ARNSIDE, CUMBRIA

SUNDAY, 27TH APRIL 2008

Coach Leader: Jackie Gudgeon

Coach Leaves at 5.30 pm

Please read these coach notes carefully - they will help you to decide which walk will be the most suitable for you. If you have any doubts, do not hesitate to ask the leader for advice. For the safety and enjoyment of yourself and others, please try not to join a walk which is beyond your capabilities.
Please respect the wishes of the walks leader and remain with the walk until the end. If you are struggling - inform the walk leader so that he/she can make a decision to shorten the walk, have more rest, etc.

TODAY'S WALKS

Strenuous Leader: Jean Thomas Distance: 10 miles

From Arnside, along the shore to New Barns and then round past Arnside Point, through Hollins Farm (caravan park), up through Arnside Knott Woods and down to Arnside Tower. Round Middle Barrow Plain and King William Hill, then taking path beside the railway line to Black Dyke and back to Arnside.

Moderate Leader: Adelaide Houghton Distance: 8 miles

Starting from Arnside, we follow the rocky shoreline to New Barns (tide permitting), through caravan site and Arnside Park Woods to Far Arnside and Silverdale (for lunch). Turning via Middle Barrow caravan park, Arnside Tower, and Copridding Wood and back to Arnside. Woodland, field paths and tracks. Can be slippy in wet weather.

Leisurely Leader: Ruth Melling & Hazel Anderton Distance : approx 7 miles

A lovely walk along the beach to begin with on the estuary of the River Kent, up through the caravan park (possible toilet and coffee stop) before walking through the woods to Arnside Knott. Wonderful views of the estuary and the railway bridge across the estuary, before coming back along the promenade to Arnside.

Extra Leisurely Walk. Leader: Jackie Gudgeon Distance: 6 miles

Setting off from Arnside promenade, up past the coastguard station and the youth hostel, then following lane and track to the foot of Arnside Knott. A very steep but mercifully short climb takes us to a fantastic viewpoint and then across to the summit of Arnside Knott. Down through the woods and across to the hamlet of Black Dyke, from where we follow the railway line and woodland to Arnside Tower. Back to Arnside through Copridding Wood and the beach. Please note this is a leisurely walk and will be taken at a leisurely pace, with plenty of time to "admire the view" on the short climb.

Easy Leader: Philomena Walker Distance: 4.5 miles

Leaving the Pier and treading carefully, we make our way along he rocky foreshore towards a surfaced track, through a caravan park, and onto a grassy trail leading to the woodland path along the top of the cliff, with views of Morecambe Bay to our right.
On reaching Far Arnside a stroll along a lane will bring us to the driveway of a caravan park (a nice place for lunch). From here we cross pastureland to pick up the path through Copridding Woods down to New Barns and back to Arnside. Taking our time, we can admire the impressive views all around this area.
The ascent to the cliff path is very gradual, and taken at an easy pace.

NOTES ON THE AREA

Still popular today, Arnside, where the River Kent enters Morecambe Bay, was especially so in the 19th century when pleasure boats would arrive from Morecambe and Fleetwood, and barges plied the river, carrying coal and limestone. Then it was a busy little port in the county of Westmorland (and the county's only link with the sea), but one that succumbed as more accessible places robbed it of its trade. Before the 19th century, Arnside was only a small village, part of the parish of Beetham, and without its own graveyard, which meant that the dead had to be carried to Beetham for burial. The church of St James, built by Miles Thompson of Kendal, is late Victorian, enlarged in 1884, 1905 and 1914.

Now Arnside is a modest sized, unspoilt holiday resort of limestone-built houses and cottages. Arnside was originally a port for the mills of Milnthorpe, four miles north-east. It was also a base for fishermen who gathered flukes and cockles from the sands. Horses and carts would wind their way over the glistening wet sands as the tide receded and the fishermen would rake vigorously until the water rose to the surface, bringing with it a harvest of cockles which were boiled, then transported to the market. In addition flukes, flounders and shrimps are plentiful in the bay and trade is still carried on today, although tractors have replaced the horse and cart.

