to the sands, and keep on the cliff top with fine views across the bay to the south Lakeland fells.
At the cove of White Creek ignore a path left at a wall. Keep straight on in the woods, with the wall on your left, passing the junction of another path coming in on the right. Turn right at a T-junction a few metres further (left leads to a gate and White Creek Caravan Site). Keep straight on where the forest track swings left into private woods, up the long hill amongst the trees of Arnside Park. This is not a right-of-way, but is a very well used path. The landowner requests that dogs are kept under strict control. At last the path levels and a gate is reached into the National Trust area of Heathwaite.
The clearing on the right, with widespread views over Morecambe Bay, is Cowslip Field. This is an area from which rabbits have been excluded and the resulting wildflower meadow is a delight to see. The area is noted for its abundant butterflies, notably the rare Duke of Burgundy fritillary.
Our onward path continues in the woods on the left side, near the entry point of Cowslip Field, descending slightly to a gate then steeply up to the lovely, more open top of Heathwaite. Keep straight on over the summit and descend through trees to a major path junction. Turn left, and through the gate ahead turn right on Saul’s Drive bridleway, signed Arnside Tower, gradually descending around the steep base of Arnside Knott.
On the left are the steep shattered screes of the shilla slopes formed by glacial action and weathering. (Shilla is a local word for scree.) The lower slopes show evidence of quarrying. The slopes are of particular interest to geologists and are easily damaged. A lot of stabilising work has been done and people are requested to keep off the delicate slopes.
The path descends to the road; cross over and continue on the farm lane towards the prominent ruin of Arnside Tower.
ARNSIDE TOWER
Arnside Tower is the largest of the pele towers in the area and was built in the 15th century as a defence against marauding Scots, although an earlier tower was built on the same site in 1375. Its position on a low saddle between Arnside Knott and Middlebarrow makes it a distinctive landmark, and in times of danger signals could be seen from other nearby towers and across the bay. The ruin is in a dangerous condition and should not be entered. During a violent storm in 1884 a corner of the tower collapsed.
Keep to the right of the farmhouse, through a gate and up a grassy slope to pass the stark ruin. Do not go through the stile beyond the tower, but take the gate immediately before the stile on the right, signed Holgates Caravan Site Cove Road, which opens on to a green lane pleasantly bordered by a hedgerow rich in flowers.
Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.
Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».
Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.
Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.
