Arnside

Tucked far away down in the south of the county, Arnside is often missed when folks talk about Cumbria, but it has just about everything you need for a perfect day out: views, history, folklore, great eateries and stunning sunsets.

Views

The obvious spot to head for the very finest view is the top of Arnside Knott – you can even see Skiddaw on a good day.  There is a lovely walk up from the village or, if a steep walk isn’t for you, then there’s a car park not too far from the summit; just follow the signs out of the village.  Once you’re on the top be sure to take a good wander around as there are plenty of criss-crossing paths to explore and each one throws up a unique view.

The other great views are from the headland. Follow the coastal path out from the village and, especially at low tide, the feeling of space is breathtaking, with the famous sands of Morecambe Bay stretching out before you.  The skies above the bay have inspired poets and artists for generations and, once you’ve experienced them, you’ll understand why.

Then there’s the bore!  Arnside is also home to one of the few regular tidal bores that can be seen around the UK and although the wave isn’t high, it stretches the width of the bay and pretty much brings the tide in in one go.  To catch the bore check the tide tables and look for a tide of over 9.5m then head down to the pier an hour or two before high tide (it’s not an exact science).   You’ll also be able to spot canoeists who like to ride the bore around the “swing bridge” end of the viaduct, making good use of the wider spaced supports.

History

It’s hard to know where to start, so let’s begin with the obvious features.  The pier in the middle of Arnside is not original and was built by the railway company when they constructed the viaduct.  It fell into disrepair but was saved and preserved thanks to the Morecambe Bay and Kents Bank Estuary Preservation Society.  They had originally been formed to fight a plan from Manchester to dam and drain the bay.   Thankfully that plan fell through and instead they turned their attentions to buying, protecting and restoring the pier.

The viaduct crosses the estuary at an old fording point and was the first to be built using water jets in the construction of the footings.  It was rebuilt and strengthened in 1915 to enable it to take the extra weight of the munitions trains from Barrow and last underwent a major refurbishment in 2011.

There had originally been plans to make the Arnside end of the viaduct into a swing bridge to allow the passage of ships.  This never happened but it does explain why the supports along this section are further apart.

Folklore

Folklore is always far more fascinating than reality and can often be so deeply entrenched that it’s hard to separate from genuine facts, but perhaps not in the case of these two stories.

Haggs Wood sits right on the edge of the village and, according to legend, the “Hagg Worms”, or serpents once lived there.  They are described as being huge, hairy and large enough to swallow birds.  One story tells of a young boy who swears he saw a serpent fly up into a tree.  He raced home in a state of terror to tell his story and the locals returned that evening to burn the tree to the ground.

Then there’s nearby Hawes Water that was once home to a giant serpent, which used to sleep coiled beneath the ‘Bowk Stone’ (marked on OS maps), waking only to nab the occasional passing sheep.

Great Eateries

For such a tiny place Arnside can pretty much cater for whatever you fancy.  There are a couple of exceptional pubs right down on the prom – The Albion and Ye Olde Fighting Cocks, which apparently still has the old cock fighting pit under the floor.  There is an assortment of cafes and cake shops to choose from, all stocking excellent locally made goodies. Then there is the legendary Arnside Chippy where you could eat in, but we all know fish and chips taste best outdoors, and someone has thoughtfully put a lot of benches on the pier, seemingly for that precise purpose.

Stunning Sunsets

Arnside is famed for its sunsets and there’s not much that can beat a wander around the headland and up onto the Knott followed by a chippy tea on the pier as the sun goes down.  Perfect.