North from Arnside return over Beetham Fell.

Start. Arnside.

Route. Arnside - Arnside Railway Station - Sandside - Summerhouse Point - Milnthorpe Bridge - Dallam Park - Beetham - Beetham Fell - Whin Scar - Longtail Wood - Storth - Four Lanes End - Storth Road - Sandside - Arnside Railway Station - Arnside.

Notes. This was a pleasant circuit varied in woodland, estuary, park land and limestone crags. The weather gods smiled on me today, the forecast promised blue sky and heat, so I made an early start, 4.00am. You may think lock downs sent me over the edge but I got far more than was promised, far more than I deserved. To all you walkers and photographers who prefer a lay in, tough you missed the top of the bill.

God was in his heaven as I left Arnside, not only had he gifted me blue sky, a sunrise but mist, blankets of the stuff clinging to trees and hill sides, hanging over the salt marsh, illuminated from above by a rising ball of fire. I left Arnside via the old railway line, easy walking to Sandside, after wandering along the sea front I stepped onto a path running along the edge of the salt marsh, shadowing the road, this path ejected me onto the road where it swings in land. A short stretch of tarmac walking followed before I was able to join a path running along an old railway embankment, this guided me to the River Bela, which in turn ushered me into Dallam Park.

Through the park I wandered, my timing was perfect, the mist was burning off allowing the sun to warm the landforms around me. I continued passed an 18th century Deer House and a ha-ha, (a wall and ditch), a method of walling without ruining the expanse of parkland. I left Dallam Park stepping onto the Herron Corn Mill car park, I turned right joining a bridleway that guided me between dry stone walls and hedge rows to access a narrow tarmac lane, I turned to head into Beetham.

Next to the first house a finger-post invited me to Hazelslack, I obliged squeezing through a narrow stile before ascending a large field, the next stile allowed access to sylvan Beetham Fell. Over the fell I wandered, way marked paths under foot, as the tree cover gave way to light and blue sky I emerged above the Whin Scar cliffs, in front of me a narrow fissure the Fairy Steps. I ignored the narrow cleft opting to wander around the end of the scarp, once passed the foot of the Fairy Steps another finger-post welcomed me, can’t remember what it said but I ignored Hazelslack and headed north through dense woodland destination Cockshot Lane.

When I emerged from the tree cover a signed cairn advised me I had reached two paths leading to Cockshot Lane, after opting for the left hand path I entered Long Tail Wood. Good tracks and paths safely guided me to a large field, I entered heading for the north west corner and a stile allowing access to Cockshot Lane. With tarmac under foot I strolled into Storth turning right at Four Lanes End, passed modern bungalows and older stone built houses I wandered, passed a tiny church before another finger-post welcomed me, a promise to guide me to Sandside. After wandering up what looked like a private drive a narrow path emerged from my left, this I followed through woodland to access the Sandside Road.

This is a busy road with no pavements, I carefully walked to Sandside where I left the road stepping onto the path that guided me out of Arnside earlier, with the railway path under foot I slowly wandered back, the mist of earlier had burned off gifting me with crystal clear views over the upper reaches of Morecambe Bay.

view route map.

home.

Early morning mist hangs over the Kent Estuary.

The solitary pleasures of the lone walker, the ambience of early morning and the mournful cry of estuary birds in the mist.

Viewing Crag Wood with Faulshaw Moss under a blanket of mist.

Backed by the golden glow of dawn, rising above the morning mist Heversham Head.

My guide into the murky world of early morning, as it happened it also guided me back through a crystal clear day.

Seen from Sandside, Arnside Knott.

Viewing the Kent Estuary from Sandside.

Sunrise paints the estuary with golden light.

The mist's slowly burning off revealing the landscape to a new day.

Summerhouse Point evaporates into the morning mist.

Haverbrack Bank seen from the banks of the River Bela.

The River Bela seen through the mornings golden gown.

Milnthorpe Bridge over the River Bela, as seen from Dallam Park.

Wonderfull reflections.

Wandering through the gentle rolling landscape of Dallam Park.

From Dallam Park views to Farleton Fell.

Ha-ha, a wall and ditch, a method of walling without ruining the expanse of park land.

Wandering over Beetham Fell a reassuring path under foot.

Above the Fairy Steps looking out over Underlaid Wood to the sylvan slopes of Arnside Knott.

The Fairy Steps.

The changing moods of Morecambe Bay, the mist of earlier has dissipated revealing the estuary to a stunning day.

Whitbarrow seen beyond upper Morecambe Bay.

Wooded Arnside Knott seen over the salt marsh north of Arnside.

The rugged heights and limestone cliffs of Whitbarrow.

I started with a shot of the Kent Viaduct so before heading home for breakfast lets finish with one.

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