Arnside loop via Holme - Friday 8th May 2020

I took a very traditional route out of Lancaster via Beaumont to Kellet Lane, through Nether and onto Over Kellet. Then that nice little country lane to miss Borwick and end up in Priest Hutton. The bluebells are beginning to die back and be replaced by the white umbellifers of cow parsley and the slight tops of dead nettle. When it is shady there are still carpets of bluebells under the trees but the wild garlic is beginning to take over. No sign of celandines any more and most of the dandelions have lost their petals and become seed balls - though there is still yellow to see in the shade. The regular hike up the A6070 and off to Cinderbarrow Lane and the very-dirty-farm (which was dirty but dry). Hillderstone Lane up to Holme and then over the moss to get to Hale. From there to Arnside where it was too busy to stop for long. But I couldn’t resist catching a video of the river flooding at an amazing force with back eddies, and a back-back eddy along the shore. The piers under the railway bridge looked as if they were doing ten knots with a great bow wave around each.

I missed out the trip across the moss because of the high tide and came through Carnforth and up to Ancliffe Road where I passed Keith and Helen (for the second time that day!). Back to Lancaster avoiding the cycle paths (b usy again…) and up through the city to home. Just under 40 miles at just over 14 mph.

Tim Dant

Flood spring tide currents at Arnside