Fairy Steps

These are the so called Fairy Steps nr Arnside, Cumbria. The steps are on the path that was once the old coffin route from Arnside to Beetham. As the only concecrated ground was at Beetham, corspes had to be brought from the surrounding hamlets for burial. The Limestone escarpements on the path provided an impassible barrier at this point and the coffins used to be raised by hand up the cliff. A large iron ring used to be in the rock for the ropes but it has recently gone. The cliff is only 4mtrs high and is a tight squeeze to ascend the steps. Mrs Wild commented that if you where bigger than a size 14 you would need a good shove to get up. Luckily she is only a 10/12