North from Silverdale return through Arnside Park.

Start. Silverdale.

Route. Silverdale - The Lots - Silverdale Cove - Cove Road - Holgates - Far Arnside - Park Point - Arnside Point - New Barns - Copridding Wood - Arnside Knott Wood - Arnside Tower - Middlebarrow Plane - Eaves Wood - Pepper Pot - Woodlands - Bottoms Lane - Silverdale.

Notes. I don't know, what's happened to crisp winter mornings, cold fingers scraping frost from the windscreen, a light dusting of snow on the high fells. It was drizzling again, grey, overcast and colourless, a real depressing day. So not to get too depressed I headed south, no great expectations just a chance to walk the excesses of Christmas day off. I disembarked in Silverdale, a little bit brighter but that was not to last.

Once togged up I headed across the Lots to Silverdale Cove, I had intended to pick my way across the mud of the bay but it was far too wet and soft, safer to stick to terra firma Up Cove Road I wandered to access Holgates, friendly finger-posts then ushered me through the holiday park, I traversed cow pastures full of the damned things to access Far Arnside, where I made straight for the shore line. It doesn't matter what the weather's like I could wander this coast all day, unfortunately I only had a mile and a half of it so wandered slowly. Sticking to cliff top paths I strolled to New Barns where I turned my back on Morecambe Bay.

The tarmac lane that leaves the coast at New Barns guided me to a path leading into Copridding Wood, this well trod path then shepherded me up the hill through mature woodland, after a short climb I reached the main route cutting across the shoulder of Arnside Knott, a finger-post promised passage to Heathwaite or Arnside Tower, I turned right, away from the knott my sights where set firmly on Arnside Tower, Eaves Wood and the Pepper Pot. After descending through Arnside Knott Wood I reached Arnside Tower.

The path passed behind the ruinous tower, next to a gate a ladder stile allowed access to the woodland on Middlebarrow Plane. Ascending in the company of a dry stone wall I passed through two gates ascended a number of limestone shelves before a stile allowed access to Eaves Wood. I crossed then immediately turned right, today my route would be a lesser trod path. Keeping a dry stone wall to my right this lesser trod path ushered me to the limestone scar of Castlebarrow.

Eaves Wood my favourite woodland in the north of England, and I guess many other peoples. Planted by Victorian entrepreneurs ferns and Lilly-of-the-Valley thrive under Small-leaved Limes, fallen leaves blanket the forest floor under the grey giant Beech plantation, hidden grassy glades and twisted old Junipers, open limestone pavements and an old friend, the Pepper Pot erected to celebrate queen Victoria's Jubilee, it's a lovely place Eaves Wood.

I left the Pepper Pot descending to the south, at the foot of the hill I stepped onto a wide trod running along the edge of the wood, this I followed east passed a row of formidable limestone structures to reach a path junction, I believe these large platforms are water tanks, fed from a spring further up the hill, once used to supply water to Woodlands. I turned right immediately leaving the woodland descending to Park Road, directly across the road the tarmac of Bottoms Lane, this I followed passed the cemetery to a finger-post inviting me to Silverdale. This green trod guided me through a couple of fields then down a narrow lane behind the church depositing me on the main road through Silverdale village, all I had to do was wander back to the parked car.

view route map.

home.

The fishermen's cottages on the Silverdale coast, across the divide of Morecambe Bay a grey Humphrey Head.

Know Hill and the vast ark of the Lancashire coast, stretching from here on The Lots to Heysham Power station on the far horizon.

Silverdale Cove looking to Arnside Park, across the horizon a hazy grey Hampsfell.

Viewing Know Hill from the shingle beach at Far Arnside.

On the deserted beach at Far Arnside, in the distance Grange-over-Sands.

A wonderful play of light across the shifting sand of Morecambe Bay.

The view across Silverdale Bay taking in the long finger of Know End Point.

Striding out through Arnside Park.

Above the cliffs at Arnside Point looking to Meathop Fell.

Sea washed turf at New Barns.

A watery winters sun strains to break through the cloud cover, seen through a birch tree on the edge of Copridding Wood.

A somber view to Arnside Tower.

On Castlebarrow enjoying this grey hazy view over the Lancashire coast.

To the west melting into the grey distance Humphrey Head.

The Pepper Pot always worth a visit.

Over the wall to my left Eaves Wood, over the wall to the right private housing, round the corner....

....these strange structures, I'm lead to believe they were water tanks supplying water to Woodlands.

En route through sheep pastures to Silverdale looking to Eaves Wood.

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