North from Arnside including Dallam Park and Whin Scar.

Start. Arnside.

Route. Arnside - Railway Station - Sandside - Summer House Point (not marked on the map) - Milnthorpe Bridge - Dallam Park - Herron Corn Mill - Beetham - Beetham Fell - Whin Scar - Underlaid Wood - Hazelslack - Car Bank Road - Arnside Moss - Arnside.

Notes. Laying on the shore of upper Morecambe Bay the Victorian sea side village of Arnside is a popular place with locals and visitors alike, with some enjoyable walking opportunities right on the door step it’s my go to place when time is limited, or the weather dictates otherwise. On a day of sunshine and showers I headed to the coast, a morning (because that’s all I had) of rambling through deciduous woodland, over limestone grassland and coastal salt marsh.

I left Arnside via the footbridge spanning the railway tracks at Arnside Station, once on the other side the track bed of the Hincaster/Arnside branch line guided me. Above the salt marsh I strolled woodland to my right salt marsh and Milnthorpe Sands my left, this excellent foot-path deposited me at Sandside, you can follow it through Sandside Cutting but on a clear day it’s far nicer to wander along the sea front, which I did. Just before the Ship Inn I stepped onto the salt marsh, the path meandered avoiding the wet bits, the song of traffic passed over my head, the road was just to my right, when the road swung away from the coast I joined it for a short walk over tarmac to a set of steps re-joining the old railway line.

My route soon descended to the banks of the River Bela, with the river for company I wandered to the single arched Milnthorpe Bridge, crossed the road then entered Dallam Park, the first heavy shower arrived as I wandered through the deer park, coat on I continued, way-marked paths ushered me to the Heron Corn Mill. A narrow trod leaves the car park, this I followed to a single ribbon of tarmac, turned left then strolled towards Beetham, next to the first house in the village a footpath ascends a large field vanishing into woodland, this I followed.

With way marked paths under foot I traversed the field, wandered through the woodland on Beetham Fell then strolled to the top of Whin Scar, the views from the limestone cliffs were limited, wet weather had again crept over my shoulder, with a little haste I headed for the tree cover of Underlaid Wood. Descending through the coppice woodland a wet slippery limestone path under foot I managed to come to grief, the bottom half of my leg turning the opposite way to the top, ignoring the pain hoping it would walk off I gingerly continued.

By the time I’d limped to Hazelslack it was obvious this injury was here for the duration, I needed to plot the simplest way back. I continued over tarmac passed Hazelslack Tower to access Carr Bank Road, Car Bank Road then guided me south to a finger-post promising passage to Arnside. After struggling over the stile I traversed a dry Arnside Moss, which made walking a tad easier, passed over a couple of drainage ditches then the railway line, just up the lane only a hundred yards Black Dyke Road my guide back to the Arnside sea front.

view route map.

home.

You can't visit Arnside without taking photos of the Kent Viaduct backed by Whitbarrow.

Across the Kent Channel sylvan Meathop Fell backed by the Newton Fells.

Big skies and extensive views over Milnthorpe Sands.

Arnside Knott rises in the distance, seen from Sandside.

Illuminated by the sun the White Scar cliffs of Whitbarrow.

Viewing Sandside from near the Ship Inn.

Across upper Morecambe Bay heavy weather washes down the Winster valley.

The lane through Dallam Park.

Sunlight on Castle Hill, remains of a Mott and Bailey Castle dating from the 11th century.

Dallam Tower, so named because it replaced a pele tower one of a number ringing Morecambe Bay.

Normally timid these chaps let me get so close I could almost touch them, a first.

Near the Heron Corn Mill car park looking to St Micheal's Church, Beetham.

Approaching the ruined cottage on Beetham Fell.

En route over Beetham Fell.

The polished cleft in the Whin Scar cliffs is known as the Fairy Steps....

....not so well known is this set further down the path, honed out of the limestone cliff to allow coffins to be carried to consecrated ground at Beetham.

One of a number of water filled Dykes draining Arnside Moss.

On the final stretch, the railway line is behind me, the views sylvan Beetham Fell.

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