Fairy Steps and Peel Towers

So today we went for a walk near Betham at the request of Mark who wanted to go there again and also myself as Sam had said in October she must take me to the 'Fairy Steps'. 
The route started up through a lovely woodland smothered in snowdrops.

Then we came across this fissure in the rocks supposedly part of the old coffin route from Arnside to Betham, though personally I cant see anyone trying to carry a coffin up theses steps!!

Looking down Fairy Steps

Looking up Fairy Steps

I think the steps were added in the Victorian era to make it more interesting.

Of course I was attracted by some fungi even in spring they appear!

Getting back to the road we came across this Lime Kiln restored with Heritage Lottery money 

Close ups of the board follow

Just realised  I mentioned Nelly earlier in these blogs but have not included a photo yet so here goes she is the one in the blue coat

We lunched in The Weatsheaf in Betham this is a pub we used in October it has changed hands and the new owners have made a lot of changes to the building including buying in American beers from Goose Brewery, but they still stock Coniston Blue Bird and today had Bowness Brewery Black Swan. After a good lunch we moved on to Arndale for a walk on the Knott an area mentioned in the latest National Trust magazine. Parking on the road we had a good view of Arnside Tower more latter.

From the top of the Knott we had a good view over the Kent estuary to Hampsfell and Grange a bit misty but can you see the Hospice??

The Kent Viaduct caries the railway

Having dropped of the Knott we came across these sheep with their lambs

From the sheep we walked down to the road then round through a caravan park finally reaching Arnside Tower a Peel Tower or fortified tower house.