Silverdale, Warton Crag and RSPB Leighton Moss

Please note: The coastline is tidal and some of this walk may not be possible at high tide (there are warning signs). Check before attempting — though I walked at a time of approaching or receding high tide and the route was safe to follow, it is best to pick a period of low tide to be sure and make your own determination.

After parking my car down by the beach in the parking area at the end of Shore Road, I walked back up to the junction of Shore Road and Stankelt Road and left the road by a gate into open fields denoted by a National Trust post as 'The Lots'. From this slightly elevated vantage point I could see across the Kent Estuary to Grange-over-Sands in the southernmost extremity of Cumbria. I was not crossing counties though, just the couple of fields comprising The Lots for now to the secluded cove of north Silverdale to find a cave indicated on the map. It didn't take much finding: I could see the cave clearly halfway up the white cliff sheltering the north side of the cove as I reached the end of The Lots.

A couple were enjoying bathing themselves in the near-lunchtime sunshine on the outcrop of rocks below the cliff. As I made my way past them to look inside the cave I said, "Great day for relaxing and taking in the view!" They agreed and wished me a good day. After returning the compliment I made the easy scramble up to the cave and entered — it was just the right height to stand up in and about 20 feet deep, and from inside I enjoyed a perfectly framed picture of Know End Point and Morecambe Bay. After enjoying the cool conditions for a short while, I re-emerged into the heat of the day and stayed by the side of Morecambe Bay by following the Lancashire Coastal Way south and back towards the car park at the end of Shore Road.

The first 400 metres of walking on the Lancashire Coastal Way was not easy: I had to scramble over rocks that were very wet and slippery, and was relieved when I could leave them to cross shingle and irregular patches of sand. (Signs warn this section is dangerous at high tide; however, it was not high tide, and with care the walk could be done — though I made it more difficult because of my haste. Note: this section can be avoided at high tide by crossing The Lots again, which would be a shame to do so but necessary).

After reaching Shore Road and passing my parked car, I walked up Shore Road and accessed a path behind houses to the right which cut through south and east to reach Lindeth Road. I ambled along Lindeth Road, passing courtesies with householders tending their gardens — a warm, sunny spring day always brings people out of their homes. Wide and leafy Lindeth Road continued to be a pleasant walk as I passed the junction with Woodwell Lane before it took a turn left, at which point I left it by carrying on down a lane past Lindeth Lodge Farm and Lindeth Tower on my way to Jack Scout.

Reaching a gate where a National Trust sign indicated I had reached Jack Scout, I left the road and followed a lovely path across short green coastal grass past a fine restored lime kiln and a cracking seat made from local stone, confirming it as a perfect spot for taking in views. Jack Scout promontory is owned by the National Trust and gives a superb view of Morecambe Bay in particular and north to the south Lakeland hills and fells. It is also a good point to watch the Arnside Tidal Bore — a wall of water signifying the advancing tide rushing up the channel into the Kent Estuary (though I didn't view the bore precisely here, I could clearly see rushing water spewing along the Kent channel).

From Jack Scout I headed to Jenny Brown's Point, a line of shingle-clad boulders that were part of a House of Commons-approved scheme to reclaim Silverdale Sands (in their wisdom the Lords did not agree and the scheme was abandoned, but the first set of man-made protective boulders remains, attracting plenty of coastal dwelling birds).

After leaving Jenny Brown's Point I walked back to the leafy shaded road leading south and east around the coastline to Brown's Houses, where the road abruptly ended and I was forced to walk off-track and around the house wall by clearly marked "No Entry" signs. Fair enough, but I thought there would be a sign indicating the way around since I was on the Lancashire Coastal Way; instead, by looking closely it was clear I had to clamber down collapsed concrete ramps to the shore. I clambered around and climbed back up beyond the houses, then followed the coast past an old lime kiln chimney near the expanse of Warton Sands (where I saw my second gushing watercourse as water spewed quickly from Quicksand Pool into the bay — I stayed well clear of the quicksand!).

