Start Point: Arnside (SD 456 787)
Arnside – Copridding Wood – Arnside Knott Viewpoint – Arnside Knott – Red Hills – Arnside
Distance: 5.5 km
Total Ascent: 157 metres
Time Taken: 1 hours 35 minutes
Start Time: 13:35
Weather: Sunny/breezy. 7ºC
Finlay’s Wainwright count: 18/214 (0 new this walk)
Route Map with GPX download.
My last recorded visit to Arnside Knott on this site was June 2005, so it has been a while (although I do have a memory of coming here with Connie in the intervening years!).
Arnside Knott came to prominence (boom-boom!) in the 2005 update of the list of so-called ‘Marilyn’s’ (Definition of a Marilyn: “A Marilyn is a hill or mountain in the United Kingdom, Ireland or surrounding islands with a prominence of at least 150 metres (492 ft), regardless of its absolute height or other characteristics such as topographic isolation”). Why Marilyn? Well there are maybe a couple of reason’s (!) the documented one being it is a play on The Munro’s hill list (Marilyn Monroe) plus perhaps the relative height might have something to do with some other Marilyn Monroe attributes? Anyway, that said, at 159m Arnside Knott is the lowest Marilyn in England and the sixth lowest on the list so it does indeed have something to brag about.
Although lying just outside the southern edge of Lake District NP, it was a good meeting spot for the family today to enjoy a catch up, some lunch and a decent walk with some great views. Some regular readers may remember our daughter Connie from way back when 20+ years ago (let me know in the comments if you do!) – well she is now all grown up and living in the big city (Manchester) so Arnside is a great halfway point for us to meet up. Today’s contingent, then, was me and Louise, Connie, Benn (Connie’s boyfriend) and Finlay.
Arnside Viaduct (1857) across the Kent Estuary – what a feat of engineering that was! The tide is out in this shot but it was coming in as we walked along the coastal path (if you do follow this route, be aware of the tide times as the path gets covered).
The view along the estuary from further along the path.
Climbing higher in the sunshine and the views quickly open up once out of the wooded areas. Along with the height came an icy wind.
There were a number of Scot’s Pine on the climb, the steepest section was up a rough limestone path.
Looking to the west from the viewpoint. It was very busy at the viewpoint – so busy that we couldn’t really get near to the indicator to see what it said but never mind, I think we could work out what was what!
Finlay on Arnside Knott – no water to be had up here lad!
The trig column on Arnside Knott is hidden away and surrounded by trees. It is also deserted, I presume many people think the viewpoint is the top.
The Kent Estuary from the descent back towards Arnside.
Well I couldn’t resist these photos of my nearest and dearest through the hanging heart at the top of the decent path.
Just in case you didn’t know where you were.
Looking across the Kent Estuary to the Coniston fells, the cloud that was on the Old Man earlier had now lifted.
Whitbarrow Scar beyond the viaduct.
That’s where we had been.
John & Brenda says
Great to see Louise and Connie again after all these years. We’ve just refreshed our memories by taking a look at the walk you took with Connie on 4 January 2005 to Gummer’s How, an unbelievable 21 years ago! We still remember her walking with you when she wore her little pink jacket and woolly hat. Is our memory playing tricks or did you usually end up carrying Connie’s gear? Hope you all had an enjoyable get-together and send our best wishes to you all.
John & Brenda.
PS: We can’t find our copy of Clive Hutchby’s ‘Book 7, The Western Fells’, anywhere and wondered if there is a spare copy, with yours and Clive’s signatures, available?
Sean McMahon says
Hi John & Brenda – 21 years ago, I know! StridingEdge is now 23 years old (gulp!). Of course I ended up carrying Connie’s gear (and often her as well haha). It was great to catch up together and a nice walk. I have been following your walks to on wainwright walking.co.uk – great to see you still getting out often. Not sure about the Western fells, all the original ones sold out, the newer versions are a lot bulkier and you need to catch us both for signatures!
Rod Hepplewhite says
Hi Sean,
Although I’ve never met Connie, I’ve seen her many a time in your previous posts. I did meet Louise though a good few years back at the LTL Bowness shop, the same day that I bought a Striding Edge slate mouse mat that I still have.
I walked the Low Fell – Fellbarrow etc fells on Saturday with David Hall (who you know), Paul Sharkey (of SharkeysDream fell-walking website) and my mate, Michael from my neck of the woods (first time that all 4 of us walked together for over 19months!). We decided to sat lowish due to the strong winds forecast, it was still windy where we were and a few gusts caught us out at times but it stayed dry and the visibility was good so we couldn’t complain and ended up having a really good walk and catch-up.
Who knows, I might bump into you on the fells again one day..
ATB
Rod H
Sean McMahon says
Hi Rod, sounds like you had a great walk with old pals. That was a rare Connie outing these days – I know she will be back on the fells when she has made her fortune and I will be expecting her to look after me then 🙂 See you up there one day! Sean
Pete Juniper says
I also remember photos of Connie and Angus back in the day – having discovered stridingedge.net in the early 2000’s while taking my lunch hours in front of the work PC and knowing where I’d rather have been!
Sean McMahon says
Hi Pete, back in the good ‘ole days indeed! Can’t believe SE has been around so long, it became a way of life. Great tip see you are still checking in – many more walks to come this year with the Finmeister in tow! Sean
Angela Haworth says
Of course we remember Connie her and Angus where the real stars of the website when it first began.