Arnside Knott Circular Walk
Arnside Knott is renowned for its wildlife. Take this circular walk to admire views of the surrounding countryside and enjoy the sights and sounds along the way.
Map
Start:
Arnside Knott car park LA5 0BP
1
From the car park walk up under the trees along the wide bridleway path where you will go through two separate gates. Continue on this path until you reach a crossroads of paths. On the right you will seen the sign for 'Heathwaite'. Take the path up the slope to the left at this point.
2
Continue on this path as it heads up the hill. This will get steeper as you walk on and begins to look more like a stoned track. At the bend in the track take the opportunity to stop and pause for a moment and look all around you. This is the first point on the route where the views start to open up. Continue up the track (this is the steepest part of the climb so nearly there) and you will see twin seats off on a path to the left in front of you.
Rest a while on the seats
From these seats the views are magnificent across Morecambe Bay and the woodlands of Arnside Knott. In Autumn they are a beautiful concoction of colour and in spring there is a haze of purple from the silver birch buds.
3
Head off the main track and take this left hand path by the twin seats. Continue for 90 metres . The path is narrower and takes you towards a wall which goes down the hillside. Enter through the wooden hand-made gate in the wall.
Look out for the windblown yew trees
The wind has shaped these characteristic yew trees which you'll see across Arnside Knott and these silvered larch stumps on the stony hillside. Some are beautiful with their twisted patterns.
4
Through the gate turn to your right and follow the zig-zag path which goes up the hill. The stone wall will be on your right now. Continue up the hill following the path until you reach the 'toposcope' which is a pictoral viewing point of the Lakeland fells. You'll have your back to the estuary and fells at this point. Continue past the bench on the right and up to the kissing gate in a stone wall.
Handcrafted gates
You'll see some unique wooden gates around Arnside Knott. These are handmade by a volunteer who uses the timber bi-products of our coppice work around the Knott (usually ash timber) to create each beautiful piece.
5
Through the kissing gate you'll walk through a small area of trees. Carry on this path until it meets a wider path. Bear left along the main path. Continue down and past the bench on your right. Continue on this path, climbing uphill again and past the old knotted larch 'h' tree on your left. Head towards the long wood and stone bench with a plaque on the side. Continue along the same path and keep to the left. You will be walking with the estuary to your left at this point. As you go through a patch of trees you will start to see Arnside's viaduct on your left. Before you reach the wooden hand-made gate in the wall take a path to the right.
The knotted larch tree
The knotted larch, 'h' tree or 'giraffe tree' as people call it, was once a pair of larch trees thought to have been tied together as saplings by a sailor and his bride on their honeymoon around 1860.
6
At this point you will have your back to the estuary. Continue along the path through the trees to the darlek-like structure which is Arnside Knott's trig point (stone structure at highest point of hill). Continue past the trig point and past the magnificent beech tree on your right. Stay on this narrow path (don't take the path which turns off left) and continue until you reach the wonderful views of Arnside Tower below. Take care if you leave the path to get a better view. There is quite a drop here.
Look out towards the Yorkshire Dales
The view looking down over Arnside Tower and beyond to the Yorkshire Dales. This is a great place to watch the sunrise and look out for flat-topped Ingleborough on a clear day.
7
The path naturally bends to the right here and is narrow. Where two paths cross stay on the right hand path and through the trees. The woodland floor hides the path in autumn with fallen leaves. Carry on ahead of you until you reach the Scots pine trees on your left which frame the view of Morecambe Bay.
View across Morecambe Bay
The views at this point beyond Silverdale and across Morecambe Bay are magnificent. A good spot to watch the sunsets.
8
At this point take the first path on your right, turning your back on the Bay and head past a handful of large beech trees on your left. Continue on this path until it reaches the main path you walked on earlier.
9
Turn left back down the main path and down the slope until you see the bench you passed earlier, this time on your left. Just before the bench take the path to the left.
10
Along this path to the left, there is a section which is steep with large limestone rocks to navigate around. If you find it easier, take the small, left hand path at this point. It will join up again in just a few metres. Continue along for a short distance until you take a narrow right hand path. There is a large round yew tree on your left. Continue along this short section until the path meets the main route down. You will remember walking up this track earlier.
11
Continue down the hill on this main track until you reach the crossroads again. The sign for 'Heathwaite' will now be in front of you. Take the path to the right here.
12
Continue on this path to the right along through the two gates again and the short sections of woodland and drop back down to the car park to reach the end of the trail.
End:
Arnside Knott car park LA5 0BP
