Fairy Steps — Attraction in Beetham

I visited the Fairy steps a number of years ago, on a bit of an adventure and remember it fondly. I started off at the old post office tea room in Beetham which is an amazing place. Also it is worth noting The Wheatsheaf pub is ideal to start or finish the journey. Ask the locals the way is my advice which is past the pub and up the steep road to a footpath sign on the right. This is a walk through woodland with limestone rocks in places, to a sign post tree stump in the middle of the track and bear left. The fairy steps are beautifully tranquil and very narrow steps. There is a lovely story in Richard Jones's haunted places book about a legend that fairies grant a wish if you do not touch the sides on the way down!!! But standing at the bottom looking up....well only a thin waif would pass this...

Delightful hike along designated paths to the famed "Fairy Steps". Up to the year 1866 this location was on a "coffin route" from Arnside Parish to consecrated ground at Beetham, the desired destination for hearty souls wearily bearing the deceased! Legend also dictates that those who successfully achieve a certain delicately balanced ritual whilst negotiating the narrow natural stone steps between limestone rock faces will be granted a wish from the fairies. Needless to say few succeed! Lovely wild foresty woodland in the vicinity also contributes to the sites uniquely...

Lovely little place for a picnic or family trip. Not exactly a hard or long walk to reach the steps themselves and very picturesque on the way. There are two ways to the bottom. Going down the steps themselves or the path that circles down to the bottom. I would recommend doing both as there are some lovely odd rocks on the path way down. Can you go down the steps without touching the sides? Well I don't belive you could fire a gun down there without touching the sides. But if you can, word is, you'll be granted a wish. Legends and myths come from...