Part 2 – Lancaster – Arnside – 16.5 miles
(Ordnance Survey maps OL41 and OL7)
Start at the ‘Captured Africans’ slave trade memorial at SD476620. Go up the steps and onto the raised footpath. Follow the path north-east (upstream) using the subway to get under the main road. This brings you out onto the path alongside the River Lune (SD478621) heading upstream. This is part of the Lune Valley Ramble. Pass the impressive Skerton Weir until you reach the even more impressive Lune Aqueduct at SD484649. Rise onto the path up the side of the aqueduct and onto the towpath of the Lancaster Canal. Follow this towpath left (west) for 3 miles.
At SD469663 leave the canal at Hest Bank and head NW down Station Road towards the coast. Cross the railway at SD468665 and turn north onto the Lancashire Coastal Path. Follow this north-west. At SD476678 the path rises to a small trig point. Continue down towards the caravan site and follow the path to Red Bank Farm. Follow the road and cross the saltmarsh to the Old Mill at SD480687. Keep going north, passing Bolton Holme Farm. The final stage of this path can be boggy, especially after a high tide. [IMPORTANT – at the highest tides of the year this path may be difficult to follow – please call (01524) 582601 before setting out on your journey to make sure the route is passable. Also check online tide tables for detail: https://www.tidetimes.org.uk/morecambe-tide-times
On reaching the road at SD486710 continue east until passing under the railway at SD496711 and then under a second bridge at SD497712.
Turn left and continue north along the road up to Warton passing the George Washington pub. (The OS map shows a footpath across the fields to Warton. However, this is flooded for many months in winter so we have avoided it until it is maintained properly)
You now enter Silverdale AONB. Turn left at SD500725 go up the hill along Coach Road. After ¾ mile take a sharp right and pass the entrance to Leighton Hall. About 250m further on is a path on the left (SD500741) taking you north into the woods. Follow this until you reach the chairs at SD499744 that look over Leighton Hall and admire the stunning view.
Descend downhill (west) towards Leighton Hall and head for the cattle grid on the lane that passes the Hall. Keeping the hall on your left and the tennis courts on the right cross the cattle grid and continue down the road heading roughly west.
The road becomes a track and bears right before it enters the RSPB reserve of Leighton Moss at SD487749. Pass through the reeds along the public causeway to the road at SD480752 and turn left. After 100 metres a path opens up into the reserve (No Dogs) and this leads to the reserve centre at SD476750. (Dog owners can continue along the road)
Leave the reserve centre via the main entrance and turn left along the road to the T-junction at SD476750. Turn left (Away from the rail station) and then after 50 m cross the road to The Row at SD475749. Walk this minor road to the next junction (SD471759) and immediately cross the road into Eaves Wood Car Park. Go ahead for 200m until the path becomes a T-junction at SD469762. Turn right (north-west).
Follow the path straight ahead (do not take any left paths) until you come to the traffic lights to cross the railway line at SD476764. The path comes to the railway line – cross this carefully and onto the minor road. Turn left (North).
Pass the new RSPB nature reserve at Silverdale Moss until you come to the railway again at SD470769. Cross the railway carefully and you enter into Cumbria.
Turn right and after 100 metres keep left (west) away from the railway and through the wood (SD468771). After 0.5 miles this emerges at the base of Arnside Tower. Walk up to the tower and then right down into the Farm at SD459769. Follow the track to the road end at SD457771 and then cross to the footpath a short distance to the left and going up Arnside Knott. After 1/3 mile at SD453770, take the first major track to the right and then follow this to the next T-junction. Turn right and you are soon on the summit with its spectacular views. Arnside is visible below. Drop down the hill north-west into the bottom right corner of the open area. at SD455780. Follow the path North-east through the wood. Turn left down High Knott Road and then take your next right into the edge of Arnside. At the T-junction at SD457784 turn left and make your way downhill on to the Promenade and turn left to end the walk at Arnside Pier at 456788.
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