it has been bleached by the acid peat, which has then been eroded by many feet. I would like others’ thoughts on this, and wonder how long it takes to revert to grey, if ever.

Cross the bare Ward’s Stone plateau, and at the Queen’s chair, a gritstone boulder, follow the boundary fence NE cross boggy ground to High Stephen’s Head. If really soggy, it would be better to head E first then N to avoid the worst of the bogs, following the boundaries. Go down via Gallow’s Hill and Haylot Fell, through a gate visible from afar and down to meet the track which crosses Closegill beck and join the parent route.

  • The “Christmas” tree in Spring Raiment.
  • The “Christmas” Tree in Xmas raiment.
  • Another Christmas, same tree. (photo curtesy of Ian chadwick)
  • View from Ward’s Stone to the Lakes across Morecambe Bay.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Download file: wards stone 3.gpx

Filed Under: Walks

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Search

Post Categories

The Latest Comments

  • Michael Watson on Scafell Pike from Wasdale, without the crowds. (Mostly.)
  • Hugh Stewart on Sheepbone rake, High Crag
  • Laurence Anderson on Sheepbone rake, High Crag
  • Hugh Stewart on Sheepbone rake, High Crag
  • Judy Moffitt on Sheepbone rake, High Crag

Enjoying the Blog Posts?

If you are enjoying my content please consider supporting my passion by purchasing one of my books. Many thanks, Hugh.

Hillwalks from the Settle to Carlisle Railway Stations

24 walks into the hills surrounding the historic and iconic Settle to Carlisle railway, based on the stations between Settle and Appleby. The area has some of the finest walking of the north Pennines: the Craven district around Settle; the Three Peaks area; Dentdale, and Mallerstang and the upper Eden valley.

£12.95 (P&P may apply)

View Book

Mountain Biking Adventures: Multi-day Routes in Northern Britain

Over the last two decades, mountain biking has developed enormously as a “sport”. We greatly admire the technical and athletic capabilities of modern day mountain bikers and recognise that many excellent guides have been written and custom-built trails set up. In this guide we try to reopen a sense of adventure and wilderness to mountain biking, providing multi-day routes with a remoteness, continuity and “arc” missing from many modern guides with their focus on day and half day outings.

UK £13.95 ( inc. P&P)

View Book

Settle to Carlisle – Hill Walk with Return by Classic Train Route

With over 22,000 ft of ascent in 105 miles set out over 8 days, this walk sets out from Settle, taking in the classic summits of the North Yorkshire Dales, Howgills, Eastern and Northern Lakeland Fells, to arrive at Carlisle. The return journey to Settle by one of the classic train journeys. Illustrated with photographs and route maps.

£12.95 (P&P may apply)

View Book

Footer

Addition to High Cup Nick walk.

That is "High Cup Nick, shortened version of walk 23 ", from 12th Sept 2018. The addition is to see the interesting floral limestone gully, Maizebeck scar, adding just over a mile. From the Nick, follow the obvious path of the Pennine Way, and descend to cross Maize Beck beyond Watch Hill and turn

Continue Reading

An Upper Swaledale round from Muker

This lovely 8 mile walk is best done in early to mid-June when the Muker meadows, and to a lesser extent the Ivelet to Muker meadows, are full of wildflowers. Starting in Muker, find the path through the village which leads onto the meadows. It is not signed so be careful. Go through the delightful

Continue Reading

Scafell Pike from Wasdale, without the crowds. (Mostly.)

A glorious friday in early June, the last weekday of the Whitsun holidays. I wanted to see what Piers Gill was like, as my late mother told me once that she had been cajoled by my father to take me and my one older and one younger brothers (aged maybe 3 to 7) up the Pike, but went wrong in bad

Continue Reading

Copyright © 2023 · Hugh Stewart All rights reserved. · Website created by LeePritchard.com