8th November 2025 - Fair Snape Fell and Hazelhurst Fell
Walk Details
Distance walked: 12.7 miles
Total ascent: 1840 ft
OS map used: OL41 - Forest of Bowland & Ribblesdale
Time taken: 6 hrs
Route description: Delph Lane-Stang Yule-Fell End Farm-Bleasdale Tower-Brooks-Admarsh Barn-Vicarage Farm-Bleasdale Circle-Higher Fair Snape Farm-Parlick-Fair Snape Fell-Fiendsdale Head-Hazelhurst Fell-Oakenclough Fell-Stang Yule-Delph Lane
I decided to head to the western part of the Forest of Bowland for my walk this weekend. My decision was based on the forecast of better weather arriving from the west for the afternoon, so in theory it should reach this neck of the woods before any of the other areas I could have gone to. The route that I went for was a variation of one that I've done a few times before, taking in the moorland of Parlick, Fair Snape Fell, and Hazelhurst Fell, along with the countryside around Bleasdale. I've been on the moorland part of the walk several times in recent years, but was surprised to discover that it's ten years since I last walked across Bleasdale. Setting off under dull, overcast skies, and the cloud sitting on the hills, it stayed that way through the morning with a few drizzly showers. By lunchtime the forecast improvement had started to arrive, and the cloud lifted off the moors and broke up to give some sunshine.
From the small layby on Delph Lane where I parked my car I walked north up the road to the cottage of Stang Yule. I left the road here for a track that I followed east, passing Fell End Farm, Bleasdale Tower, and Brooks, before taking a footpath on the left across to Admarsh Barn. I then walked north along a track, passing Vicarage Farm, and taking a detour to visit Bleasdale Circle, to take a permissive footpath north towards Holme House. Before reaching Holme House I took a footpath southeast to and through Higher Fair Snape Farm, then across fields towards Blindhurst Farm and the foot of Parlick. Once I was on access land I climbed up to the top of Parlick. After a brief pause to take in the view I made my way north along the moorland ridge to the trig point, cairn of Paddy's Pole, and the shelter on the edge of Fair Snape Fell, where I stopped for lunch. Break had, I resumed my walk by making my way across to the cairn on the high point of Fair Snape Fell, then from there I followed a fence north to Fiendsdale Head. From Fiendsdale Head I walked west across the moor to reach a track, which I followed west onto the southern slopes of Hazelhurst Fell. The track was left at a convenient spot to visit the trig point on Hazelhurst Fell, and after taking in the view I returned to it and continued to walk west along it until I reached the edge of Fell Plantation on Oakenclough Fell. I then followed a path and track along the northern edge of the plantation down to the road at Stang Yule. A walk south along the road brought me back to where I'd parked my car.
Total ascent: 1840 ft
OS map used: OL41 - Forest of Bowland & Ribblesdale
Time taken: 6 hrs
Route description: Delph Lane-Stang Yule-Fell End Farm-Bleasdale Tower-Brooks-Admarsh Barn-Vicarage Farm-Bleasdale Circle-Higher Fair Snape Farm-Parlick-Fair Snape Fell-Fiendsdale Head-Hazelhurst Fell-Oakenclough Fell-Stang Yule-Delph Lane
I decided to head to the western part of the Forest of Bowland for my walk this weekend. My decision was based on the forecast of better weather arriving from the west for the afternoon, so in theory it should reach this neck of the woods before any of the other areas I could have gone to. The route that I went for was a variation of one that I've done a few times before, taking in the moorland of Parlick, Fair Snape Fell, and Hazelhurst Fell, along with the countryside around Bleasdale. I've been on the moorland part of the walk several times in recent years, but was surprised to discover that it's ten years since I last walked across Bleasdale. Setting off under dull, overcast skies, and the cloud sitting on the hills, it stayed that way through the morning with a few drizzly showers. By lunchtime the forecast improvement had started to arrive, and the cloud lifted off the moors and broke up to give some sunshine.
