My start is delayed as Greggs, my early breakfast dependable, doesn’t open until a shocking 8am. To be fair, it’s inside the Arndale Shopping Centre, which doesn’t open until then. Fortified by coffee and a bacon roll, I begin the long trek round Morecambe Bay.
Venus and Cupid by Shane Johnstone commemorates the 23 cockle-pickers who tragically died in the bay in 2004.
The OS map shows a shortcut across the bay. I don’t think so — not without a guide. An army jeep is stranded out in the sand at Red Bank Farm. Should I get my poles out and take a closer look? No — the tide is coming in and the water is already swirling round the wheels.
Praying Shell by Anthony Padgett is yours for only £26,000 according to his website.
Approaching Carnforth, the land opens up to Warton Crag in the distance, towns and cities left far behind. I feel at ease, peaceful.
Some stretches of the Lancashire Coast Path defy wearing shorts. I take the long route through Warton village.
This brings me to the delightful Old School Brewery. It’s a little early but the shorter day gives me time to linger and, as the barmaid agrees, fate (or nettles) has guided me here. Don’t resist fate.
The grey skies give way to a gorgeous afternoon. Exploring the base of the impressive limestone cliffs at Warton Crag, I’m tempted to make a detour up to the top. I’m only going to pass this way once.
Great call. Another one of those perfect moments, sitting on the edge of the rocks in the sun, a cool wind blowing, with the Lake District on the horizon. Not a bad spot for lunch.
Rather than head straight back down to the road, I venture inland, exploring the shady woodland to Crag Foot.
I rejoin the beach for a pretty walk to Silverdale.
Shortly after, I pass into Cumbria. Hard to believe this is the final county to link up with Carlisle, where I started the Scotland section of my adventure.
Once again, rather than follow the coast path, I climb up Arnside Knott where the view is breathtaking. This is payback for all those cloudy days in Snowdonia. It’s been a wonderful day.
Walk distance: 17 miles.
Total distance: 3,264 miles.
“Accidently” stumbling across a brewery? Yes, we believe you 🙂 Lovely views though, I did walk up Arnside Knott too though not when I walked this part of the coast, but because it was a pretty area in it’s own right so went as a separate trip. I’m sure you didn’t but …. crossing on that railway bridge certainly was so tempting (and no I didn’t either).
Haha! You know me too well. As for the bridge, I was tempted for about a second and then my sanity prevailed. 🙂
I haven’t been up any of those hills, having an aversion to anything that makes my legs ache!
The train viaduct is a no-no, but you can wade across the River Kent a little further upstream at low tide – it’s not very deep at all. I went over at Sandside, but you could probably cross further downstream than that.
That view from Arnside Knott is spectacular!
I think it is clear that fate, beer and nettles are inextricably-entwined. Henceforth, I recommend that you consider all nettle encounters to be a sign that the universe wants you to drink beer. It’s a tragic burden but the fate is immutable.
We have similar views of the cosmos. 😀