Dallam Park and Gait Barrows.

Start. Milnthorpe.

Route. Milnthorpe - Old Bridge - Dallam Park - Heron Corn Mill - Beetham - Beetham Fell - Slack Head - Leighton Beck Bridge - West Coppice - Gait Barrows Nature Reserve - New Park - Challan Hall Allotment - Silverdale Moss - Carr Bank Road - Carr Bank - Arnside/Hincaster Railway Path - Sandside - Summerhouse Point - Milnthorpe Bridge - Dallam Park - Old Bridge - Milnthorpe.

Notes. Bank Holiday weekend, the weather was looking promising, expect the crowds to be out and about, unfortunately I’ve a stinking head cold, what better way to clear your head than a short ramble in the fresh air, get the wind in your face. Something easy, no hills, or not too many, so we headed down the road, the few miles to Milnthorpe, parked up, picked a route we could cut short if necessary then headed through Dallam Park.

The rolling park land would test the lung capacity, the way was well marked. First we traversed the lower slopes of a medieval earthworks then passed the tastefully restored deer shelter, the next hill was steeper it deposited us at a ha-ha, a wall and ditch a way of dividing the parkland without ruining the lay of the land. After crossing the ha-ha we descended to the Heron Corn Mill car park which was absolutely crammed, we then followed a muddy trod west, between hedge rows and dry stone walls to be ejected onto a narrow tarmac lane leading into Beetham.

Next to the first house on the right a stile allowed access to a large field, the path vanishes into the woodland on Beetham Fell, this we followed. First over grass then through woodland, guided by moss painted dry stone wall we passed an abandoned cottage before accessing a gravel track, this ushered us to a way-marked cairn, we turned to Slack Head. Woodland walking continued until we stepped onto a narrow tarmac lane, unfortunately this was the start of a rather long stretch of tarmac bashing.

First uphill then right at the road junction, we then wandered out of the village, passed the entrance to Dollywood Lane a planned shorter route if needed. Continuing down hill over tarmac we passed Leighton House before reaching Leighton Beck Bridge. Directly across the road a finger-post invited us to West Coppice, we obliged yellow marker posts guided us through fields, over limestone scars eventually depositing us at the entrance to West Coppice. Through woodland and rough pastures we wandered, the final tract of woodland bordered a green lane, a gate allowed access, once in said lane we turned right then wandered into the fields and woodland of Gait Barrows Nature Reserve.

Gait Barrows is one of Britain's most important landscapes, made up of a diverse mosaic of limestone and peat land habitat, open rock pavements and damp fen, deep yew forests and tranquil Hawes Water. I know this because the interpretation boards told me so. Unfortunately as we entered the reserve the rain caught up with us, heavy enough to force the camera into the bag. We picked our way through damp, muddy fields grazed by cattle, through woodland on a good path that ejected us onto tarmac, here we turned left, on the short walk to Challan Hall Allotment the rain ceased, that was it for the day, coats went back into the bags and we continued with the sun on our backs.

Through Challan Hall Allotment we wandered to reach a small meadow gifting us views over Silverdale Moss, we could here the eerie booming of a Bittern close by but never set eyes on it. We then followed a path that guided us along the edge of the moss onto field paths. Across beck's and over stiles we walked, through sheep pastures before reaching Black Dyke Road, to avoid the notoriously muddy stretch of path to Hazelslack we opted to stay on tarmac for the half mile to Carr Bank.

First over Black Dyke Road then along Carr Bank Road, after entering the village we passed the Garden Centre to join the main road to Arnside, turned left and wandered to the access point to the Arnside/Hincaster Railway Path. This excellent facility guided us along the edge of the estuary to Sandside, we then wandered along the sea front before stepping onto the salt marsh at Storth Road End, avoiding the really wet bits we slowly made our way to an old car park opposite the small business park, we then followed tarmac a few yards before descending back onto the railway path.

The old track bed in turn guided us to Summerhouse Point (not named on OS maps) where we joined the River Bela, with the river for company we wandered to the single arch of Milnthorpe Bridge, crossed the road to enter Dallam Park via the North Lodge entrance. On reaching Dallam Tower a kissing gate allowed us back onto the banks of the River Bela, we followed the river to Old Bridge which we crossed to enter the streets of Milnthorpe.

view route map.

home.

From Dallam Park views to Milnthorpe Bridge and the White Scar cliffs of Whitbarrow.

Across green fields the limestone escarpment of Farleton Fell.

Approaching the abandoned cottage on Beetham Fell.

Near Leighton Beck Bridge looking to Hutton Roof Crags.

In fields above Leighton Beck Bridge, with East Coppice directly to the left and Slack Head on the horizon.

Farleton Fell seen from the entrance to West Coppice.

Dappled light on the path through Challan Hall Allotment.

A casualty of the winter storms with views over Silverdale Moss.

Sylvan Arnside Knott over Silverdale Moss.

Narrow stile and limestone slab footbridge over Leighton Beck.

The crystal clear water of Leighton Beck.

Striding out above the salt marsh north of Arnside.

Near Sandside viewing the massive cliffs of Whitbarrow.

A wonderful mix of woodland and grassland, the Newton Fells seen from near Sandside.

The great sweep of Lakeland mountains viewed through the mouth of Lyth Valley.

The rising tide at Sandside.

The scene along the sea front at Sandside.

On the distant horizon Red Screes seen from Sandside.

On the banks of the River Bela looking to Whitbarrow.

Heading round Summerhouse Point with views to Dallam Park.

The single arch of Milnthorpe Bridge.

Reflections the River Bela.

The River Bela in Dallam Park.

Milnthorpe Bridge backed by the White Scar cliffs of Whitbarrow.

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