From the small layby on Delph Lane where I parked my car I walked north up the road to the cottage of Stang Yule. I left the road here for a track that I followed east, passing Fell End Farm, Bleasdale Tower, and Brooks, before taking a footpath on the left across to Admarsh Barn. I then walked north along a track, passing Vicarage Farm, and taking a detour to visit Bleasdale Circle, to take a permissive footpath north towards Holme House. Before reaching Holme House I took a footpath southeast to and through Higher Fair Snape Farm, then across fields towards Blindhurst Farm and the foot of Parlick. Once I was on access land I climbed up to the top of Parlick. After a brief pause to take in the view I made my way north along the moorland ridge to the trig point, cairn of Paddy's Pole, and the shelter on the edge of Fair Snape Fell, where I stopped for lunch. Break had, I resumed my walk by making my way across to the cairn on the high point of Fair Snape Fell, then from there I followed a fence north to Fiendsdale Head. From Fiendsdale Head I walked west across the moor to reach a track, which I followed west onto the southern slopes of Hazelhurst Fell. The track was left at a convenient spot to visit the trig point on Hazelhurst Fell, and after taking in the view I returned to it and continued to walk west along it until I reached the edge of Fell Plantation on Oakenclough Fell. I then followed a path and track along the northern edge of the plantation down to the road at Stang Yule. A walk south along the road brought me back to where I'd parked my car.
Route map
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From the small car park on Delph Lane I walk north along the road to Stang Yule
From Stang Yule I take the footpath east along a track
Passing Fell End Farm
Following the track east into woodland, and autumn colours...
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Passing Brooks
The packhorse bridge over the River Brock that's marked on the map
After passing Brooks I take the footpath east to Admarsh Barn
Then the track north towards Vicarage Farm
Since I was passing, I paid a visit to Bleasdale Circle
The last time I was here, 2014, I think, it was in a small wood
After returning to the track past Vicarage Farm, I head north along it before taking a rough track north across fields towards Holme House..
I leave the track for a footpath across to Higher Fair Snape Farm
Looking back at brighter skies over Oakenclough Fell and Hazelhurst Fell
Reaching Higher Fair Snape Farm
Following the footpath from Higher Fair Snape Farm towards Parlick
The sun breaks through the cloud over Oakenclough Fell and Hazelhurst Fell as I reach the foot of Parlick
Blindhurst Farm below
Beacon Fell and Blindhurst Farm below as I near the top of Parlick
Reaching the top of Parlick
Taking in the view from Parlick. Longridge Fell to the southeast.
The fell of Totridge behind the pole and Easington Fell in the distance to the right
Next stop is Fair Snape Fell as I set off along the moorland ridge towards it
Looking across the southern slopes of Hazelhurst Fell and Fair Snape Fell to my left
and back to Parlick
and across to Longridge Fell
Heading for the large cairn of Paddy's Pole on Fair Snape Fell
Parlick and Beacon Fell
At the cairn of Paddy's Pole
The trig point on Fair Snape Fell with Hazlehurst Fell in the background
The cloud descends as I head for the cairn on the summit of Fair Snape Fell
The cairn and pole on the summit of Fair Snape Fell
Leaving the cairn I follow the fence towards Fiendsdale Head..
The sun is back out as I reach Fiendsdale Head. I get some atmospheric views looking back to Fair Snape Fell, and across the surrounding moors....
From Fiendsdale Head I walk west across the moor to pick up the track that runs along the southern slopes of Hazelhurst Fell
Looking north to White Moss and Hawthornthwaite Fell
and across to Stake House Fell
Walking west along the track as it crosses to the southern slopes of Hazelhurst Fell...
Beacon Fell and the valley of the River Brock below
Looking back across to Fair Snape Fell and Parlick
A short climb from the track brings me to the trig point on Hazelhurst Fell
I can just make out Clougha Pike and Grit Fell in the distance behind Stake House Fell and Hawthornthwaite Fell
Fair Snape Fell and Parlick
Returning to the track on the southern slopes of Hazelhurst Fell
The low sun is making for a great light across the surrounding countryside..
Back on the track and I follow it down to Oakenclough Fell
Making my way across the top of Oakenclough Fell..
To my right there's a view across the countryside around Grizedale to Morecambe Bay
A walk south along Delph Lane back to the car park
To my right, a view towards the Fylde coast