Arnside to Silverdale and Back.

Start. Arnside.

Route. Arnside - Ash Meadow - Red Hills Road - Knott Lane (Saul's Drive) - Arnside Knott car park - Arnside Knott Wood - Arndale - Arnside Tower - Middlebarrow Hill - Eaves Wood - Elmslack - Woodlands - St John's Churchyard - Emesgate Lane - Shore Road - The Lots - Silverdale Cove - Cove Lane - Cove Road - Holgates - Far Arnside - Park Point - Arnside Point - White Creek - Blackstone Point - New Barns - Ash Meadow - Arnside.

Notes. It’s an extraordinary place this inconspicuous limestone peninsula on the edge of Morecambe Bay, a place of amazing wildlife if that’s your thing, stunning scenery with some easy walking. Ancient woodland, wild flower meadows and an impressive coastline await the humble rambler. This easy ramble starts in Arnside, stops for lunch in Silverdale then returns following the craggy coastline.

I left Arnside via the narrow trod ascending behind the old boat yard (blue painted building), this deposited me on Red Hills Road. I continued walking to the junction of Red Hills Road and Knott Lane, ascending the latter to access Arnside Knott car park. A wide bridleway passed to the left of the car park, this I followed through the dappled light of mature woodland, ignoring a finger-post for Far Arnside I continued straight on descending into Arndale once guarded by a fine pele tower. The limestone edifice dominates the narrow valley standing sentinel on what would have been the only dry route to Arnside, one of a number rounding Upper Morecambe Bay.

I strolled passed the tower, crossed a ladder stile then started the ascent of Middlebarrow Hill, keeping a dry stone wall to my left the ascent was easy, I crossed a couple of scars, traversed limestone pavements, accessed Eaves Wood via a stile and gate. Once in Eaves Wood woodland paths guided me south to the remains of a summer house, I descended the steps turning right before wandering through a clearing. Normally from this clearing I’d ascend Castlebarrow to visit the Pepper Pot, not today instead I descend over more limestone scars, the descent ended at the main trod cutting along the foot of King William's Hill marking the edge of Eaves Wood.

This path looks old, once maybe of some importance, it guided me between dry stone walls, passed the same concrete and stone structures I passed the last time I wandered this path to reach a path junction, here I turned right then descended a fenced path to access a tarmac lane. With tarmac under foot I strolled into Silverdalee, lunch at The Royal the only thing on my mind. Imagine my disappointment to find the place closed, it was a week day, it seemed opening time on week days is four o'clock. Across the road the Co op supplier of sandwiches, pork pies and chocolate, I’d picnic by the sea.

With a bag full of goodies I wandering down Shore Road from where a wicket gate allows access the The Lots, after passing through said gate I traversed The Lots, passed above Red Rake then descended to Silverdale Cove, home to an abandoned iron stone and copper mine. A narrow ribbon of tarmac accesses the cove, I followed this in land turning left onto Cove Road which in turn guided me to Holgates. Way marked paths then ushered me through the holiday park followed by a couple of fields to Far Arnside, lunch time. I descended to the coast, found a comfy perch out of the wind and dined.

Lunch over I decided to wander back on the beach, which immediately tried to suck my boots off, the coast path then. I wandered long the edge of Arnside Park above limestone cliffs through woodland, round Park Point then to Arnside Point where a rake descends to the beach, I’d try again, this time it was safe. So across White Creek I wandered, round Blackstone Point passing the remains of the short jetty followed by New Barns Bay, after walking around the edge of the bay it was a short ramble back through the crowds enjoying good weather in the school holidays.

view route map.

home.

The Kent Viaduct at Arnside.

Clinging to the hillside the white washed buildings of Grange-over-Sands.

Descending through dappled light in Arnside Knott Wood.

Nearing Arnside Tower looking across Silverdale Moss to the limestone escarpment of Farleton Fell.

The sad remains of Arnside Tower.

Some more remains, all that's left of a Victorian summer house in Eaves Wood.

En route through Eaves Wood.

May I be so bold as to presume, on these structures once stood water tanks, please let me know.

Across The Park the houses of The Row.

Traversing The Lots soaking up views over Morecambe Bay, to the left Kents Bank, on the right Hampsfell and Grange-over-Sands.

Silverdale Cove viewed from Red Rake.

The shingle bank at Far Arnside laid down at the end of the last ice age when Morecambe Bay was scooped out.

Know End Point and the Lancashire Coast.

The big skies and shifting sands of Morecambe Bay.

Woodland on the edge of Arnside Park.

Cliff top paths safely guide me back along this stunning stretch of coast line.

Arnside Point where this rake leads down to the beach, time to chance the sands again.

Sylvan topped Meathop Fell seen from White Creek.

Rounding Blackstone Point....

....for views north up the estuary.

Viewing the cliffs of Whitbarrow Scar from New Barns Bay.

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