ARNSIDE, CUMBRIA

SUNDAY, 5TH SEPTEMBER 2010

Coach Leader: Leo & Jean Keenan

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

Moderate Leader: Leo & Jean Keenan Distance: 8.5 miles

We leave Arnside along the Promenade and then climb steadily to reach the viewpoint on top of Arnside Knott (about 160 metres). From here we descend through Arnside Knott Wood to Arnside Tower, then Middlebarrow Plain and Eaves Wood, stopping at Silverdale for lunch and toilet break. After lunch we return to Arnside via Far Arnside and New Barns along the shore line (tide permitting).

Leisurely Leader: Hazel Anderton Distance: Approx 7 miles

We start off along the promenade, and the shore, tide and weather permitting, heading towards New Barn. We then go up through a caravan park and head around the cliffs with lovely views across part of Morecambe Bay. We head towards another caravan park where we can use the facilities at the restaurant if we buy a little something. We then make our way towards the top of Arnside Knott where there are more great views of the estuary and the bridge before finally coming back down to the promenade.

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 RAMBLES;

Sunday, 26th September 2010. Ingleton, Yorkshire Dales.

Leaders: Strenuous: Dag Griffiths, Moderate: Ruth Melling & Hazel Anderton, Leisurely: Suli Adam, Easy: Joan McGlinchey and Cynthia Prescott.

Sunday, 10th October 2010. Lyme Park, Cheshire

Leaders: Moderate: Selwyn Williams & Jackie Gudgeon, Leisurely: Joan McGlinchey & Margaret Black, Easy: Derek Lee.

Bookings Derek Lee. 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, 11th September 2010. Church Stretton, Shropshire.

Coach leaves Ormskirk Bus Station 8.30 am, Railway Road Bus Stop 8.40 am, Skelmersdale Baths Car Park 8.50 am, Upholland Labour Club 9.00 am. Bookings: Jackie Gudgeon. Coach Fare £9 (non-members £10).

RAMBLERS ASSOCIATION WEST LANCS GROUP

Wednesday, 15th September 2010. 1.30 pm. Lathom from Vicarage Lane, by Ruff Wood, Ormskirk. 5 miles.

Sunday, 19th September 2010. 1.30 pm. Eccleston from Carrington Centre (Somerfields) car park. 6 miles.

SEFTON & DISTRICT FOOTPATH GROUP

Sunday, 12th September 2010. Lydiate, Sandy Lane.

Walks are between 5 & 6 miles. Tel: Carol or Clare for more details.

CLUB NOTES

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL

Membership became renewable at the AGM on the 9th June 2010. If you have not already done so, please be sure to pay your subs (£10) to Lin as soon as possible to protect your membership rights. Membership must be renewed by the end of September at the latest!

COACH BOOKING

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.

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. YOU WILL APPRECIATE THAT IT IS NOT FAIR TO THE OTHER PASSENGERS OR TO THE COACH DRIVER IF THE COACH IS LATE IN LEAVING.

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.

If anything is left behind on the bus when we get to Ormskirk, I usually take it home with me (being last to get off) so please ring me as soon as you notice if you are missing anything - Jackie.

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SKELMERSDALE RAMBLING CLUB