Walk Leader: Ann Holden

Number of walkers: 13

Distance: 18.6 miles

Weather: Sunshine

13 walkers convened under a clear blue sky at 8.15am by the Eric Morecambe statue on Morecambe Prom to await the arrival of the 8.30am minibus to transport us to the start of the walk at Arnside Railway Station. The road journey took us past many of the places we would be walking through later in the day. En-route, a marsh harrier was spotted hovering over Leighton Moss. Disembarking at Arnside railway station, we were joined by Margaret & Alan, who planned on joining us for the first part of the walk. N.B. If walking the Comedy Way as a 1-day walk from Ulverston to Morecambe, the train must be taken from Grange-Over-Sands to Arnside. After unnecessary ascent of the railway bridge, purely for a group photo, we set off at 9.15am into Arnside and along the shore. Our second bird of prey, an osprey, was soaring over the sea; presumably having come from Foulshaw Moss just over the estuary. The views to Grange and beyond to the Lakeland mountains were extensive, as they were all day, due to the clear sky. The tidal hooter boomed out, signifying 2 hours to high tide, so we took the wooded, cliff top route through New Barns around the coast to Silverdale. At the far side of Silverdale, Margaret led us on a shaded woodland route past Woodwell, with its’ fresh water supply and large trough, originally used for watering cattle. The path brought us out to an extended morning coffee stop at the Wolf & Us café; delicious cakes and drinks. From here, we walked to Jenny Brown’s Point, along Quaker Stang and eventually to the top of Warton Crag with great views of Morecambe Bay at high tide. We lunched on the slopes of Warton Crag under a scorching sun but with lovely breeze. Here we said goodbye to Alan, who descended to get the bus home (Arnside). Margaret had decided to walk the whole route and get a lift home from Dave and Gill.

We bypassed the centre of Warton Village, taking a direct field route down onto the main road, then onto Sands Lane leading to a footbridge over the River Keer which we followed into the outskirts of Carnforth. Another short stop in Carnforth centre to restock with water and visit the facilities before picking up the canal towpath to the next bridge. Here the route took us along a pleasant, part-shaded, track past Mount Pleasant farming settlement and a walled garden with Victorian tower before emerging into Bolton-le-Sands by the primary school and church. We picked up the canal again in Bolton-le-Sands, following it all the way to Hest Bank where we left at bridge 117 to eventually join Morecambe Prom. We walked this all the way to the Eric Morecambe statue, passing a very British holiday scene with ice-cream vans, beach-parties, buckets and spades and lots of people! We duly took our turn in the ‘queue’ for a group photo by the Eric Morecambe statue before bidding farewell.

Another grand day out under clear blue skies and scorching sunshine, with a light breeze; possibly a little too warm for walking (for some) but providing extensive views. Great company and conversation flowed the whole day long.

More photos can be seen 'here'