A Round of Arnside Knott.

Start. Arnside.

Route. Arnside - Black Dyke Road - Arndale - Middlebarrow Wood - Arnside Tower - Holgates - Far Arnside - Arnside Park - Park Point - Arnside Point - White Creek - Blackstone Point - New Barns Bay - Arnside.

Notes. Arnside sits on the Kent Estuary where the River Kent meets the vast expanse of Morecambe Bay, a former fishing port before the Furness Railway arrived constructing the Kent Viaduct in the mid 19th century. With the railway Victorian mill owners arrived building many grand houses allowing them to escape the turmoil of the Industrial Revolution, the mill owners have long gone but Arnside retains its charm. The Compensation Pier is a reminder of Arnside's past, built by the railway company as compensation after the viaduct caused the estuary to silt up, directly closing the port of Milnthorpe a couple of miles up stream.

But I’m here to circumnavigate Arnside Knott, a 525ft lump of limestone that gifts the lucky rambler stunning views over the Kent Estuary, Morecambe Bay, the hills of Lakeland and Forest of Bowland. I decided to do this walk clockwise saving the best until last, last being a wander above the shifting sands of Morecambe Bay, a stretch of path I never get tired of.

So after parking in Arnside I headed passed the railway station onto Black Dyke Road, just before the railway crossing a finger-post pointed the way. I wandered passed farm buildings then through a small paddock, this allowed access to a path squeezed between the railway embankment and Hagg Wood, this short stretch of muddy path deposited me in the large fields of Arndale, dominating the skyline Arnside Knott and my next aiming point Arnside Tower.

The path then guided me parallel to the railway embankment, after crossing two drainage ditches I entered Middlebarrow Wood, good paths then guided me through woodland, ejecting me via a the narrowest of stiles at the foot of Arnside Tower. The oldest building in the parish guards the head of Arndale, when built this would have been the only dry route inland, the tower is one of several pele ringing Morecambe Bay, all the others being attached to houses or halls making Arnside Tower unique being free standing.

Behind the tower a gate and stile allow access to a narrow lane, this I followed between dry stone walls and hedge rows, when the lane ended I entered Holgates, a rather smart holiday park. Good paths then guided me along the edge of pastures to a kissing gate, after passing through said gate field paths lead to Far Arnside, a tiny hamlet and large holiday park, well smarter than the one I’d just passed through. Signed paths then guided me to the grand finally, a stroll above the shifting sands of Morecambe Bay.

As I wandered along the edge of Arnside Park I noted the tide was rising, the path guided me round Park Point to Arnside Point where I decided to chance the beach at White Creek, the traverse was without incident. Next I rounded Blackstone Point, passed the cut stones of the short jetty that was once used to transport fertiliser and iron stone to similar jetty's scattered around the bay. I then rounded New Barns Bay, with the tide rising all be it slowly it was to risky to try crossing the small bay, once safely round a straight forward stroll followed, over dry Morecambe Bay mud, across limestone scars the Kent Viaduct growing larger with every step.

view route map.

home.

Under a dark cloud, Hampsfell.

Can't visit Arnside without taking a photo of the Kent Viaduct.

From the field paths of Arndale, guarding what would have been the only dry route inland the gaunt remains of Arnside Tower.

Sylvan Arnside Knott.

En route through Middlebarrow Wood.

Arnside Tower unique amongst northern pele towers as it stands alone.

Stunning walking with equally stunning views, the coast path along the edge of Arnside Park.

Over the sands of Morecambe Bay the dark finger of Know End Point.

The re-assuring path that guides walkers along the ragged edge where land meets the sands of Morecambe Bay and, when the tide's in the salt water of the Irish Sea.

Seen over the slowly rising waters of the Irish Sea the Lancashire coast and the squat towers of Heysham Power Station.

Arnside Point where a rake in the cliff face allows easy access to the beach.

The path at Arnside Point, if it's safe to walk on the beach why not, beware though it's not always.

Low limestone cliffs mark the edge of Morecambe Bay.

Seen from the sea washed turf at White Creek, Hampsfell.

Mooting Ring at the remains of the short jetty at Blackstone Point.

Across the rising waters of Morecambe Bay, on the left Hampsfell, far right Meathop Fell, center the Newton Fells.

Arnside lit by the late afternoon sun.

Enjoying the ambience of a early evening walk up the estuary, no people, the tide creeping in slowly and the mournful cry seabirds.

Seen from near the parked car the whitewashed buildings of Grange-ocer-Sands and the dark mass of sylvan Hampsfell.

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