By following the path a little further I reached the start of the raised embankment crossing of Quaker's Stang. As I crossed I ran into a gang of mostly elderly ramblers; all were enjoying their day out bar one who was sat taking a rest while companions grumbled impatiently. (Glad I walk alone most of the time!).

The least attractive part of the walk came next: a road walk all the way to Warton Crag. There is 1.5 miles of road between the car park and the crag, and though road walking isn't most desirable, this road was quiet with precious little traffic before taking the left fork at Crag Foot to follow the uphill road to Warton Crag (just two cars passed in twenty minutes, letting me listen to birds chirruping in hedgerows).

After half an hour of road walking I reached Warton Crag. Turning into the parking area I immediately saw the huge vertical cliff which was once a quarry; man's activity shaped this aspect, but it still looked strikingly beautiful and ominous. It has apparently reaped benefits for local wildlife too, with peregrine falcons using the cliff to manoeuvre prey, and the area around the cliff and Warton Crag is now managed by the local Wildlife Trust.

After taking in the cut limestone face, I walked to the right of the cliff and followed a path through woodland. The path was easy for a few steps until taking the left branch at a fork leading to the steep ascent. After hauling and puffing over a stile I reached the top of the cliff, walking at a safe distance from the edge before hauling my way up again to reach the exposed natural limestone face of Beacon Breast.

As I climbed from Beacon Breast towards the summit of Warton Crag in stages of fairly even ground and stair-like steps up limestone blocks, views opened out: to the south I saw Warton, Carnforth, Lancaster, Morecambe, and the towering buildings of Heysham Nuclear Power Station. Turning west and north, I surveyed the entire Arnside and Silverdale Peninsula and Morecambe Bay before reaching the trig point and signal beacon on the summit (a beacon has been on this site since the Spanish Armada in 1588).

I took lunch near the trig point, admiring the blanket of bluebells in neighbouring woodland, then headed on a path into Strickland Wood, absolutely enjoying myself gambolling along paths with exquisite views of trees showing light green spring leaf growth contrasting with bluebells.

I continued through Strickland Wood and more woodland past two small rounded hills, Three Brothers and The Belt. After The Belt my course north off Warton Crag became an easterly heading leading out of the woods by crossing the road linking Warton and Yealand Conyers. Crossing two fields and a woodland path, I skirted Yealand Conyers before tracking north to west and following the path past Leighton Hall Home Farm, walking closely by the impressive building on a road between open fields to Grisedale leading to Leighton Moss Nature Reserve.

(Note: The route I took through Strickland Wood and Brothers Wood has been closed since July 2018. The alternative route of bridleway and Coach Road is shown on my maps and included in downloadable files — thanks to Phil Robinson for pointing out these changes.)

Leighton Moss Nature Reserve is reputed to contain the largest area of reed beds in north-west England, managed to prevent drying out and saline intrusion. Throughout much of my crossing, all I could see on either side was reed beds high enough to blot out distant views. Providing habitats for wildlife including red deer (I'm sure I saw one!), birdwatchers use hides situated halfway along the path. Satisfied to listen to noises coming from reed beds and open water, I climbed the final yards of the straight line path after half a mile and turned left onto the Yealand Storrs to Silverdale Green Road, leading over a bridge overlooking Silverdale Railway Station.

After passing the railway I took the right fork at a junction, then left and left at two more junctions to reach Fleagarth Wood. Walking through bluebell carpets to skirt Heald Brow, I reached the crossroads of paths from earlier, took the right fork, walked steeply up a rise of 50 metres through Heald Brow woodland, followed a path beside fields and behind houses to Scout Wood, and returned to Silverdale village. A superb walk, finished by sitting down by the coast at the end of Shore Road and looking across the bay, fully satisfied with my day out in Silverdale and Warton!

Acknowledgment: Text derived from the Out and Out Series; Discovering the Countryside on Foot. Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia.