Because the planned start to my walk was Foxfield Railway Station, after Barrow-in-Furness, I needed to catch an earlier train than usual. I caught the 125 bus just after 7am then the 7:50 train from Chorley, which left on time. I got to Preston for 8:06 but my next train; the 08:28 to Lancaster was showing as running 12mins late. This was bad news as my connection in Lancaster only allowed me 8 minutes. When the train arrived it wasn't 12 minutes late but 18 minutes and any thought of getting the 8:42 to Foxfield evaporated. On the train the first class passengers were apologised to as their complimentary food was not available. They were told that the train staff would phone ahead to Carlisle to see if sandwiches could be brought on but not to hold out much hope. I got off at Lancaster and tried to find an alternative route. I decided to get the next train to Barrow and then catch a bus, but I didn't know what bus services were available. I asked one Railway operative on the platform and he didn't seem to have much idea. So I asked another and he suggested I phone the bus company helpline and it was shown on a bus stop outside the station. I told him I'd wait till Barrow then settled down in the waiting room until the 10:42 arrived. The railway guy was called Ian and he went off to make a call, found me in the waiting room and gave me the bus time and number. It was the X7 leaving the Barrow Town Hall at 11am and arriving Broughton-in-Furness at 11:41. I got to Barrow and asked the way to the Town Hall. I got the directions but wasn't told how far it was. I arrived with about 2minutes to spare. The bus was small and I enjoyed the leisurely ride through lanes I'd never been on before. With my original plan I would have had to walk the 2km from Foxfield to Broughton but this way I cut out a bit of road walking.

I set off along the A593 road towards Coniston then took the left branch down the minor road to Broughton Mills. The Dunnerdale Fells were in front of me and the weather was fine and dry though the wind was a bit chilly. I passed the Blacksmiths Arms Pub and wondered where the clientele would come from as the road doesn't really go to any populated area.

The Blacksmiths Arms at Broughton Mills.

A nice sign in the Pub window.

At the bridge I paused to remember doing a day walk here about 10 years ago with Keith and John. It was raining so hard that as we got back we had to wade down the road through the floods. Today was fine and I had a pleasant walk to Green Bank Farm where I left the road and headed up to the fells. Higher up was a very nice wooden table and bench set up on a wonderful green grassy area. I took the left path to an isolated barn at Hovel Knott. I'd visited it before but the light was bad and was pouring down. Outside it looks nothing out of the ordinary. Inside is a wonderful timber crook barn framework.

The Barn at Hovel Knott

Inside the barn is the original Crook construction.

After leaving I headed out on to the higher fells. I passed Great Stickle without going to the top as I was heading for higher ground. In the distance Stickle Pike appeared, a prominent out crop rising steeply from the centre of a conical hill. The path to it was somewhat up and down but firm and dry. I'd planned to camp near the summit but as I got higher the wind strengthened. There was a small saddle on the NE side and I found some shelter for the tent. I had to descend to Stickle Tarn to get water and then climb back up again. After a brew I climbed to the summit and found a large well made cairn and a flattish grassy patch I could have fitted my tent on. But it was too late now. The views however were very fine.

A milky sunset from Stickle Pike.