Totridge & Fair Snape Fell
1
SD632511 From the roadside parking area, next to trees, take the metal footbridge over Langden Brook and follow the permissive path on the south side of river for 1.25km. Pass through gates to reach the private lane leading to Hareden Farm. Turn right, walk past the farm and continue on the permissive route through gates to pass the last house. The lane now becomes a track – continue west into the empty valley, with Hareden Brook on the left. The track takes a prominent z-bend after 1km and bends south up the valley to pass a small shooting lodge on the left. Keep ahead for another 350m.
2
SD624492 Leave the track, cross the brook and climb the western slopes of Totridge. There’s no path but you can zigzag your way up through the heather and bilberry to the trig point on the broad ridge.
Walk south-west from the top, keeping close to a fence on the left, and continue along the moor which marks the crest of Whitmore Fell and Fair Oak Fell. The fence takes a sharp right turn on the ground above Burnslack Fell.
3
SD619476 After another 250m the fence trends south-south-west and continues along the watershed to the north of Saddle Fell. In places you may need to weave past and between hags of peat – take care if you think some patches look boggy and stick to areas of firm ground. Ignore the first fence junction and keep ahead for 1km to another junction, with stile/ access gates.
4
SD597472 Walk southwest for 800m, with the fence on your left, to the trig point and stone shelter on Fair Snape Fell – half of Lancashire now seems to be spread out below you.
5
SD591468 Return to the fence junction (this higher ground with a small cairn is the true summit of Fair Snape Fell) and now walk north-north-west for 1.5km, with a fence on the right, across more patches of eroded peat (some sections have been flagged) to a junction of paths.
6
SD587484 Walk north-north-east on a narrow but established path to descend along the western slopes of Fiendsdale. This valley cuts north with surprising steepness and descends to a confluence in the bowl of hills around the headwaters of Langden Brook. Cross the river (take care if there has been heavy rain) and walk east for 1km along a grassy terrace to a stone barn with the over-important name of Langden Castle.
7
SD606502 Go through a gate and continue on a good track east above the river and through the scenic valley for 2km, after which it joins a minor lane by a waterworks complex. Keep ahead through conifers for 450m to return to the start.