High Arnside Knott

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Our view

"This tree-clad knoll offers astonishing views and a special ambience."

Walk directions

Walk along the promenade. At the end of the surfaced road, by the entrance to Ashmeadow House, a walkway to the right continues above the sands. Continue along the path until it joins the foreshore. Continuing beneath Grubbins Wood, the path crosses mud, pebbles and a polished limestone outcrop before it rounds a little headland to join a track. Depending on the tide, it may seem attractive to walk along the sands on the foreshore. This isn’t recommended as quicksands are prevalent here and are undetectable until you sink.

Turn right to New Barns Caravan Park; before the buildings, bear right past a barrier, initially following a clear track and then along the foreshore. Round Frith Wood, following the path beneath the trees, high on the pebble beach. Keep on to rocky Blackstone Point. You may have to wait to round it if the tide is high.

Having rounded Blackstone Point, enter the little bay of White Creek. Keep to the back of the little bay, past a shingle bank and a limestone outcrop with two benches on top of it. About 150yds (137m) beyond this outcrop, a break in the low cliffs allows you to clamber up into the trees and join a reasonably clear path. Turn right on this – along the coastal fringe of the woods of Arnside Park.

Round Park Point and continue along the edge. Eventually a stone wall slants up the slope. Go up to the left to join another track in the woods, signed ‘Far Arnside, Silverdale’. Go right and continue through the gate, soon entering a caravan site. Take the left, higher road and then keep straight on, along Pebble Row and Cliff Drive, to exit the site. Continue to a squeeze stile and gate on the left, signed ‘Public Footpath Arnside via The Knott’. Follow the fenced path to Hollins Farm and exit by a stile.

Go left through two gates, then bear right, following the path up the hillside of Heathwaite. A gate leads through the wall and out onto a track in the woods. Go straight across and ascend the stony track, curving up a steep section. At a fork bear left, soon reaching a little gate. Once through this, bear right to climb steeply to the toposcope. Follow the path through a gate and back into the wood. Keep to the clearest path and then turn left at a junction. Continue up to a bench near the summit of Arnside Knott. Paths on the right lead to the trig point, hidden by trees.

Bear left from the bench and descend to a gate in a wall. Follow a wide green path down the open field of Red Hills, bearing right to the bottom corner of the field where a gate enters the woods. Descend the track through the woods to a road. Turn left; soon the road doubles back and descends to a larger road. Go right along this to Silverdale Road. Turn left down to the seafront.

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Location

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Foreshore (tide permitting), paths, some surfaced road, 1 stile

Landscape - Estuary and foreshore, mixed woods, limestone knoll

Dog friendliness - Generally a good walk for energetic dogs

Parking - Along Promenade or in Arnside Beach car park near the viaduct

Toilets en route - On Lower Promenade

Walks in Cumbria Dog-friendly walks in Cumbria

About the walk

Rising from the Kent estuary to form a defiant outpost of resilient limestone, the heights of Arnside Knott are part of the Arnside-Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Bedecked with magnificent oak and mixed woods, rocky scree, hummocky grass, scattered bushes and the airy delights of...

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Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

About the area

Cumbria's rugged yet beautiful landscape is best known for the Lake District National Park that sits within its boundaries. It’s famous for Lake Windermere, England’s largest lake, and Derwent Water, ‘Queen of the English Lakes', but other lesser-known areas in the south, such as the Lune Valley and the coastal towns, are secret gems of wide cobbled streets and rolling hills.