Walks in Silverdale and Arnside. Brian Evans

station to the village. The Carnforth Connect Line 1 between Carnforth and Milnthorpe links the villages of Warton, the Yealands, Hale and Beetham and a Stagecoach service runs from Kendal to Arnside. More information about transport in the area is available from Carnforth Connect on 01524 734311.

      For the Hutton Roof and Farleton area a frequent bus service links Lancaster to Burton and Holme.

Using this guide

      The routes described in this guide lie largely within the Arnside and Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which encompasses almost the whole of the land to the west of the A6 between Warton and Milnthorpe. To the east of the M6, and outside the AONB, are the equally beautiful limestone hills of Farleton Fell and Knott, Holme Park Fell and Hutton Roof Crags.

      Most of the walks are on well signed, well trodden paths suitable for all the family. Footwear should have a sole with a good grip and be substantial enough to withstand rough terrain. On Hutton Roof Crags the terrain is especially rocky and rugged, and here boots are an advantage. Note that in wet conditions limestone can be treacherously slippery underfoot and care must be taken on the limestone pavements with their numerous crevices. The woodland paths have many tree roots and sections of rough stony terrain. Scrambling along the rocky shore has become more difficult since the demise of the salt-marsh and care needs to taken to heed the incoming tide. There are safe high-tide options.

      Glistening channels of Morecambe Bay

      The walks are short, mostly between three and eight miles. Although they may occupy only an afternoon or short day, they can be easily linked into longer walks, and all the routes here are of sufficient length to feel that you have accomplished something. The walks are packed with interest and inevitably take longer than their length implies. The network of paths enables walks to be shortened or lengthened at will.

      Times are based on a moderate pace without taking into account any major halts. Fast walkers could easily link two walks in a day. Remember that a fast walker sees little apart from the path at his or her feet, while the connoisseur always takes an hour or two longer. It would be a pity to visit an area which is so rich in plant, bird and animal life and not be aware of it. The network of paths is well walked and jealously loved by locals. The walks are on rights of way or permissive paths, or over Open Access land.

      Maps

      The most useful map of the area is the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Outdoor Leisure sheet 7, The English Lakes South Eastern Area, which covers all the area described in this book. The 1:50,000 Landranger sheet 97 Kendal to Morecambe could also be used. It should be possible easily to follow the walks from the sketch maps in this book, which include the important features for walkers. The sketch maps also show possibilities for extending or shortening the walks.

SILVERDALE AND ARNSIDE AREA

      Between Silverdale and Cow’s Mouth low limestone seas cliffs border the rocky shore

      INTRODUCTION

      Arnside Knott seen from the edge of the wood on Walk 6

      This is the heart of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with a rich diversity of limestone landscape, flora and fauna. The walks offer all the attractions of coast, woodland, pasture and hill that make the area so special, and will enable visitors to develop a real appreciation of the AONB.

      The area bounded by the villages of Warton to the south, the Yealands to the east, Milnthorpe to the north and Arnside and Silverdale on the coast to the west contains blocks of low wooded hills separated by flat basins. One of these basins is home to the Leighton Moss RSPB Reserve, and the nearby Hawes Water Moss is also a haven for wildlife. Arnside Moss and Silverdale Moss have been reclaimed as pasture, and Hale Moss, on the eastern edge of the area, is a mix of woodlands and marsh.

      Warton Crag is the prominent hill clearly seen from the M6 to the west, and the low northwards undulation of Cringlebarrow provides shelter for the Yealands. Hale Fell, Whin Scar and Haverbrack Fell form a woodland cloak above Beetham and Arnside Knott rises sufficiently to form a hill recognisable from afar. Silverdale lies within a shallow bay, defined to the north by Heathwaite, which extends from Arnside Knott to the edge of the bay, and to the south by the promontory of Heald Brow. Slightly inland lies the well-wooded Middlebarrow, its woodlands extending to the limestone pavement of Gait Barrows.

      Stone slit stiles are an attractive feature encountered on all the walks in the area. They comprise two upstanding limiestone stones in the wall with a narrow gap to allow passage. Often the base is so narrow that a dog needs help to pass through. More recently, older wooden stiles have been replaced by tasteful wicket gates.

      The abundant limekilns in the area, many of which were neglected, overgrown and often stripped of their stone, have been restored with money from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Under the same scheme many kilometres of crumbling drystone wall have been restored since 2002.

WALK 1

      South from Silverdale: Jack Scout, Jenny Brown’s Point and Heald Brow

Start/Finish	Silverdale, end of Shore Road (SD 458749)
Distance	3½ miles (5.6km)
Total Ascent	75m (246ft)
Time	2–2½hrs
Refreshments	Silverdale Hotel on Shore Road, Royal Hotel in village centre; cafés in Silverdale and at Kayes Nursery Gardens and Wolfhouse Gallery
Toilets	Silverdale near Gaskell Hall
Parking	Public car park on shore

      The route offers varied, mostly easy walking with stunning views across the bay. There is a stretch of lane walking at the start, since erosion of the salt-marsh has removed the easy walking along the base of the cliffs. A short section past Brown’s Houses may be impassable for a time at the highest tides. The ascent of Heald Brow includes some rough and rocky sections.

      Start from the car park (honesty box) at the end of Shore Road. Park carefully as the highest tides can cover the car park. Walk back towards the village along Shore Road, and 40m before the Silverdale Hotel turn right along a gravel drive between a house and a garage. A footpath leads on to emerge at Lindeth Road. Turn right and walk past Kayes Nursery Gardens to a junction at Wolfhouse Gallery. Keep straight on the narrower lane at Gibraltar Farm past Lindeth Tower and soon there is access on the right to Jack Scout, a National Trust area of heathland. Descend to see the restored limekiln. See how the top of the kiln was lined with sandstone to prevent the kiln itself burning away.

      Limekiln at Jack Scout

      Continue on the path opposite the kiln, over a slight rise and curving left. Soon you reach the edge of Cow’s Mouth; keep along the cliff top on a fenced path with beautiful views over the bay. Don’t miss the Giant’s Seat, a few metres up grass on the left, a large slab of limestone with a walled back, in a commanding position.

      THE GIANT’S SEAT

      The prospect is so good that the seat is irresistible. It is an excellent spot to watch the tide racing in, far more reassuring than from the foot of the cliffs! In winter you will see huge flocks of dunlin and knott which congregate in tight groups and feed on