The area around north Lancashire and southern Cumbria is dotted with limestone hills rising to just over 400 feet - Warton Crag, Whitbarrow Scar, Hutton Roof, Arnside Knott and many others. Below these hills lie quiet villages built from the local stone: Yealand Conyers, Burton, Hutton, Levens, Arnside and Silverdale to mention just a few. It is a walkers paradise. There are many well marked paths and evidences of wild life and local history.

The estuary is a haven for coastal birds, and the surrounding countryside contains a wealth of flora and fauna, including deer, red squirrels, foxes and badgers, while anglers fish the fast-flowing estuarial waters for eels and flounders.

Arnside Knott stands above the village to the south, with distant views of the Cumbrian fells. Access is by rights of way only, though it has been in National Trust ownership since it was given anonymously in 1946. The Knott is surrounded by wooded hills, heathland and salt marshes that have done much to secure for Arnside and its neighbouring village of Silverdale in Lancashire the designation of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The village owes much to the coming of the railway during the 19th century. A splendid viaduct, originally built by the Furness Railway Company, connects Arnside with the north bank of the Kent, a service that today provides a vital and invaluable link between Lancashire and the towns and villages of Furness (which once belonged to Lancashire).

The ruined remains of Arnside Tower stand in a wide valley to the south of Arnside Knott. It is a large pele tower, thought to have been constructed in the 15th century as a defence against raiding Scots. Fire virtually destroyed the tower in 1602.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

NEXT RAMBLE.

Sunday 1st June 2008. Haworth, Yorkshire.

Leaders: Strenuous: Rowland Nock, Moderate: Sue Daniels, Leisurely: Maurice Hall, Easy: Norma Carmichael.

Bookings Derek Lee. Cheques to Skelmersdale Rambling Club.

Coach pick-up times: Ormskirk bus station 8.40 am, Railway Road, Skelmersdale 8.50 am, Skelmersdale Baths car park 9.00 am.

Will walk leaders please let Jackie have details of their walks as far before the walk as possible. At least a week would be nice. Thanks. Those who have the technology can e-mail your notes - please use the address on the Contacts page.

SKELMERSDALE CHURCHES RAMBLING CLUB

Saturday 10th May 2008. Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire..

Coach leaves Ormskirk Bus Station 8.30 am, Railway Road Bus Stop 8.45 am, Skelmersdale Baths Car Park 8.50 am, Upholland Labour Club 9.00 am. Bookings: Yvonne Turton.

RAMBLERS ASSOCIATION WEST LANCS GROUP

A very few tickets left for Monday, 5th May 2008. May Day Bank Holiday. Coach to Grassington. Strenuous, Moderate and Easy walks. Pick up Burscough 8.30 am, Ormskirk 8.45 am, Skelmersdale Baths 9.00 am. Tickets £10. Bookings on 01772 812034 or see Jackie on coach today.

Wednesday, 7th May 2008. 1.30 pm. Worthington Lakes. 6 miles.

Wednesday, 21st May 2008. 7.00 pm Vicarage Lane by ruff Wood, Ormskirk. 5 miles.

Monday, 26th May 2008. 10.30 am. Ribble Valley from Pope Croft car park in village centre, Ribchester. 9 miles.

CLUB NOTES

COACH BOOKING AND MEMBERSHIP

Please ensure that, before boarding your coach on the return journey, you complete your booking for the next ramble. It would be helpful if you could tell the coach booking officer if you do not intend to book for the next coach. Also, if you need to see Linda re paying membership subscriptions, please do this also before boarding the coach. Thanks.

Please try to be back from your cup of tea or pint in plenty of time to book the next ramble before boarding the coach - bearing in mind that now we have two coaches this process can take quite a while!

RUCKSACKS

Please store rucksacks, poles etc in the coach luggage compartment. Rucksacks etc should not be brought into the coach, except (with the prior permission of the driver on the day) for those two or three people who are getting off the coach on the way home at places other than the main dropping off points. Please remember that the rucksack rule is for our comfort and safety on the coach. Most members find it easy enough to bring a smaller bag on to the coach containing those things which are needed 'on the coach', and this requires only a little bit of thought when packing in the morning. Thanks.

Please make every effort to ensure that, when you leave the bus, you take all your possessions with you. Please check the luggage rack, under the seat, etc, not to mention the boot. Please try not to take anyone else's stuff. Thanks.

HAPPY RAMBLING!

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SKELMERSDALE RAMBLING CLUB