You may well have seen Holme Park Fell and Farleton Fell as you travel north bound for the Cumbrian Mountains or Scotland. They are the low fells looming over the M6 motorway just east of Junction 36.
I suspect most of us drive past lured by the call of bigger hills further on, perhaps thinking 'I wonder what's up there?' Recently, I was prompted to find out by a post from Dave Brown which developed into a teasing faux-rivalry with fellow OM-er The Didster.
The chance to find out 'what's up there' came a week ago on a trip to the Lakes. Leaving the motorway at Junction 36, instead of heading northwest on the A390, I turned east on the A65. There's a decent little tea room about half-a-mile east of the motorway junction after a small roundabout: it's called The Hideaway and it's on the south side of the A65.
After refreshment I returned to the small roundabout and headed south on the A6070 (which I think is the route of the 'old' A6). After about a mile-and-a-half (crossing the Lancaster Canal on the way) I came to some substantial livestock sheds - Holme Farm - on the left and a scatter of cottages on the right. There are a few parking spaces on the little lane by the cottages.
I parked the car, crossed the A6070 and saw a signposted bridleway heading east beside the farm buildings. It follows a surfaced farm track uphill for about three-quarters of a mile through two gates. After the second gate a National Trust sign announces you are on Holme Park Fell. From here a low line of bare limestone rises to the north while the track, tree-lined, continues east.
I left the track soon after the gate and headed up the open hillside to follow the edge of the limestone cliff. To the west, a fine view began to open up towards Morecombe Bay. Further on, the rock-strewn grass gave way to limestone pavement, the slabs rising gently northward riven by grykes (erosion channels). The pavement is not extensive and is eroded and flaking.
The sun shone, a gentle breeze blew, and the the hill side was studded with wild flowers including plenty of orchids, patches of cowslips, and celandine in the damper places. Rooks cawed in the trees, a buzzard circled overhead and larks rose piping from their nests.
At the north end of the low cliffs, the path descended very steeply, crossed a stile then led up a gentler slope onto Farleton Fell. In contrast to the limestone behind, this fellside is well grassed and boulder-free. A number of paths criss-cross the grassy plateau and a neat cylindrical cairn marks its summit. From here the views are extensive all round - the Pennines to the south-east and east, Shap Fell to the north, the Lake District mountains to the northwest. Southwest lies the Lancashire coastal plain with Morecombe Bay sparkling beyond. On such a clear day, it was a very pleasant place to just sit and gaze.
From the summit, I continued north then west around the shoulder of the fell. As the slope steepens, the grass gradually gives way to looser stonier terrain so I stayed on the higher ground until I came back to the limestone cliffs. Having walked up along the top of them, I descended along their foot on a broad grassy track bordered by a belt of trees. There are interesting examples of limetstone striation and eroded outcropping to see on the descent. The grass path rejoins the bridleway by the second gate and a few minutes walk took me back to the car.
The refreshments and walk occupied a very pleasant couple of hours. I dawdled a lot - taken at a good pace, the route I walked could be done in under an hour. So, next time you are wearying of the M6 and fancy a break turn off at Junction 36, have tea and cake at The Hideaway then stretch your legs on Farleton Fell.
