Hawthornthwaite Fell Top

Rising above the hamlet of Marshaw, this expansive gritstone moorland marks the western edge of the Bowland fells. It offers a rugged, often peat-soaked experience typical of Lancashire’s high ground, where the reward for navigating trackless stretches is a stunning, uninterrupted vista across the Fylde coast toward Morecambe Bay.

• •The name is rooted in Old Norse, with '-thwaite' signifying a clearing or meadow, suggesting this was once a 'clearing where hawthorns grow' amidst the ancient hunting forest.
• •The fell forms a key link in the western horseshoe of the Forest of Bowland, a high gritstone ridge that provides a natural barrier between the coastal plains and the interior wilderness.
• •The summit is marked by a small cairn situated alongside a wire fence, which serves as a vital navigational aid for walkers crossing the plateau’s featureless and frequently saturated terrain.
• •From the top, the view stretches over the nearby Bleasdale Moors to the south, while the distinctive profile of Clougha Pike can be seen to the northwest, guarding the approach to Lancaster.
• •Local walkers often treat the ascent as a test of gaiter-integrity; the terrain is less of a traditional path and more a series of creative bog-hopping maneuvers.