A Circuit from Arnside including Eaves Wood and the Pepper Pot.

Start. Arnside.

Route. Arnside - New Barns - Blackstone Point - White Creek - Arnside Point - Park Point - Far Arnside - Holgates - Cove Road - Silverdale Cove - The Lots - Silverdale - Emesgate Lane - Park Road - Eaves Wood - Pepper Pot - King William's Hill - Waterslack Wood - Middlebarrow Quarry - Middlebarrow Wood - Hagg Wood - Black Dyke Road - Arnside.

Notes. I had an email the other week enquiring on my favourite mountain in the Lake District, truth is I don't have one, as old Wainwright famously put it “the one I'm on at the time”. She also wanted me to recommend my favourite walk, which was easy, but that's between me and her, what I will admit to, laugh if you like, my favourite place to walk in the whole of North West of England is the Silverdale/Arnside peninsula. Limestone scars in abundance, sylvan hills spilling onto the shifting sands of Morecambe Bay, cliff top paths and hidden ways that carry the lucky rambler away from the crowds that inevitably flock to the area on days like today.

It wasn't that crowded when I pulled into the car park on yet another uncharacteristic hot day, the forecast predicted the hottest this year. I wandered down the estuary a cool sea breeze taking the edge off the heat, passed anglers eagerly awaiting the flooding tide. Over the surface of a concrete path passed Ash Meadow House, the concrete ended at the old boat yard, it was sun backed Morecambe Bay mud under my boot soles from there on. Down the estuary I dawdled, round New Barns then under the fossil rich cliffs at Blackstone Point, I stayed on the sand wandering across White Creek, passed Arnside Point before running out of beach at Park Point, the incoming tide closed the door forcing me to ascend the cliffs.

I continued through the dappled light of coppice woodland, on reaching the shingle bank at Far Arnside I stopped for a brew, sat ages watching the incoming tide flood the bay forcing masses of sea birds to reluctantly vacate the safety of various sand banks they roosted on. After I'd had my fill I picked my self up, wandered through Far Arnside then crossed cow pastures to access Holgates. A number of finger-posts guided me through the holiday park ejecting me onto Cove Road where I immediately headed for Silverdale Cove.

I hung around at this small cove with its shingle beach, muddy foreshore, limestone cliffs, caves and redundant iron stone mine. A green trod then ushered me through The Lots depositing me in Silverdale village where I grabbed some lunch from the local store. I wished for somewhere with a view to enjoy my sandwich, I opted for Castlebarrow home to an old friend the Pepper Pot.

Emesgate Lane guided me out of the village, on reaching Park Road a footpath on the left ascended into Eaves Wood, I ascended with it. Way-marked paths then ushered me through delightful woodland, ferns mosses and Lily-of-the-valley growing in the shadow of small leafed limes, grey granite beach trees and twisted juniper all planted by Victorian entrepreneurs. I stepped onto Castlebarrow Hill to find I had the place to myself, another chance to sit, enjoy the solitude and soak up extensive views, and of coarse re-acquaint myself with an old friend, the Pepper Pot.

Visit over until next time, I wandered in a north easterly direction, traversed a large clearing before ascending a flight of limestone steps. Always keeping a dry stone wall to my left I traversed King Williams Hill, descending in the dark shadows cast by mature Yews, natural limestone pavements guided me to Waterslack Wood, I entered at a gap in a wall, still descending I was hunting for an obvious tree. Now that may sound stupid in woodland, but you'll know it when you see it, it marks a path junction, when I reached it I swung left.

With a wide path under foot I strolled north to reach Middlebarrow Quarry, had a quick look into its gaping mouth before passing along the edge of Middlebarrow Wood to enter cow pastures below Arnside Tower Farm. With a green path now under foot and railway line to guide me I continued north. This path ushered me along the edge of Hagg Wood into a small paddock before ejecting me onto Black Dyke Road, all that remained, a short walk through the streets of Arnside.

view route map.

home.

An iconic picture taken from the sea front at Arnside, the Kent Viaduct.

The upper reaches of Morecambe Bay, looking to Grubbins Wood and a distant Frith Wood with the white washed buildings of Grange-over-Sands far right.

Whitbarrow as seen from the edge of New Barns Bay.

At Blackstone Point next to the remains of a short jetty, once used to transport farm products and iron stone to similar jetties scattered around the bay.

Big skies and Morecambe Bay sand, with views to the Newton Fells and limestone cliffs of Meathop Fell.

Stunning walking conditions along the ragged edge where Arnside Park meets the sand of Morecambe Bay. If you don't fancy the beach there's a cliff top path.

At Park Point watching the incoming tide, round the corner the sand was wet and very soft, as the tide was flooding I opted for a safer option and scrambled up the low cliff.

From safer ground views to Far Arnside and Silverdale.

Clinging to a cliff top path, looking back to Park Point.

On the right day the Arnside/Silverdale shore line can be a magical place, forever changing seascapes and big skies, limestone cliffs and the coppice woodland of Arnside Park.

The advancing Irish Sea and views to Humphrey Head.

These fields should be green, we're desperate for rain, I never thought I'd ever write that about the North West of England, the view, Heathwaite from Far Arnside.

Silverdale Cove looking to Red Rake....

....in the other direction, Grange-over-Sands.

Arnside Knott as seen from the sun scorched pastures of The Lots.

Eaves Wood home to King Williams Hill, the limestone scars of Castlebarrow and an old friend....

....the Pepper Pot.

Taking in the view from Castlebarrow.

En route to King Williams Hill.

The subject of limestone, Middlebarrow Quarry, when I first passed this way this was a working quarry, I believe it closed in 2000, a licence to deepen the quarry was refused on the grounds it may damage the water table, at worst draining nearby Hawes Water.

On the edge of Middlebarrow Wood in pastures below Arnside Tower Farm, looking to sylvan Arnside Knott.

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