Arnside and Silverdale with John Edmondson

THE Arnside-Silverdale area is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This walk goes around the Morecambe Bay coastline from Arnside to Far Arnside and returns via Arnside Knott. The Bay is renowned for its fast tides, quicksands, shifting channels and unpredictability. Check the tide calendar for Arnside (https://www.tidetimes.org.uk/arnside-tide-times) and start walking at least two hours before high tide.

Start from Arnside Promenade, grid reference SD 455 786, postcode LA5 0AD.

1 From the western end of the promenade walk along the shore side footpath to New Barns. Turn left in front of the café, follow the path through the caravan site then turn left onto the cliff top path to Far Arnside.

Alternatively, keep to the right of the café and follow the shore side path signed Blackstone Point subject to Tide. If you choose to walk on the ‘sands’ (it’s really alluvial mud), keep close to the shore. Enter Far Arnside Caravan Park via a gate beside a red and white lifebelt box.

2 Keep left up through the caravan park and along the bridleway, passing a road barrier and phone box. Keep straight along the lane on the footpath signed Silverdale. Cross Cove Road onto the path signed Holgates Caravan Park and Silverdale, going through two gates and along a wall and fence on the right.

Walk through woodland to a path leading past the park facilities building. Turn left onto the road, pass the cricket club and turn right where the road bends left. Walk along the lane to the Cove, which looks like a fictitious smugglers bay.

3 Turn left onto the cliff top path and cross The Lots. Turn left on the road and left at the junction onto Emesgate Lane towards Arnside. Pass the clock and The Royal then after the church fork left onto a footpath leading to Cove Road. Turn right, then left, up Woodlands Drive to pass the Woodlands Inn.

Where the drive bends right, join the path ahead that turns left up to Eaves Wood.

Keep left along the path beside the wood. Where the tarmacked lane ends continue along a gravel path and alongside a tall wire fence on the left then behind a caravan park. Follow the yellow markers through the park site and after 100 yards turn left onto a path leading to Arnside Tower.

4 This late 14 or early 15th century pele tower was built to defend sieges from Scottish invaders. Building materials were removed from it in the late 17th century and a severe storm in 1884 caused further destruction. Descend to the farm then cross the road into Arnside Knott woods.

Follow the path signed Arnside, turning right at the top of a slope through a field gate.

At the top of the slope turn right onto a path and bear left on a grassy track to the summit of Arnside Knott.

Owned and managed by the National Trust, this site is home to rare species of butterflies such as the High Brown Fritillary and Scotch Argus. June and July are the best months to see them.

After enjoying views north across the Kent Estuary to the Lake District fells turn left and descend through Eggerslack Wood and return to Arnside.

Distance: 8.5 miles; 900 feet of ascent

Time: 4 hours

Terrain: sand, grassy footpaths and quiet roads

Map: OS Explorer OL7