15th October 2011 - Walk No.511

Area:	Arnside & Silverdale	Ascent:	700feet
Walk No:	611	Time:	3hours
Date:	15th October 2011	Parking:	Crag Foot
Distance:	5.75miles	Weather:	Fine & Sunny

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.

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At last a day of blue skies and virtually unbroken sunshine. I was by myself however as Edith wanted to catch up with the garden. I was away in good time because I wanted to be back for the Liverpool v Man Utd match and a short drive soon had me at Crag Foot. I had heard that the Bearded Tits were back at R.S.P.B Leighton Moss so headed there first before going up Warton Crag. For those thinking of doing this walk I would suggest that the Springtime is the best time of year. For a look at a previous visit just click HERE, it will open in a new page so you don't lose this.

Route Map

It was a gorgeous back-end morning as I drove along the promenade at Morecambe and I couldn't resist stopping at Scalestones Point for a picture.

Looking past the Venus and Child statue to Warton Crag which will be my highest point today. The statue, the work of artist Shane Johnson after being here for around 6 years is now under threat because its licence expired earlier this year. The artist would like the town council to buy and keep the statue for the cost price of £10,000 but at a recent meeting it was defeated by a vote of 11 - 10. It is due to be removed on Valentine's Day if a solution cannot be found.

Warton Crag from near Warton....The old quarry ceased production many years ago and is now a nature reserve and home to a number of peregrines.

I parked the car at my usual spot at Crag Foot with this view across the railway line to Heald Brow and decided to do the walk in a clockwise direction visiting the RSPB's Leighton Moss first.

Doing it this way meant that the majority of the road walking was done first and before the road started getting busy. On my way to Leighton Moss I passed by the listed building of Slackwood Farm which is still undergoing renovation work and I believe is to become a combined AONB/RSPB visitor information and education centre.

A glimpse of the Silverdale Golf Club as I leave the main road to make my way to the RSPB centre.

The RSPB Centre at Leighton Moss. From here it is just a short walk along the lane to the main pools.

One of the reasons I wanted to do this walk was that I had heard that the Bearded Tits were in attendance and I wanted to see them. I'm not a twitcher by any means but it's a while since I last saw them....

I couldn't get very near because even at this fairly early hour there were a number of viewers some sat right on the edge of the reed beds and it was difficult to get closer. However for those who may like to see them closer here is a video taken there a couple of years ago which I found on YouTube.

BEARDED TiTS AT LEIGHTON MOSS VIDEO.......opens in new window.

The busy viewpoint.

A look back along the causeway as I make my way to the public hide.

There is life out there but I don't have time to wait....

....so after taking a couple of pictures I'm on my way.

Leaving the causeway the path continues towards Grisedale Farm.

A look back as I walk up the farm lane towards Leighton Hall. The fields are full of pheasants bred nearby for the shooters. In the distance Arnside Knott peers over the face of the disused Middlebarrow Quarry. There is quite a bit of haze about which I fear will mess up any distance shots today.

Leighton Hall.....The earliest records of Leighton Hall go back 750 years to 1246, when it is known that Adam D'Avranches had a fortified manor here. Since then there have been 26 owners of the property and only twice has the ownership passed by sale. Even now, the current owner is a descendant of that first recorded resident.

For more information on Leighton Hall and its attractions follow the link (opens in a new window).....Leighton Hall

From the hall the path climbs up the slopes of Summerhouse Hill and although Grange over Sands is visible it is a very hazy view.

Looking down the hill to the hall.

From the top of the hill the path leads to a quiet road where a right turn will take you past the entrance to Leighton Hall and a little further along....

....to the start of the permitted path through Three Brothers at the Piggeries.

It's a pleasant walk through the woodland of Three Brothers.

Soon the path reaches a gate (l) out onto a walled rough lane where a right turn will soon bring you to a gate (r) in the opposite wall which leads into the Warton Crag nature reserve.

There are many paths on Warton Crag but the main one is well walked and will lead you directly to the summit. However there are a couple of smaller paths which lead off to the left just after the main path starts to climb more steeply. These will take you over to the southeast edge with views to a distant and hazy Ingleborough....

....and also down Morecambe Bay towards home.

Looking over to the hills of Bowland into the sun.

A short walk soon brought me to the summit trig point and the leaning beacon.

From the crag edge a look down the bay towards home....

....and over Jenny Brown's Point towards Grange.

From the summit my route took me along what is one of my favourite paths. It is only short and there are no views but the path twists and turns through mossy outcrops of limestone as it makes it way....