South from Arnside return over Arnside Knott.

Start. Arnside.

Route. Arnside - Ash Meadow - New Barns - Frith Wood - White Creek - Arnside Point - Park Point - Far Arnside - Hollins Farm - Heathwaite - Arnside Knott Wood - Arnside Knott - Red Hills - Arnside (High Knott Road) - Red Hills Road - Silverdale Road - Arnside.

Notes. Arnside on the edge of Cumbria my favourite place in the whole of Northern England. Arnside sits on the estuary of the River Kent overlooking the upper reaches of Morecambe Bay, a small inconspicuous trading post, a tiny port until the Victorians arrived. They saw potential, a chance to escape the smog of the industrial revolution, building the grand houses you see today. Roundabout that time the Furness Railway Company built the Kent Viaduct causing the estuary to silt up, directly forcing small ports further up stream to close, for their trouble Arnside at least got a pier, the Compensation Pier. This is a good a spot to start this short but rewarding walk.

I left the pier heading down the estuary, the sky was grey, the tide rising fast, if I didn’t get a wiggle on I may have to make a diversion or two. Easy walking followed passed the old boat yard followed by New Barns Bay, I continued to follow the coast over shingle as I passed Frith Wood, once round the corner it was obvious rounding Blackstone Point was out of the question, so I accessed Frith Wood via an old quarry.

With woodland paths under foot I wandered on, the woods spat me out at the shingle bank at White Creek, after traversing said bank I joined cliff top paths. To the song of the rising tide I wandered on, round Arnside Point and Park Point, I wandered along the edge of Arnside Park to access the shingle beach at Far Arnside. From this beach laid down at the end of the last ice age I turned my back on the bay, wandered through the tiny hamlet of Far Arnside to join a fenced path cutting along the edge of a field, this ushered me to Hollins Farm and the start of a wide trod ascending over the shoulder of Heathwaite. Over limestone grassland I ascended, through scrub, soon reaching a cross-paths, I continued forward, still climbing, a rough limestone path now guiding me.

Now on the slopes of Arnside Knott, I knew from the top the views are stunning, the lucky walker can see across the rolling farmland of South Cumbria to the peaks of Lakeland and the Yorkshire Dales, down into Lancashire across the shifting sands of Morecambe Bay. I continued my ascent to reach a wicket gate allowing access to Red Hills, a large field. After passing through said gate I descended entering woodland at the bottom corner of the field, I emerged from the tree cover onto High Knott Road, all that remained to pick my way back through the streets of Arnside. Via High Knott Road, Red Hills Road and a steep descent of Silverdale Road I made my way back to the Arnside seafront.

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Viewing Arnside from Ash Meadow.

Ahead over New Barns Bay lays Frith Wood with Grange over Sands and Hampsfell to the right.

Following a reassuring path, looking north up the estuary towards Arnside.

Wandering along the tide line of the whispering sea, looking towards Blackstone Point, an alternative route was called for.

Soaking up the view from Blackstone Point.

Viewing the sylvan Newton Fells from the salt marsh at White Creek.

Kissed by the sea today, the limestone cliffs at Blackstone Point.

The scene over White Creek, in the distance the cliffs and woodland of Meathop Fell.

Above Arnside Point viewing Hampsfell and the white washed buildings of Grange over Sands.

The same view as above this time from Park Point.

Adventures through an extraordinary landscape where Arnside Park plunges into the waters of Morecambe Bay.

Lit by a colorless sun, the rising waters of Morecambe Bay.

Gentle woodland walking enlivened by the sound of the rising tide and the taste of salt on the breeze.

The ragged joint between rock and sea and sky.

The field of stone that is the shingle bank at Far Arnside.

Looking back over Heathwaite, taking in the view over Silverdale Bay to the Lancashire coast.

The long finger of Humphrey Head seen over Arnside Park.

Seen from Arnside Knott, Frith Wood and the fields of New Barns, across the bay the heights of Hampsfell.

On the ascent of Arnside Knott viewing the Newton Fells across upper Morecambe Bay.

Another stunning view over Arnside Park.

High on Arnside Knott looking north towards a grey Howgill Fells.

Descending through Red Hills looking to Whitbarrow backed by a stage set of Lakeland hills.

Visit Arnside and you've got to take a photo of the Kent Viaduct.

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