A Classic Walk from Arnside.

Start. Arnside.

Route. Arnside - Ash Meadow - New Barns bay - Black Stone Point - White Creek - Arnside Point - Park Point - Far Arnside - Hollins Farm - Heathwaite - Arnside Knott - Red Hills - Red Hills Wood - Arnside (High Knott Road) - Red Hills Road - Silverdale Road - Arnside Promenade.

Notes. Arnside grew in popularity during the 19th century when pleasure boats sailing from Morecambe and Fleetwood would dock there. Visitors to Arnside can still enjoy a stroll along the Victorian promenade and, nothing beats the spectacular sunsets gazing out across the Kent Estuary against a backdrop of Lakeland fells. All being well weather wise, this morning promised rain, I woke late to sunshine, too late to head into the hills, parking can be a nightmare in the Lakes if you arrive late, so I found myself in Arnside promenading along the Victorian promenade.

The weather looked promising as I strolled passed Ash Meadow down the estuary, after wandering round New Barns I decided to chance Blackstone Point, passed Frith Wood with pebbles under my boot soles before carefully testing the conditions under foot at Blackstone Point, it was gloopy so I chanced it. Gloop didn’t last long and I was able to wander pass White Creek on hard sand and salt marsh, rather than chance my luck any further I ascended onto the cliff top path at Arnside Point.

Cliff top walking guided me around Park Point through woodland bordering the bay then into Holgates, a way marked path then ushered me between the holiday homes into the tiny hamlet of Far Arnside. Just before leaving Far Arnside a finger-post on the left promised passage to Arnside Knott, I obliged, first walking over a fenced path along the edge of the field, this deposited me at Hollins Farm where I joined the path ascending Heathwaite. The climbing started here, first up Heathwaite then Arnside Knott.

Part way up the knott at a small seat I turned left, this path guided me to a wall, a wicket gate allowed me to pass through said wall, the path then climbed to reach a view indicator. The views from here are stunning over the Kent Estuary to the Lakeland Fells and, so you know what you’re looking at stainless steel panels depict the landscape baring the names of the hills and any other obvious features.

From the view indicator I passed through another gate, wandered through a small cops then took a fainter path to my right, this guided me through Arnside Knott Wood depositing me above the south face of Arnside Knott. Here the hills of the Yorkshire Dales draw the eye, the bulk of Whernside and the flat top of Ingleborough, plus all the smaller humps and bumps, wetland and woodland of this stunning Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

I sat a while before making my descent, first across the summit to the trig point then through a wicket gate into Red Hills, (a large pasture), I descended to the bottom corner where a gate allowed access to Red Hills Wood. Muddy paths then guided me ejecting me onto High Knott Road, all that remained to pick my way back through the streets of Arnside. Via High Knott Road and Red Hills Road I made my way to Silverdale Road which in turn guided me down hill to the Arnside sea front for a bit more promenading.

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home.

The Kent Viaduct backed by Whitbarrow.

Viewing Hampsfell across the Kent Estuary with a flash of sunlight on the cliffs of Meathop Fell.

The Compensation Pier at Arnside.

Rising above the the Kent Viaduct, kissed by sun the White Scar cliffs of Whitbarrow.

Stunning views to Whitbarrow, far left Whitbarrow Scar and Chapel Head Scar with White Scar in sunlight to the right.

Frith Wood over New Barns Bay.

Sunlit Hampsfell as seen from new Barns Bay.

Wandering along the edge of the Kent Channel, beyond the white washed buildings of Grange-over-Sands.

Sunlight paints Meathop Fell.

From the remains of a short jetty at Blackstone Point views over the vast expanse of Morecambe Bay.

From cliff top paths on the edge of Arnside Park views over the broad plane of sand, quicksand and water filled channels that is Morecambe Bay.

Near Park Point soaking up views to Grange-over-Sands and the sylvan slopes of Hampsfell.

Big skies and wonderful vistas over Morecambe Bay.

Views back along the jagged edge where Arnside Park meets Morecambe Bay.

A tiny slice of Far Arnside.

Ascending Arnside Knott, stopping for a well deserved rest, drinking in views to Grange-over-Sands.

Whitbarrow backed by the captivating hills of South Lakeland.

Taking in the view on the ascent of Arnside Knott, on the far horizon the Howgill Fells and flat top of Wild Boar Fell.

The unfolding panorama, over the tree tops of Arnside Park Humphrey Head and Kents Bank, beyond dark across the horizon the Furness Peninsula.

Striding out through Arnside Knott Wood.

Above the south face of Arnside Knott looking over the wetlands and woodlands of this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Descending Red Hills looking to Whitbarrow Scar backed by some Lakeland classics, to the left Fairfield, right a bit Red Screes and right a bit more Caudale Moor, far right Ill Bell and the western arm of the Kentmere Horseshoe.

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