Arnside and Gait Barrows.
Start. Arnside.
Route. Arnside - New Barns - Blackstone Point - White Creek - Arnside Point - Park Point - Far Arnside - Holgates - Eaves Wood - Castlebarrow - Pepper Pot - Waterslack - Challan Hall - Hawes Water - Gait Barrows - East Coppice - Leighton Beck Bridge - Coldwell - Dollywood Lane - Hazelslack - Arnside Moss - Arnside.
Notes. With lots of rain forecast for the north west corner of England today, there was lots last night, I've got a weather window, a chance to grab a few hours rambling before the promised thunder storms arrive. If you're a hill walker or daily dog walker this walk has everything, it can easily turn seasoned mountain man or woman into humble ramblers. Take a wander with me through some of the most alluring countryside in Britain, we'll walk through a wide variety of wildlife-rich landscapes, a mosaic of limestone habitat alive with an unusually large number of rare flora and fauna. Woodland bristling with ferns and Lily-of-the-Valley, Small-leaved Limes, over leaf-covered forest floor under the canopy of grey giants, the mighty Beech. Hidden glades and twisted old Junipers, mysterious Yews with their lower limbs kissing the forest floor, the sands of Morecambe Bay and limestone pavements of Eaves Wood and Gait Barrows, pause for breath, wetland, limestone grassland, woodland and estuary mud. Come along grab your boots and a waterproof jacket just in case, you know you want to.
From Arnside I wandered south down the estuary, passed New Barns before rounding the fossil rich cliffs at Blackstone Point, at White Creek estuary mud gave way to hard sand, easy walking all the way to Park Point where I joined the cliff top path for the short walk to Far Arnside. From Far Arnside field paths ushered me to Holgates from where I was able to ascend Castlebarrow home to an old friend the Pepper Pot, I sat swigging coffee watching rain laden cloud drench the hills of Bowland. From the Pepper Pot forest paths lain by Victorian entrepreneurs guided my east through mature woodland depositing me at Waterslack, after crossing the railway line field paths lead behind Challan Hall then into the woodland of Gait Barrows. Managed by Natural England this is a naturalists delight, as dark clouds were drifting in over the bay I didn't hang around. North through sheep pastures and coppice woodland I wandered, narrow stiles aided my crossing of field boundaries, yellow painted posts and discrete arrows kept me on track, I stepped onto tarmac at Leighton Beck Bridge, turned left to be met by a finger-post inviting me to Hazelslack. With field paths to shepherd me I wandered on accessing Dollywood Lane before reaching Hazelslack. After passing between farm buildings I stepped into pastures once more, this green trod steered me over Arnside Moss, I entered Arnside just as the rain started to fall.
Arnside as seen from Ash Meadow.
Rising above the Kent Viaduct, the limestone plateau of Whitbarrow.
Fossil rich cliffs at Blackstone Point.
Striding across the beach at White Creek where estuary mud gives way to hard sand, the view Park Point.
Seen from White Creek, Arnside Knott the high ground rising to the east.
Approaching Park Point looking back to Frith Wood and White Creek with Meathop Fell reaching across the horizon.
Views along the serrated cliffs of the Silverdale/Arnside coast.
The white washed buildings of Grange-over-Sands seen from Park Point.
The scene over Morecambe Bay, dark in the distance the long finger of Know End Point.
On the western edge of Castlebarrow Hill viewing the vast arch of the Lancashire coast.
Once all alone on Castlebarrow, the Pepper Pot seems to have acquired a friend, a view indicator.
The Beach Circle in Eaves Wood.
At the rear of Challan Hall looking to the waters of Hawes Water.
Wild flower meadow at Gait Barrows.
Striding out through limestone pastures to the south of Gait Barrows.
Descending through grassland above Leighton Beck Bridge, with this view to Farleton Fell for company.
I crossed this dyke with my heart in my mouth, the bridge actually turned out to be safer than it looked.
Arnside as seen over Arnside Moss.
One of the dykes draining Arnside Moss.