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 route.
Near to
Arnside and SilverdaleStart point
Arnside Knott car park LA5 0BPTrail information
Follow the waymarkers
Look out for the purple arrow waymarkers along this walk to help you find your way.
Total stages: 12
Total stages: 12
Start point
Arnside Knott car park LA5 0BP
Stage 1
From the car park, walk up under the trees along the wide bridleway path and pass through two separate gates. Continue on this path until you reach a crossroad. On the right you will seen the sign for Heathwaite. Take the path up the slope to the left at this point.
Stage 2
Continue on this path up the hill. This will get steeper as you ascend and begins to look more like a stony track. At the bend in the track, this is the first point on the route where the views start to open up. Continue up the steep track and you'll see twin seats off on a path to the left in front of you.
Stage 3
Head off the main track and take the left-hand path by the twin seats. Continue for 90 metres. The path narrows and takes you towards a wall which goes down the hillside. Enter through the wooden handmade gate in the wall.
Stage 4
Through the gate turn to your right and follow the zig-zag path which goes up the hill, with the stone wall on your right. Continue up the hill until you reach the 'toposcope', which is a pictorial guide at the viewing point over 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.
Stage 5
Through the kissing gate, walk through a small area of trees. Continue on this path until it meets a wider path, then bear left along the main path. Continue down and past the bench on your right, then climb 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, and 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'll start to see Arnside's viaduct on your left. Before you reach the wooden handmade gate in the wall take a path to the right.
A knotted larch tree at Arnside Knott | © National Trust/Jamie Armstrong Stage 6
Continue along the path through the trees to Arnside Knott's trig point (stone structure at highest point of the hill). Continue past the trig point and the 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 views of Arnside Tower below. Take care if you leave the path to get a better view; there's quite a drop here.
Stage 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. Carry on ahead of you until you reach the Scots pine trees on your left, which frame the view of Morecambe Bay.
View over Morecambe Bay at Arnside and Silverdale | © National Trust Images/Paul Harris Stage 8
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.
Stage 9
Turn left back down the main path and continue 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.
Stage 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, which will join up again in just a few metres. Continue 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.
Stage 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.
Stage 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 point
Arnside Knott car park LA5 0BP
Trail map
Arnside Knott circular walk | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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