North from Arnside return over Haverbrack Fell.
Start. Arnside.
Route. Arnside - Arnside Railway Station - Arnside/Hincaster Railway (disused) - Sandside - Haverbrack Fell - Cockshot Lane - Underlaid Wood - Beetham Fell - Whin Scar - Fairy Steps - Hazelslack - Arnside Moss - Black Dyke Road - Arnside.
Notes. I had no intention of walking out of Arnside today, I was heading into the Lakes, work commitments forcing me into a late start, now I'm in heavy traffic, in fact the traffic and weather as I drove over Kendal bypass was grim. Cloud hung low over Lakeland summits, mist swirled and drifted in the air making for poor visibility, the sky reflecting in the rear view mirror gave hope of better weather to the south, I turned around at the Crook roundabout, that's how I got to be in Arnside, and what better place to be, if I could only find a parking space. This little village overlooking the upper reaches of Morecambe Bay had certainly attracted the crowds today, a quick look at fellow walkers tramping along the promenade confirmed a theory, large back packs, heavy gortex jackets, three and four season boots, all here to escape grey Lakeland, I found a parking space and joined them.
I escaped the crowds by crossing the railway line via the splendid foot-bridge at Arnside Station, guided by the track bed of the disused Arnside/Hincaster Railway I wandered to Sandside. Now with a tarmac pavement under foot I continued, just after the Ship Inn a footpath cut between buildings, I followed this onto a narrow lane, turned left to continue my little outing. It's quite industrial along this small stretch of tarmac, old and new, I passed some substantial industrial lime kilns before reaching a finger-post inviting me to Haverbrack, I obliged ascending through woodland and sheep pastures, a kissing gate welcomed me to the fell top, I passed through said gate to access yet more woodland. For the next mile and a half way marked paths guided me through coppice woodland, I followed the tarmac of Cockshot Lane a few yards before joining the substantial path to the Fairy Steps. Woodland continued, the path over Beetham Fell guided me to a faint path traversing the Whin Scar cliffs, this narrow trod carried me to the Fairy Steps where I paused to chat to other walkers and enjoy the views.
From the Fairy Steps I turned west, an old coffin route under foot, through dense woodland, over limestone scars and through sheep pastures alive with newly born lambs I strolled, a short stretch of tarmac conveyed me through Hazelslack Farm where I joined a foot path on the left. More pasture this time quite wet under foot, I should have known better, ignoring the voices in my head I continued across Arnside Moss, this was walking for clowns, and I was the clown in the middle of the mire, water over the boots walking, lots of it, by the time I reached high ground I'd given up trying to keep dry. With a set of wet footprints in my wake, I squelched back to the sea front at Arnside.
Seen from the sea front at Arnside, the Kent Viaduct backed by Whitbarrow.
Delightful little railway station at Arnside.
Views taken across the salt marsh to the north of Arnside, the high ground, Haverbrack Fell.
This old track bed makes for easy walking, here's a view looking back to Arnside Knott.
The Kent Channel at Sandside.
From Sandside views south, clearly visible the Kent Viaduct and sylvan Arnside Knott.
The limestone cliffs of Whitbarrow as seen from Sandside.
Industrial lime ovens at Sandside.
Ascending Haverbrack Fell with views over the upper reaches of Morecambe Bay for company.
Rising above the tree tops to the right, Farleton Fell.
Views taken from near the summit of Haverbrack Fell, Foulshaw Moss seen over Milnthorpe Sands.
Guiding me to the Fairy Steps this narrow trod above the Whin Scar cliffs, and.....
.....this view awaits the lucky rambler, from above the Fairy Steps Arnside Knott with Hampsfell across the Kent Channel.
The same view from a lower tier of cliffs, I'm following an old coffin route winding it's way through various clefts in the Whin Scar cliffs.
Free of the tree cover, looking to Underlaid Wood, guardian of Whin Scar and the Fairy Steps.
Hazelslack Tower, once the wing of a fortified farm house, believed to date back to the 14th century.
Carr Bank as seen from Arnside Moss.
One of the dykes draining Silverdale and Arnside Mosses, not draining them fast enough for my liking, I'm standing here with wet feet, it's a good job the skin's waterproof, they're about to get a lot wetter.