Legend has it, a fairy will grant your wish if you manage to climb this narrow, natural stone staircase. Discover a 6 mile walk which has it all; wildlife, stunning views & more.
Fairy Steps Walk
Location: Beetham, Milnthorpe
Distance: 6.2 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Coffee Stop: Beetham Nurseries Garden Centre
Thank you to Beetham Nurseries for sponsoring our Fairy Steps walk, supporting Lancashire Lads.
Watch our short film from the walk below.
Download and follow our GPS map below.
Introducing Beetham Nurseries, the sponsor of our Fairy Steps walk.
We start our walk on Stanley Street, nearby Heron Theatre. Please do not park on the Theatre carpark, as this is private land. Park roadside.
Proceed down Stanley Street towards Leighton Back Lane. Half way up the road, turn left into a farmers field. The public footpath is sign posted close by a BT phone box (now used to house a defibrillator).
Eventually we will reach a walled off path… with the narrowest entrance!
After a short walk down the trail, you’ll end up back in another farmers field. Keep right and proceed through the field, until you reach another stiled exit.
From here, we begin our first, short ascent up through the woods.
After 10 metres or so, you’ll need to turn right. Don’t miss it.
Before long, you will reach a gate with wired fence. Follow the path around to the right, with the fence now on your left.
Eventually you’ll find yourself stood on some incredible terrain!
Follow the track until you reach the road. Turn right and walk down the road for a good 300+ metres.
Keep a look out for a public footpath sign post by the side of a tall white property, pointing in the direction of the Fairy Steps.
Proceed along this track for 500 metres, steadily climbing up into the woods before reaching a fork in the road with a cute little cairn showing you the direction of the Fairy Steps. Turn left.
We’re on this track for another 500 metres before finally reaching the back end of the famous Fairy Steps.
This is the view from up top – We’d recommend following the path going around the landmark to the left, approaching the Fairy Steps from the bottom.
From here, you MUST attempt to walk up them without touching the sides… succeed and you’ll be granted a wish from a fairy remember!
Ok, once you’ve completed the challenge, loop back around to the front of the steps once again and re-join the path.
After a short stretch walking alongside the rocky edge Whin Scar, you’ll be met with two choices – paths going off to the left and right. For today’s walk, turn right.
Eventually we’ll reach a road – turn right, and after 150+ metres, turn left continuing our walk through another section of woodland.
There are multiple public footpaths within these woods. We’d recommend taking the first right, right again, then first left, ascending up through the woodland around the edge of Sandside Quarry.
You might see glimpses of it towards the top of the hill, either in front of you or to your left. Feel free to have a quick look in over the trees.
From here, things begin to open up – follow the path round to the right of the quarry before entering into a field, a hillside known as Haverbrack Bank.
Haverbrack Bank is a limestone hill which looks over Milnthorpe Sands. The views from up here are stunning! On a clear day you’ll see plenty of the Lakes and the Howgill Hills.
Descend down through the field, on to the road and turn left. You have two options from here – either head down the road and follow it round onto Park Road – or look for the sign post to turn right… now this is a ‘short cut’ BUT one time before filming here, it was massively overgrown and I had to turn back haha! Just a warning 🙂
Once you’re down by on a rather busy Park Road – cross over and join a path which follows along the edge of Milnthorpe Sands. A welcome bit of shade on a sunny day, watching the birds in the water.
Eventually you’ll reach a gateway into a field – again just follow the waters edge around to the right, enjoying the wildlife here. It’s such a pretty spot – sat and enjoyed my sandwiches here many a time.
Once you’re back by the road, you should see these signs. Cross over the bridge to the other side and enter into Dalham Deer Park.
Not far up the road – maybe 250 metres or so, turn left into the field and walk by the edge of the water heading in the direction of Milnthorpe.
This is an aerial view of Dalham Deer Park with Dalham Tower to the lower right (located within the park), and Milnthorpe in the distance.
500+ metres along the river, we’ll by turning off to the right, up the hill. Keep an eye out for the local residents within these grounds – Fallow Deer.
Over the other side of the hill, we’ll be descending down back into the village of Beetham. Almost time for coffee and cake back at Beetham Nurseries.
After passing Heron Corn Mill (on the left). We’ve got two options… turn left towards Beetham Nurseries, or head back for the car and drive round to Beetham Nurseries.
Either way – we’re heading to Beetham Nurseries! Non-negotiable Ok 😉 haha
I do love the variety available on the menu in their main cafe!
Of course, you can’t beat cake & coffee too.
If you’re going to have a wander around – be sure to visit their secret garden nursery, which you can enter directly from back out on the carpark.
There’s also a lot of gift ideas in the garden centre – could spend a fortune in here! Lastly, Beetham Nurseries host some amazing events and workshops all year round – be sure to follow them on social media or visit their website to see what’s on.
Follow Beetham Nurseries on Instagram
https://www.beethamnurseries.co.uk
Lastly, don’t forget to follow our GPS map, so you never get lost on walks again.
Always safer to have it downloaded on your phone, even just as a backup.