For those of you that are thinking of going onto the hills I would strongly recommend that you read the advice given by the Mountain Rescue organisation of England and Wales. To read this advice, which will open in a new page please click HERE. If you would like to make a donation to the Mountain Rescue organisation which is purely voluntary please click HERE. Please make the time to read the advice page.

The day started very dull and cloudy but the weatherman was promising better things for the afternoon. We set off around noon and it still looked very dull across the bay so we decided on the old favourite Arnside Knott. Having left the car at Arnside we followed the shoreline down to New Barns. From there we took the cliff path to Far Arnside before walking up the Knott through Heaththwaite. We were hoping for some views as it brightened as we approached the summit but sadly this was not to be. Even the orchids looked a little small and poor, maybe caused by the very dry start to the year we have had. The highlight for me was persuading one of the highland cattle calves to let me stroke its head until it got fed up and butted me!!

Not a very bright start to the day but it's fine and supposed to brighten...

Regular readers will have to bear with us along the first stretch as we walk down to New Barns

Even the nearby Whitbarrow prefers to show itself in silhouette

The tide is on the way out so there's no need to worry about wet feet....or worse.

Another of the Outlying Fells, Hampsfell looks rather gloomy across the estuary.

Approaching New Barns and it can be seen from the tidemark that they are only low tides anyway. Normally from here we go to the left to climb up the Knott through Copridding Wood. Today it is a bit different in that we will walk round to New Barns.

The entrance to the caravan park and a cafe that we haven't tried yet....but it's too early today.

A short walk through the caravan park on a waymarked path...

...and then through the woods for a short distance.

Eventually leads us to what is known as the cliff path.

The cliffs aren't particularly high, probably no more than 30 or 40 feet but care should be taken as the path at times is very near to the edge and as the area is predominantly limestone can be very slippy when wet.

Here we are approaching a rocky outcrop known as Park Point...

....it's a lovely spot for a "buttie break" but as we have none one can only stop and admire the view.

Leaving Park Point the path goes through the woods for a short section before another section along the cliffs.

Looking back to Park Point.

Looking towards Silverdale as the path starts to leave the cliffs again to enter the woods...

....and eventually into the Caravan Park at Far Arnside.

As we leave the park memories flood back of our last dog "Tiny", a Jack Russell/Manchester Terrier mixture who walked all the Wainwrights with us. She used to go daft every time we walked by these stone pigs.

From the caravan park we walked across the fields to Hollins Farm where we took a path up the side of the barn to Heathwaite.

Entering Heathwaite where I was expecting a show of orchids. Sadly I was disappointed although we didn't take a lot of time looking.

Having walked up Heathwaite we took the path towards the viewpoint.

Sadly, although the day had brightened, views were very poor. Even Hampsfell across the estuary wasn't that clear.

The view to Whitbarrow across the viaduct was even murkier.

Disappointed we carried on to the summit where things were no better. We never even stopped....

....but carried on down Red Hills

This was about as good as it got. You can just make out the outline of the Whinfell Ridge on the left.

We did see a few orchids here but they were small and not very good. Wonder if the dry winter is to blame.

Things however were not all gloom and down. At the bottom of Red Hills we came across the youngsters I had seen on a previous visit.

This la'al chappie came across and allowed me to rub its forehead for awhile before losing interest and giving me a but to let me know.....brilliant!!

There was a cuddly one.....

And one that fancied itself as a gymnast.....that's not easy, where's your other leg?

After a few words with this local couple who recognised us from the website we made our way back to the shore.

Taking the lane by Yew Tree Cottages

Back at the shore and the weather was brightening.

But the views were no better.

And finally.....all that was left was to retrace our footsteps back to the car.

Next Walk:     28th May 2010 - Lake District - Wansfell from Church Bridge, Troutbeck

Last Walk:     24th May 2010 - Arnside & Silverdale AONB - In search of Britains rarest wild plant 

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