Dallam Park, the Upper Kent Estuary and Whin Scar.

Start. Beetham (Heron Corn Mill car park).

Route. Beetham - Dallam Park - Milnthorpe Bridge - Upper Kent Estuary - Sandside - Arnside/Hincaster Railway Path - Carr Bank - Teddy Heights Nature Reserve - Hazelslack - Coffin Route - Underlaid Wood - Whin Scar - Beetham Fell - Beetham.

Notes. I have the builders in, there was no need for me to be there so I snuck out for a few hours, leaving Sue to keep the supply of tea flowing. My intended destination was Milnthorpe but through default I ended up at Beetham in the Heron Corn Mill car park, same walk different starting point (probably better). Lets call this a diverse ramble comprising a little of everything this area has to offer, parkland, estuary, woodland and limestone crags, and a small slice of history.

Lets start with history, if you have never visited the Heron Corn Mill before it’s worth a look, and it’s free. The eighteenth century mill is one of only a hand full of water powered working mills left in Cumbria. Evidence shows a mill existed on the site prior to 1096. From this small slice of history on the banks of the River Bela I entered Dallam Park, after ascending along an avenue of trees a ha-ha greeted me, also known as sunken fence, blind fence or deer wall, this vertical barrier in a ditch preserving the uninterrupted lines of the parkland.

Way marked paths then guided me through Dallam Park, passed the recently restored Buck House deer shelter then under the slopes of Castle Hill, once the site of a motte and bailey castle, the path then descended towards the River Bela, once on the river bank I turned towards Dallam Tower. This fine building dates back to the 18th century, built on the site of an earlier pele tower. A lane runs passed the building, I accessed this through a tall kissing gate then turned north exiting the park via the North Lodge entrance.

Now on the main road to Arnside I crossed, a gate allowed access to fields, after passing through said gate the River Bela guided me onto the estuary. The path ahead looked extremely wet, rather than risk wet feet I ascended onto an old railway embankment, this in turn guided me to Sandside where I joined the estuary just after Shoreline Business Park.

This stretch of coast was the Port of Milnthorpe from Shoreline Business Park to Green Lane, flat bottomed boats would sail up the estuary at high water, when the tide ebbed the boats would be left high and dry, unloaded and the cargo transported by horse draw carts to Milnthorpe. This all ended with the building of the viaduct at Arnside causing the estuary to silt up.

I continued walking over the sands until the Kent channel forced me to join the pavement just after Storth road end, on reaching Green Lane end a gate allowed access to a narrow path cutting along the shore line to access the Arnside/Hincaster railway path, this I followed to a small car park. I left the coast here joining the Sandside Road for the short walk to Carr Bank. Passed the entrance to the Garden Centre I walked Nuns Avenue my guide, when Keasdale Road emerged from the left I followed it uphill to a sharp bend, here a finger-post promised passage to Hazelslack, another sign forbid motorists as this was a private road.

The road was short, it terminated at a gate allowing access to Teddy Heights Nature Reserve, I entered, a good path then guided me though dense woodland soon depositing me in a narrow lane. I turned left then slowly walked to Hazelslack, home to an impressive pele tower, which I didn’t photograph so can’t tell you about it. This lane was part of the Arnside to Beetham Corpse Road, more like paths than roads the dead from isolated communities were carried to the mother church for internment, sometimes it took days, alcohol was drunk, parties had en route, it was a celebration of the deceased life. Understandably these paths are linked to all kinds of superstitions surrounding death, I have walked this path in all kinds of conditions, both night and day and seen nothing, but what it does have is Fairies, we’ll get to those in a second.

From Hazelslack the route continues through fields entering Underlaid Wood where it starts the ascent to Whin Scar, after a gentle climb through woodland the path reached a wide fissure in the limestone cliffs, steps enter the crack, I entered to be ejected into more woodland. A short climb followed and I reached a second tier of cliffs. Folk law tells us coffins were hauled up this cliff face before continuing the journey to Beetham. A narrow fissure known as the Fairy Steps also ascends the cliff face, folk law again tells us if you make a wish before ascending and, make your ascent without touching the sides the Fairies will grant you your wish.

I thought about it then decided by the time I’d put the camera away, strapped my poles to my bag it would be just as easy to wander round the side of the escarpment, that way I could show you some Victorian graffiti. Once above the cliffs it’s a short walk over Beetham Fell to Beetham village, the path is well marked, it guided me through woodland, passed a spooky old cottage then down a large sheep pasture before depositing me in Beetham, I slowly picked my way through the village passing St Michael’s and All Angels Church and The Wheatsheaf Inn before stepping into Mill Lane for the short walk back to the Heron Corn Mill car park.

view route map.

home.

Ha-ha also known as sunken fence, blind fence or deer wall, this vertical barrier in a ditch preserving the uninterrupted lines of the parkland....

....and is designed to keep these fine fellows in.

The Buck House deer shelter recently restored after a devastating fire.

Views over Dallam Tower to the White Scar cliffs of Whitbarrow.

Milnthorpe Bridge over the River Bela with Whitbarrow beyond.

The River Bela looking back towards Milnthorpe Bridge and Dallam Park.

The great sweep of the Upper Kent Estuary with the Kent and Bela channels visible, the mouth of Lyth Valley and some wonderful colours, a change from the blue, grey and greens of summer.

Whitbarrow viewed across Milnthorpe Sands.

Seen through marsh grasses, along the far shore, Meathop Fell, Crag Wood and Ulpha Fell, reaching across the skyline Hampsfell..

Sunlight paints Sandside.

Views down the Kent Estuary from the ragged mattress of estuary grasses at Sandside.

Rising between the valleys of Winster and Lyth, Whitbarrow.

Strolling through Teddy Heights Nature Reserve.

My route up the first tier of the Whin Scar cliffs.

The Fairy Steps, folk law tells us coffins were hauled up this cliff face before continuing the journey to Beetham, make a wish and ascend without touching the sides the fairies will grant it.

Just south of the Fairy Steps this, Victorian graffiti.

From Whin Scar views over the tree tops to Arnside Knott.

Ruined cottage on Beetham Fell.

One of the entrances to St Michael's and All Angels Church, Beetham.

back to top

back to list