Arnside Coast and Woodland.

Start. Arnside.

Route. Arnside - Ash Meadow - New Barns - Blackstone Point - White Creek - Arnside Point - Park Point - Far Arnside - Holgates - Middlebarrow Plane - Arnside Tower - Arnside Knott Wood - Arnside Knott car park - Knott Lane - Red Hills Road - Ash Meadow - Arnside.

Notes. The weather in the Northwest of England is back to form, wet, my day off and there I was watching rain beading down the windows, a phone call from my better half informed me she was working all day, that was the catalyst. Into the bag went waterproofs, big winter boots and camera, I pointed the car towards the coast, the weather is nearly always better there.

True to form as I rolled into Arnside the first chink of blue sky appeared followed by the first rays of sunshine illuminating the hills on the opposite side of the estuary, I quickly dispensed with waterproofs and headed down the estuary as I have so many times before. A good path although a little muddy in places guided me as far as New Barns, after rounding the bay I elected to continue along the coast, the other option was through the caravan park. At first I wandered over shingle, then onto the mud and sand of the bay, at this point I was unsure how far I would get, the sand looked wet, lots of water was running from the land. I continued and a pleasant walk it turned out to be.

Once across White Creek I ascended the rake at Arnside Point, I continued, cliff top paths under foot with wonderful views over the silvery seascapes of Morecambe Bay. On this occasion I stuck to the main trod, this wide path ushered me into a caravan park (Holgates), then way marked paths guided me between static caravans into the tiny hamlet of Far Arnside. I wandered between the buildings ignoring a path signed Arnside Knott, my route was across the fields to another caravan park (again Holgates), once in the park I swung left then wandered to a green lane leading to Arnside Tower.

As I got closer the gaunt remains of Arnside Tower welcomed me over the tree tops, when I got to the edifice it was quite busy, after grabbing a few snaps I continued, passed Arnside Tower Farm and into Arnside Knott Wood. The path through this wood is wide and well used it guided me to Arnside Knott car park where I joined field paths descending parallel to a narrow tarmac lane, at the foot of the field I stepped onto said lane. Nearly back now. Via Knott Lane and Red Hills Road I made my way to a narrow ginnel (good old northern word for alleyway), this lead down to the estuary, all that was left to re-trace my steps in the company of the joint waters of the Rivers Kent and Bela.

view route map.

home.

Dark across the bay Hampsfell.

Near Ash Meadow looking to Grange-over-Sands.

New Barns Bay and Frith Wood, my route passed to the front of the houses then followed the tree line.

Dappled light on Whitbarrow.

At Blackstone Point looking north.

From White Creek views to the sylvan slopes of Hampsfell.

A glimpse of Arnside Knott from the sands at White Creek.

Approaching Arnside Point looking back to Frith Wood.

Striding out over the surface of a reassuring cliff top path, looking back along the jagged edge where Arnside Park meets the shifting sands of Morecambe Bay.

Scudding light over Morecambe Bay.

A huge eerie landscape, the shifting sands, silvery seascapes and big skies of Morecambe Bay.

En route through the woodland on the edge of Arnside Park.

Viewed from the south the gaunt remains of Arnside Tower.

On the edge of Heathwaite viewing Know End Point and the vast arch of the Lancashire coast.

Grange-over-Sands and Hampsfell as seen from near Arnside Knott car park

And finally over the Kent Viaduct sunlight of the Whitbarrow Scar cliffs of Whitbarrow itself.

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