Arnside Knott and the Coast.
Start. Arnside.
Route. Arnside - Old Boat Yard - Red Hills Road - High Knott Road - Red Hills Wood - Red Hills - Arnside Knott - Arnside Knott Wood - Heathwaite - Far Arnside - Arnside Park - Park Point - Arnside Point - White Creek - Frith Wood - New Barns Grubbins Wood - Arnside.
Notes. After the cold crisp weather of the last few days we decided to have a wander over Arnside Knott, time our return with one of Morecambe Bays spectacular sunsets, the timing was perfect but someone forgot to tell the weather gods, at the precise moment a golden hue should of filled the estuary a bank of cloud slipped over the horizon, and that was that.
Our late afternoon walk started wandering down the estuary, the paths were swathed in ice, care was needed, it was great, few people had ventured out we had the place to ourselves. On reaching the Old Boat Yard we ascended to the left of the Beach Walk Cafe, a short climb took us to Red Hills Road where we turned left. With tarmac under foot we wandered on turning right onto High Knott Road, after passing a number of rather exclusive houses a finger-post on our right invited us to Arnside Knott via Red Hills, we obliged ascending through Red Hills Wood before climbing Red Hills to reach the trig point on the Knott.
From the summit a faint path carried us south through a small cops, it's well worth venturing along this path the vistas are quite spectacular. After drinking in the views it was time to make a move, time and tide wait for no man, neither does sunset, after making our way onto the main path we descended to Heathwaite, then on way-marked paths to Far Arnside. Way-marked paths also carried us through Far Arnside then between smart holiday homes before we entered Arnside Park. Striding out above limestone cliffs the miles passed quickly, after rounding Park Point we reached Arnside Point where we descended to the bay at White Creek, this short stretch of coast between Far Arnside and White Creek is easily one of my favourite stretches of path in the Arnside/Silverdale area. We crossed the bay to access Frith Wood, after passing above the cliffs at Blackstone Point the path descended to the shingle beach on the edge of New Barns Bay, we rounded the bay to start the short walk back to Arnside.
As always the Kent Viaduct draws the camera lens like a magnet at the start, or finish of every walk from Arnside.
From an icy foreshore views south down the estuary.
The path through Red Hills Wood.
Viewing Arnside Knott from Red Hills.
Hampsfell seen across the Kent Estuary.
An icy scene over upper Morecambe Bay.
The Trigometrical Column on Arnside Knott.
Views taken from above the southern scree slopes of Arnside Knott, Middlebarrow Wood, Silverdale Moss and Gait Barrows.
Even though the views are hazy today, this small patch of clear ground above the rivers of scree provides a fine view point.
Descending Heathwaite with anticipation, this wonderful golden glow over the bay reminds us the sun is sinking towards the horizon.
Humphrey Head seen over the shifting sands of Morecambe Bay.
The blinds are closing, the light will soon go out, and we'll be walking back in the dark to return another day.
The stunning view over an icy bay from Park Point.
Looking towards Kent's Bank and Grange over Sands from the salt marsh at White Creek.
Timeless views from the edge of the shingle bank at White Creek.
Above the cliffs at Blackstone Point with views to Hampsfell and Grange over Sands for company.
The mirror like surface of the Kent Channel, taken at nightfall.
This is a wonderful time of day to be ending a walk , the Scots call it Gloaming, the spiritual time as day turns to night.
Wandering along the edge of Grubbins Wood.
The Old Boat Yard and rather newer Life Boat Station with views down the estuary.
The street lights of Arnside.
Ashmeadow House, dates back to 1818, bought and restored by the Crossfield Society in 2003, now provides ten modern apartments for older people.