An Easy Loop from Arnside.

Start. Arnside.

Route. Arnside - Ash Meadow - Red Hills Road - High Knott Road - Red Hills Wood - Red Hills - Saul's Drive - Copridding Wood - Arnside Knott Wood - Heathwaite - Hollins Farm - Far Arnside - Park Point - Arnside Point - New Barns Bay Caravan Park - New Barns Bay - New Barns Road - Red Hills Road - Ash Meadow - Arnside.

Notes. Arnside lies on the estuary of the River Kent at the north end of Morecambe Bay and was a small port until the Furness Railway built the Arnside viaduct in the mid-19th century, the short pier is a reminder of Arnside's past, built by the railway company as compensation because estuary traffic could no longer reach Milnthorpe, which up until then was known as Kendal’s Port and that’s where I start this short loop, from the pier through Arnside’s woodland, pastoral land and estuary.

From the pier I headed down the estuary passed Ash Meadow, at the Beach Hut Cafe I climbed the steep ginnel behind the old boat yard, this ejected me onto Red Hills Road were I turned left and continued following the road to it’s junction with Knott Lane. There a footpath cuts behind the white painted bungalows on Parkside Drive, this path I followed, along the edge of pastures, under low limestone cliffs to be ejected onto High Knott Road.

I climbed High Knott Road then wandered passed the large houses all looking north over the upper reaches of Morecambe Bay into the Lake District, at a finger-post promising passage to Arnside Knott I left the road entering Red Hill Wood, woodland paths then ushered me to Red Hills. I always climb this large pasture, I’ve never turned right to wander along it’s bottom edge, so today I did just that. With a green trod to guide me I strolled on to Saul’s Drive (the lane leading to Arnside Knott car park) crossed to join a path signed Copridding Wood, again a green trod guided me, this time into woodland, eventually joining the path that rises from New Barns Bay.

Now on familiar ground I climbed said path, once on the main trod across the shoulder of Arnside Knott I turned right, followed the path to another signed junction, this time I opted for the path to Far Arnside. I was descending to the coast, what I neglected to mention was the high tide, I had to get to New Barns while the path up the estuary was still accessible, I ought to get a wiggle on, which is nigh on impossible along that stretch of coast.

After descending to Hollins Farm field paths guided me to Far Arnside where immediately descended to the coast, hung around on the shingle bank before dawdling around on the cliff top path. After stopping at Park Point then again at Arnside Point, and a number of times in-between I reached New Barns Bay. You guessed right, the path back to Arnside was under water, I could have scrambled along the cliffs, or cut through a field above the low cliffs, but eventually I would have had to wander up the estuary.

So as you can see from the map I doubled back then ascended New Barns Road, which is quite a nice way to go. Eventually after half a mile New Barns Road gave way to Red Hills Road, I passed the path I followed earlier then re-traced my steps back to the estuary, passed Ash Meadow and back to the parked car.

view route map.

home.

The Compensation Pier at Arnside with views down the Kent estuary.

The Kent Viaduct backed by the Newton Fells.

The silence of the morning has just been shattered, Canada Geese (I think) take to the air, bloody hell they're noisy.

Views up Red Hills towards the summit of Arnside Knott.

Strolling along the edge of Red Hills looking towards Copridding Wood.

Copridding Wood the start of a mile of delightful woodland walking.

Viewing salt water flooded Morecambe Bay from the path descending the edge of Heathwaite.

Across the far horizon Clougha Pike and the Bowland Forest.

Heathwaite as seen from Far Arnside.

Sunlight catches the surface of Morecambe Bay, in the distance Morecambe, Heysham and the Lancashire Coast.

Meathop Fell seen over White Creek.

Dark on the horizon Humphrey Head.

From a ragged mattress of sea washed turf at New Barns views to Grange-over-Sands.

Soaking up the view from New Barns Bay, across the estuary Whitbarrow.

On the edge of New Barns Bay looking north up the estuary, the way back. There is a path above the low cliffs to the right but that descends just around the corner, far safer to choose another route.

Frith Wood over the rising waters at New Barns Bay.

Before heading inland a quick look back towards the stunning limestone cliffs of Whitbarrow Scar and Chapel Head Scar.

From New Barns Road views back over sheep and cow pastures to New Barns.

High tide at Arnside.

The Kent Viaduct backed by the rolling hills of the Newton Fells.

Views down the estuary from the Compensation Pier.

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