Arnside. Saturday 27th. Dec. 2014


Arnside - Saturday 27th. December 2014

It was a cold, clear, crisp morning as those of us relatively free from family committments, seasonal colds and niggling injuries met on Arnside Front for our last Group walk of the year. After the customary group photo, we followed the coastline past New Barns, Arnside Point and the Cove to Silverdale and Woodwell where, after a couple of hours walking, we took a break for coffee. Moving on we continued on our way passing Wolf House Gallery, Lindeth Tower to Jenny Brown's Point. Up until now we had never been far from the shore and it was at first slightly disappointing having to turn our backs on the superb views across the sands of Morecambe Bay. Nevertheless this was soon forgotten as, in glorious winter sunshine and perfect walking conditions, we crossed Leighton Moss, then through woodland to Stan's Seat, overlooking Leighton Hall. This is an excellent viewpoint and was a perfect spot to take lunch.

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Up until now there had been 13 of us on the walk, but here we managed to pick up a 'stray' in the form of Chris, who was to accompany us from thereon. Lunch over we continued downhill past Leighton Hall and across the nature reserve at Leighton Moss, featured very much recently in television's Autumn Watch. Another point of interest followed soon afterwards at Red Bridge, where an information board told us this was where the world's first tarmacadam was produced and transported all over the Country. Moving on we took the path through Eaves Wood and Holgates again and, after passing Arnside Tower, we climbed up to the fine viewpoint of Arnside Knott, and a good spot to finish off the last of our coffee. It was downhill all the way to our cars from there, but for most of us not the end of our day, as it wouldn't have been fitting to end our 14/15 mile walk and a successful year of Group walks, without a celebratory drink in the cosy Albion pub.

Stan