South from Arnside return over Heathwaite and Arnside Knott.

Start. Arnside.

Route. Arnside - New Barns - Blackstone Point - White Creek - Arnside Point - Park Point - Arnside Park - Heathwaite - Arnside Knott Wood - Arnside Knott - Knott Road - Arnside.

Notes. This short but interesting ramble I did the other day in good old South Cumbria wind and rain, I thought it might blow over but alas, I started wet and finished extremely wet and muddy. Today was better, I had to scrape ice from the car windscreen, the sun had yet to rise but I was off, heading South to the coast, my intention exactly the same walk but this morning the weather gods were in their Heaven.

As I left Arnside the sun was just rising to the east painting the estuary a wonderful pallet of yellows, gold's, blues and reds, this kaleidoscope of colour forced a change of plan. Last time I was in a hurry to reach the shelter of the many acres of coppice woodland surrounding Arnside and bordering the sands of Morecambe Bay. Today under wonderful conditions the bay beckoned, I'll do the walk counterclockwise, savour the ever changing light as long as possible.

From Arnside I rambled south, passed the old boat yard and the home of the Arnside and South Lakes Coastguard Rescue Team, I strolled down the estuary, round New Barns Bay to be greeted by a finger-post inviting me to amongst other places Blackstone Point, this is billed the low tide route, as it was low tide I continued along the coast. Stoney paths guided my along the edge of Frith Wood, I passed the remains of the short jetty at Blackstone Point, this jetty, a few cut stones and iron mooring rings if you can find them marked the point the bay opened out.

The vast expanse of mud, hidden channels and quick sand is not to be taken lightly, so dangerous is it at the present time a number of charity walks have been canceled, the Queens Guide to the Sands Cedric Robinson sadly deemed the bay unsafe to cross, the first time in over 50 years. Me I wandered over the sands keeping a short distance from the limestone cliffs bordering Arnside Park.

I wandered passed White Creek and Arnside Point, the cliffs at Park Point marked the location I turned inland, the start of my conquest of Arnside Knott. The limestone cliffs made for an easy scramble, once in the woods I joined a path ascending Heathwaite. If you follow in my footsteps once you find this path keep climbing, you may not go the same way but you'll get to Heathwaite none-the-less..

The path I followed ascended before running parallel to the coast, I joined a second path, not so obvious, this ushered me along the edge of high dear fencing. That reminds me up to now I have seen loads of various wading birds and some ducks, now in these woods apart from wood pigeons and grey squirrels I was lucky enough to catch sight of a couple of owls and quite a few dear, all too quick to photograph, they knew I was there long before I saw them.

The high fences guided me to another path junction, I continued uphill to be welcomed by a metal sign announcing I was about to enter the National Trust owned Heathwaite. The path guided me in and out of spectacular views before depositing me on the bridleway carving it's route across the shoulder of Arnside Knott. Ignoring the path opposite I turned right passed through a gate, a few yards further on I turned left. Loads of paths ascend Arnside Knott this was just one of them, I passed through another gate then attacked the hill. Arnside Knott Wood is light and airy with some good views to be had if you care to lift the eye from the toe of the boot, I stopped a few times before joining a faint path on the right, this narrow stoney trod guided me above the Arndale Face of the knott, I sat on a bench and just drank in the views.

Once I'd had my fill I traversed the knott descending passed what remains of the Knotty Tree, a Victorian effort to knott two trees together. Further down the hill I passed through a small copse to be welcomed by a view indicator, an excellent spot to stop and soak up the Lakeland skyline, from the view indicator I dropped over steep ground to access Knott Road, the narrow ribbon of tarmac that ushered me back into Arnside.

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A slice of tranquility, the estuary before sun rise.

Hampsfell across the Kent Channel with sylvan Meathop Fell the lower to the right.

The Kent Viaduct backed by the limestone scars and cliffs of Whitbarrow.

A distant Kents Bank captures the early morning sun light.

Early morning light on the White Scar face of Whitbarrow.

Again Whitbarrow with cloud rising from the marshland of Faulshaw and Bellart How Mosses.

From New Barns wonderful morning views to Meathop Fell.

Backed by Grubbins Wood, New Barns Bay.

At Park Point viewing the long finger of Know End Point.

Stunning vistas over the vast expanse of Morecambe Bay.

Heathwaite provides a fine viewpoint, the shifting sands of Morecambe Bay and the Silverdale coast.

In one of the clearings on Heathwaite enjoying this wonderful panorama over Morecambe Bay.

Humphrey Head captured over the tree tops of Arnside Park.

Above the Arndale face of Arnside Knott, just drinking in views over Eaves Wood and Warton Crag to the grey hills of Bowland.

Viewing Whitbarrow backed by a skyline of Lakeland favourites.

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