Skip to content
View of people's knees, who are sitting on a bench. They have brought their dog for a walk, and the dog, a brown and white border collie, is waiting next to the bench.
Arnside and Silverdale is a great place to take your four legged friend | © National Trust Images/Annapurna Mellor
Lake District

Arnside Knott circular walk

Arnside Knott is renowned for its wildlife. Take this circular walk to admire views of the surrounding countryside and enjoy the sights and sounds along the route.

Follow the waymarkers

Look out for the purple arrow waymarkers along this walk to help you find your way.

Total steps: 12

Total steps: 12

Start point

Arnside Knott car park LA5 0BP

Step 1

From the car park, walk up under the trees along the wide bridleway path and pass through two separate gates. Continue on this path until you reach a crossroad. On the right you will seen the sign for Heathwaite. Take the path up the slope to the left at this point.

Step 2

Continue on this path up the hill. This will get steeper as you ascend and begins to look more like a stony track. At the bend in the track, this is the first point on the route where the views start to open up. Continue up the steep track and you'll see twin seats off on a path to the left in front of you.

Step 3

Head off the main track and take the left-hand path by the twin seats. Continue for 90 metres. The path narrows and takes you towards a wall which goes down the hillside. Enter through the wooden handmade gate in the wall.

Step 4

Through the gate turn to your right and follow the zig-zag path which goes up the hill, with the stone wall on your right. Continue up the hill until you reach the 'toposcope', which is a pictorial guide at the viewing point over the Lakeland fells. You'll have your back to the estuary and fells at this point. Continue past the bench on the right and up to the kissing gate in a stone wall.

Step 5

Through the kissing gate, walk through a small area of trees. Continue on this path until it meets a wider path, then bear left along the main path. Continue down and past the bench on your right, then climb uphill again and past the old knotted larch 'h' tree on your left. Head towards the long wood and stone bench with a plaque on the side, and continue along the same path and keep to the left. You will be walking with the estuary to your left at this point. As you go through a patch of trees you'll start to see Arnside's viaduct on your left. Before you reach the wooden handmade gate in the wall take a path to the right.

A view of a knotted larch tree at Arnside Knott, where two saplings have grown together into a 'h' shape.
A knotted larch tree at Arnside Knott | © National Trust/Jamie Armstrong

Step 6

Continue along the path through the trees to Arnside Knott's trig point (stone structure at highest point of the hill). Continue past the trig point and the beech tree on your right. Stay on this narrow path (don't take the path which turns off left) and continue until you reach the views of Arnside Tower below. Take care if you leave the path to get a better view; there's quite a drop here.

Step 7

The path naturally bends to the right here and is narrow. Where two paths cross, stay on the right-hand path and through the trees. Carry on ahead of you until you reach the Scots pine trees on your left, which frame the view of Morecambe Bay.

View over Morecambe Bay estuary in the autumn. There is a tree on the left, and the sky is light blue and lilac.
View over Morecambe Bay at Arnside and Silverdale | © National Trust Images/Paul Harris

Step 8

Take the first path on your right, turning your back on the bay, and head past a handful of large beech trees on your left. Continue on this path until it reaches the main path you walked on earlier.

Step 9

Turn left back down the main path and continue down the slope until you see the bench you passed earlier, this time on your left. Just before the bench take the path to the left.

Step 10

Along this path to the left, there is a section which is steep with large limestone rocks to navigate around. If you find it easier, take the small, left-hand path at this point, which will join up again in just a few metres. Continue for a short distance until you take a narrow right-hand path. There is a large round yew tree on your left. Continue along this short section until the path meets the main route down.

Step 11

Continue down the hill on this main track until you reach the crossroads again. The sign for Heathwaite will now be in front of you. Take the path to the right here.

Step 12

Continue on this path to the right along through the two gates again and the short sections of woodland and drop back down to the car park to reach the end of the trail.

End point

Arnside Knott car park LA5 0BP

Trail map

A map showing a circular walking route around Arnside Knott
Arnside Knott circular walk | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey

You made it

Share your experience

More near here

View of the Active Base and jetties from the lake, on an early morning in spring
Trail
Trail

Fell Foot circular heritage trail 

Discover the history and heritage of Fell Foot in the Lake District on this circular walk, exploring historic boathouses, a modern Active Base, and 18th-century pleasure grounds and gardens.

Activities
Walking
DistanceMiles: 1.6 (km: 2.56)
Views of fields and hills on the wider Sizergh Castle estate
Trail
Trail

Sizergh wildlife walk 

Follow this route from Sizergh Castle for views of the Lakeland Fells, the Pennines and Morecambe Bay, as well as birds, butterflies, wildflowers and some unusual animals.

Activities
Walking
DistanceMiles: 2.5 (km: 4)
A section of wetland with fields and hills behind it
Trail
Trail

Park End Moss wetland walk at Sizergh 

This circular walk to Park End Moss showcases the diversity of the Sizergh estate, taking in ancient woodlands, historic parkland and a wetland popular with numerous bird species.

Activities
Walking
DistanceMiles: 2.8 (km: 4.48)

Our partners

Cotswold Outdoor

We’ve partnered with Cotswold Outdoor to help everyone make the most of their time outdoors in the places we care for.

Visit website 

You might also be interested in

A wooden gate in a dry stone wall, with a view out over the estuary, on a grey day at Arnside and Silverdale.
Article
Article

Things to do at Arnside and Silverdale 

Explore Arnside and Silverdale in Cumbria, an area of national importance for wildlife such as wildflowers, butterflies, glow-worms and wood ants.

Child wearing glasses and a blue raincoat walking with his father, who has a green coat and a rucksack on, at Arnside and Silverdale.
Article
Article

Things to do at Arnside Knott 

Explore the hills and paths of Arnside Knott and climb to the top for sweeping views. What wildlife and rare wildflowers will you spot on your visit to Arnside Knott?

Group of people in brightly coloured puffer jackets and raincoats walking through the woods at Arnside and Silverdale.
Article
Article

Things to see at Eaves Wood 

Visit Eaves Wood at Arnside and Silverdale to discover centuries-old yew trees and a monument to Queen Victoria where you can pause to take in the view over Silverdale.

View across the estuary at low tide. There are wind turbines in the distance.
Article
Article

Things to see at Jack Scout 

Head to the Jack Scout cliffs at Arnside and Silverdale to see the Arnside tidal bore, go birdwatching then stay for the sunset views over Morecambe Bay from Giant’s Seat.

Brown labrador lying down with a stick on the grass at Eaves Wood.
Article
Article

Visiting Arnside and Silverdale with your dog 

Find out about walking your dog at Arnside and Silverdale, from the facilities available to how you can help us to protect the local wildlife. Arnside and Silverdale is a two pawprint rated place. 

A group of people in a hiking group are being guided on a hike by rangers at Marsden Moor, West Yorkshire
Article
Article

Cotswold Outdoor: our exclusive walking partner 

Find out more about the National Trust’s ongoing partnership with Cotswold Outdoor as our exclusive walking partner.

A visitor carrying a backpack and walking along a footpath at Divis and the Black Mountain with stone walls either side, the countryside visible in the background.
Article
Article

Follow the Countryside Code 

Help to look after National Trust places by observing a few simple guidelines during your visit and following the Countryside Code.

An aerial view of an adult and baby walking a dog along a path at Baggy Point, Devon
Article
Article

Staying safe at National Trust places 

The special places in National Trust care sometimes come with a few risks for visitors, be it coastline or countryside. Find out how to keep safe throughout your visits.