Carnforth to Silverdale
Having consulted your Bradshaws here’s a walk that you from the world famous Carnforth Railway Station location of “Brief Encounter” to Silverdale. For this type of walk it is always best to have the rail journey completed first so parking at Silverdale is recommended if you are using the car. 

Start: Carnforth Railway Station LA5 9TR
 

Finish: Silverdale Railway Station

Distance: 6 miles 10k
Time: 2 ½ - 3 ½ hours
Grade: Moderate. There are two steep climbs on the walk. Readers be aware that the walk traverses limestone country and this can be hazardous when combined with mud - especially after rain when rocks become extremely greasy. I write this from painful experience.
Map: OS Ol 7 The English Lakes: South eastern area

Map by kind permission of Johnston Press 

Directions:
1. From Carnforth Rialway Station cross the forecourt and turn left onto Warton Road. Keep on it as it passes below two railway bridges in quick succession and then after crossing the River Keer enters the settlement of Millhead.

 

Less than 100yards from the river turn right onto a drive way leading past cottages on the left. Keep on this as it brings you to pastures.

 

Go through a wooden kissing gate and keep straight to another. On the obvious track continue to a metal kissing gate

 

leading into a residential area. Turn right. At the end of the road turn left on a narrow path leading into open space close to the Malt Shovels pub. Turn right to reach the centre of Warton. Pass the church on the left

 

and soon after the George Washington pub. Turn the next left onto Crag Road. This lane climbs steeply away from the village. After 200 yds turn right onto a footpath leading into Warton Crag local nature reserve.

 

This area has a multiplicity of paths (as indeed the whole of the AONB has) and it is easy to become confused especially in wooded sections. Take the path at right angles to the road and at a junction 70 yds in turn left onto a broad rocky track

 

that follows the edge of the escarpment to your left. Keep on this for almost 600yds to reach a fence and gate overlooking a car park. Pass through the gate and then take a narrow path on the right leading towards the highest part of the hill.This threads its way through and sometimes over limestone outcrops. Where the path forks bear right and after a wooden stile scramble up a low cliff onto a broad grassy shelf. Again bear right when the path forks to arrive at the summit adorned with a trig point

 

and a tall beacon.

 

 

2. From the trig point take the path leading towards trees leading north (roughly the direction you've taken to reach the trig point.) There has been a great deal of woodland management here so once this would have taken you through trees but now it is cleared ground.

 

This drops gently over 600yds to reach a bridleway. Go through a wooden gate

 

and turn left. Continue the descent

 

until you arrive back on Crag Lane in a little over ½ mile. Turn right. Keep on the lane to its junction with the Warton Road at Moss Farm.

 

Keep ahead on the road to the Silverdale sign and turn left along a broad track. After passing under the railway

 

turn right to cross a channel following the Lancashire Coastal Way. Now follow a raised embankment as it loops around fields to arrive at a crossroads of paths below Heald Brow.

 

3. The way here is up in the direction of Heald Brow and Hollins Lane.

 

The path climbs steeply to a wall entering National Trust land. Keep ahead coming open space and a wall. Cross the wall by a stone stile and keep ahead across two large fields

 

with a wall to your left. A small wooden gate lead to an enclosed path bringing you to Hollins Lane. Turn right and immdeiately left onto a path into more National Trust property - Woodwell Cliff.

 

Keep right following an upper path through trees. When you reach open ground follow a signpost in the direction of the Green. This brings you to a fence enclosed path

 

leading to a drive. At the end of the drive turn right on a lane. Past a footpath sign and turn left at a junction into the Green

 

between properties that loops right to reach Bottoms Lane.

 

Turn left. Take the next footpath on the right

 

and keep on the track to enter woodland. Follow this as it bends left and arrives at Lamberts Meadow oened by guess who - got it in one the National Trust.

 

After entering the meadow cross a walkway to the right

 

and passing through a gate entering more woods. This climbs steeply at first and

 

continues to the Row. Turn right and then take the next footpath on the left to cross Silverdale Golf Course.

 

Take all sensible precautions not to be hit by flying golf balls

 

following the clearly marked path to Red Bridge Lane. Turn right for the station.