Cheers for that. It was only a couple of weeks ago that I was up there so maybe the 'no parking' signs are a recent development, they were outside the house on the left of the track but I assumed they applied to the whole of that little area.
So that northern path is the one I should have gone for - typical! The southern one is a long walk and got pretty mushy in places where the cows had churned it up. Looking on google satellite maps I can see a few paths or tracks that branch off of that northern Blawearie path and head on up the hill so I'll take your advice and go for one of those whenever I manage to get up there again. Cheers for your help fella.

-Chris