Arnside and it's Knott.
Start. Arnside.
Route. Arnside - Ash Meadow - New Barns - Frith Wood - Blackstone Point - White Creek - Arnside Point - Park Point - Far Arnside - Hollins Farm - Heathwaite - Arnside Knott - Red Hills - Knott Road - New Barns Road - Beachwood Lane - Arnside.
Notes. I know I was here only a few weeks ago striding out through a hazy day, today was a little different, I found myself wandering through the half light of a South Cumbrian dawn, the sorrowful calls of water fowl reverberating around the estuary, a haunting dawn chorus. The sun was rising on the east side of the Arnside Knott painting the sky with a wonderful pallet of gold's, yellows, reds and blues.
I wandered down the estuary into an improving morning, the light got better as the sun made a feeble attempt to cut through the cloud cover. I wandered passed Ash Meadow House and the old boat yard, little old me the only person for miles around. Round New Barns I walked then into Frith Wood at a small abandoned quarry, with woodland paths under foot I strolled on to White Creek where I was able to access the sands of the bay. The sand was hard today, easy to walk across, I aimed for a rake at Arnside Point, a steep ramp allowing safe access to the cliff top path, once on said path I continued to Far Arnside.
From the small scattering of houses a fenced path runs along the edge of sheep pastures, this I followed to Hollins Farm on the opposite side of the field, the path then swung left to ascend Heathwaite, this well used path terminating at the main trod traversing the shoulder of Arnside Knott, I crossed this wide bridleway and continued climbing. Normally I'd aim for the summit, this morning I would tread new ground. Just after passing what remains of the knotty tree a green trod descends to the north west. With this path under foot I descended through mature woodland, a wicket gate aided my passage into Red Hills, I strolled across the southern end of the large pasture to access Knott Road. With tarmac under foot I continued descending, at it's junction with New Barns Road I swung right, descending into a deep trough, at the bottom of which Beachwood Lane descends to the left, this narrow trod ejected me back onto the mud of the estuary, all that remained a short walk back to Arnside, breakfast time I think.
Early morning over the Kent Estuary.
Frith Wood captured in the still waters of New Barns Bay, with the white washed buildings of Grange-over-Sands across the bay.
Meathop Fell as seen from New Barns Bay.
A blaze of colour above Arnside Knott.
The morning sun paints the sky, creating a warm feel to the ebbing waters of Morecambe Bay.
So many colours fill the sky, so many good things to come.
Looking towards Arnside from the edge of New Barns.
Kissed by the morning sun, the White Scar cliffs of Whitbarrow.
Surreal image of Hampsfell.
Grange-over-Sands captures the morning sun.
Arnside Knott seen from the sands at White Creek.
The long finger of Humphrey Head seen from the sands near Park Point.
Looking to the squat towers of Heysham Power stations from the cliff top path near Park Point.
The cliffs at Park Point provide a fine view point, through the trees the Lancashire coast.
On view from the cliff trod near Far Arnside, the dark finger of Know End Point backed by the hills of the Bowland Forest.
Warton Crag over Silverdale Bay.
A dreamlike image across the shifting sands of Morecambe Bay.
There are some wonderful views to be had from the ascent of Arnside Knott, over Arnside Park, Kents Bank and Grange-over-Sands.
Morecambe Bay and the massive arch of the Lancashire coast.
In Red Hills viewing Meathop Fell, the Newton Fells and, grey across the horizon the Coniston massif.
Back on the estuary, I opt to walk this path, it's part of Beachwood Nature Reserve and keeps my away from the mud of the bay.