The Arnside, Sandside Coast return over Haverbrack Fell.
Start. Arnside.
Route. Arnside - Railway Station - Sandside - Haverbrack Fell - Cockshot Lane - Underlaid Wood - Whin Scar - Hazelslack - Carr Bank Road - Black Dyke Road - Arnside.
Notes. I've been grounded since my last outing through Gunnerside Gill, a combination of Christmas and flu have transformed me into an armchair rambler, itching to get out anywhere I decided to chance my luck, despite the mist and persistent drizzle. I hung around the house until mid afternoon when a chink of colour far to the south promised a break in the weather, a short walk through limestone country would blow the cobwebs away, just what I needed. What I hadn't anticipated was wandering back through swirling mist in dense woodland, along an ancient coffin route alive with legends of ghosts and fairies, in the dark.
I left Arnside via the footbridge at Arnside Railway Station, this allowed access to the now disused Arnside/Hincaster railway, this now excellent footpath carried me to Sandside. Following the estuary north I wandered over tarmac, where the road turned inland a footpath lead into woodland on my right, this marked the start of my ascent of Haverbrack Fell, on leaving the woods I crossed a tarmac lane before the final pull to the top of the fell. On a good path I wandered south into more woodland, my route was way marked, Cockshot Lane. Night was creeping over my shoulder, it was quite dark as I stepped into Cockshot Lane, fifty yards to my right a finger-post announced I'd reached the path to Hazelslack and Beetham.
I hesitated before entering Underlaid Wood, the sounds of night were all around, different even eerie. I wandered on into the dark, away from light pollution it's quite surprising how well you can see, I was aware of the Whin Scar cliffs rising grey to my left. Wandering on I soon reached a finger-post directing me to Beetham via the Fairy Steps or Hazelslack, unfortunately it was the old coffin route to Hazelslack for me. Maybe I upped the pace slightly but I soon stepped into the fields to the east of Hazelslack, the lights from the farm house like a beacon in the night beckoning me forward.
From Hazelslack Farm I crossed more fields en route to journeys end at Arnside, navigating was becoming difficult, even on familiar paths, the mist hung over these low lying fields once marsh land, parting only as I wandered into it's cold embrace, most of the landforms were merging with the night, after stepping onto Carr Bank Road I decided to follow tarmac back to Arnside. A short walk along the narrow road brought me to it's junction with Black Dyke Road, from here it was a short walk back to Arnside and the delights of the Ye Old Fighting Cocks.
The Compensation Pier at Arnside with views down the Kent Channel.
The Kent Viaduct with the land forms of South Lakeland cloaked by a blanket of swirling mist.
Haverbrack Fell rises above the salt marsh to the north of Arnside.
Misty views to Arnside Knott.
Arnside Knott rises above a blanket of sea mist creeping in off the Irish Sea..
When I reached Sandside it was like walking into another world, Whitbarrow across a still frozen upper Morecambe Bay.
Where cloud merges with sea, views south towards Arnside.
The icy fore shore at Sandside.
Arnside Knott seen from Sandside.
Sandside reflections.
Looking to Whitbarrow and White Scar across Milnthorpe Sands.
An icy scene at Sandside.
A wonderful golden glow over upper Morecambe Bay.
Another icy view across Milnthorpe Sands.
Heversham Head rising above the mist hanging over Milnthorpe Marsh.
Another view across the frozen sands of the bay with Foulshaw barely visible through the mist.
Ascending Haverbrack Fell looking over the sands of upper Morecambe Bay.
This finger-post stands in the shadow of the Fairy Steps, as it was quite dark I decided to give them a miss and make my escape from the woods by braving the old coffin route to Hazelslack.
Arnside Knott as seen from the lower tier of the Whin Scar cliffs, the camera can obviously see more than I can, the Knott was hardly visible with the naked eye.
Hazelslack Farm with the tower featureless to the left of the shot.
Seen from Carr Bank Lane a welcome sight, the lights of Arnside.
On a misty evening the Ye Old Fighting Cocks.
The street lights of Arnside.