SD4577 : Walls and gates, Arnside Knott
Moderate hillwalk; steep, uneven paths

Arnside Knott

159m Elevation
151m Prominence
England Country
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SD4577 : Walls and gates, Arnside Knott

Ian Taylor Photo source

Overview

Arnside Knott is a 159.1 m Marilyn near Arnside, between Silverdale and the Kent estuary in England. Woodland and limestone grassland cover the hill. Its surveyed high point is a yew tree southeast of the trig point; open viewpoints elsewhere on the hill look across Morecambe Bay.

Arnside Knott

Arnside Knott is a 159.1 m Marilyn near Arnside in England. The wooded limestone hill stands between Silverdale and the Kent estuary, within the Arnside & Silverdale National Landscape.

The surveyed summit

DoBIH records the high point at a yew tree at SD 45612 77479, 12 m southeast of the trig point. It records the trig at SD 45602 77485 as 0.40 m lower and the knoll 90 m south as 0.75 m lower. The toposcope and knotted larch are other landmarks, not summit markers. The two published walks below visit the trig area; neither source establishes exact passage over the yew-tree high point. Their figures are not a new precise-summit survey.

Complete returning walks

The National Trust purple-waymarked circuit starts and finishes at its Arnside Knott car park. Its published figures are 2.72 km and 2 hours; no ascent is given. It is a hill-only option with no shore crossing.

Lou Johnson’s Walking Britain circuit starts and ends near Arnside station, reaching the hill via the coast and Far Arnside before descending back to the promenade. Its published figures are 9.8 km, 242 m ascent and 3.5 hours. This coastal alignment is not verified as usable at all tides. No inland bypass has been mapped or assigned those figures here.

Use the full route notes and publisher’s map when planning. Both walks include a return to their own start, and the two sets of figures must not be interchanged.

Landscape and history

Regional geology is Carboniferous marine limestone. The Leeds Geological Association’s 2011 field report identifies Park Limestone on the hill, with faulting and frost-related scree contributing to its shape. This does not assign a formation to the exact summit point.

Cumbria County History Trust records medieval forms of the settlement name. The full hill-name etymology is not established here. The National Trust’s story of honeymooners tying larch saplings around 1860 is a tradition, and concerns a different tree from the summit yew.

Access and safety

The National Trust describes open access on the Knott, with cycling confined to the designated bridleway. Follow current management signs. The short route starts at the hill car park, reached by a narrow approach. The May 2021 access statement reports no on-site toilets or visitor building, village facilities in Arnside and patchy mobile reception. Check present-day arrangements and train times separately.

Expect gates, steep and uneven paths, loose rock and slippery wet limestone. Keep dogs on leads on the National Trust circuit, give grazing animals space and take care near viewpoint drops. Check for ticks after walking.

For the coastal loop, check current tide and access information. Morecambe Bay channels can fill well before high tide, and quicksand is a hazard. Stay on established shore paths and never improvise a crossing or shortcut over the bay sands. If conditions are uncertain, do not set out on the coastal section; choose a separately planned hill-only walk.

Explore routes near Arnside Knott

Walks starting near this hill. Open a route to check its map, distance and full itinerary.

Bolton-le-Sands to Hest Bank: Lancaster Canal Towpath Return

8.5 km ~2h 15m Easy

View route

Sizergh: Park End Moss and Brigsteer Park Wood Circuit

4.6 km ~3h Moderate

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Ingleton Waterfalls Walk

6.8 km ~2h 30m Moderate

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Coniston to Tarn Hows: Monk Coniston Gardens and Woodland Circuit

8.1 km ~3h Moderate

View route

Route planning notes

These notes describe possible approaches. Check a route's map and access information when planning your walk.

Arnside Knott from the National Trust car park (circuit)

Start and finish at Arnside Knott car park (SD450774, LA5 0BP). Follow the National Trust purple waymarkers through two gates to the Heathwaite junction, uphill past twin seats and through the wall gate to the toposcope. Continue past the knotted larch to the trig area. DoBIH places the actual high point at a yew tree 12 m southeast of the trig, at SD 45612 77479; the route source does not identify that exact tree. Continue through woodland past the Arnside Tower and bay viewpoints, turn inland through beech trees, then descend by the rocky side path to the Heathwaite junction. Return through both gates to the same car park. The source gives 2.72 km and 2 hours for this complete circuit, with no ascent figure. No shore crossing is required. Take care near drops and on steep, loose limestone.

2.7 km ~2 hours Moderate; steep, uneven limestone paths

Arnside station via Far Arnside and the Knott (coastal circuit)

Start and finish near Arnside station (SD461788). Follow Station Road and the promenade to New Barns Bay, through the caravan site and along the shore around Arnside Point to Far Arnside. Turn inland through Heathwaite, climb to the viewpoint and continue to the trig area. The surveyed high point is the separate yew tree 12 m southeast of the trig; the route source does not identify the exact tree. Descend north, take the grassy path beside the tree clump to the lane, turn downhill, then follow the signed promenade path and seafront back to the same start. Lou Johnson’s complete loop is 9.8 km, 242 m ascent and 3.5 hours. Coastal sections are not verified as all-tide: check current tides and access, use established shore paths and never shortcut across bay sands. No inland diversion with these metrics is established.

9.8 km ~3.5 hours Easy/moderate walking; tidal coast risk
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Hill facts and local notes

Classifications

Marilyn 100-199m hill

Elevation

159m

522 ft

Prominence

151m

Coordinates

54.1902, -2.8350

SD456774

OS Map

97

Explorer: OL7S

At the Summit

DoBIH identifies a yew tree at SD 45612 77479, 12 m southeast of the trig point, as the 159.1 m summit. It records the trig point at SD 45602 77485 as 0.40 m lower and the knoll 90 m south as 0.75 m lower. The toposcope, knotted larch and other path-side yews are separate landmarks. Published route notes reach the trig area; they do not independently establish passage over the exact yew-tree high point.

Terrain & Geology

Woodland paths limestone grassland gates and steep loose or rocky sections. The longer station circuit also uses village roads and shoreline paths. Neither description is a step-free accessibility assessment.

The National Landscape describes Carboniferous limestone formed from marine sediment, later shaped by ice and solution weathering. A 2011 Leeds Geological Association field report identifies Park Limestone on Arnside Knott and discusses fault blocks and frost-related scree. This is hill-scale evidence, not a formation survey at the precise summit coordinate.

Views & Scenery

Open viewpoints on the hill look towards the Lakeland fells, Yorkshire Dales, Trough of Bowland and Morecambe Bay in clear conditions. Views depend on weather and the particular viewpoint; they are not guaranteed at the exact yew-tree high point.

History & Heritage

Historical Significance

Cumbria County History Trust records Harnolvesheuet as an Arnside settlement-name spelling in 1184–90; these historical forms do not establish the meaning of the complete hill name. The National Trust recounts a tradition that honeymooners tied two larch saplings together around 1860. That knotted larch is distinct from the summit yew.

Getting There & Facilities

Parking

The short circuit starts at the National Trust Arnside Knott car park, SD450774, LA5 0BP, reached via Red Hills Road, Knott Lane and Saul’s Drive. The May 2021 access statement describes a narrow, sloping approach with a cattle grid and rough stone parking. Check current signs, availability and charges; no present-day capacity or opening hours are verified.

Public Transport

Arnside railway station is the starting area for the longer coastal circuit. Check the current train timetable and return service before travelling. No service frequency, direct connection or same-day operation is verified here; the shorter car-park circuit starts elsewhere.

Nearby Facilities

The National Trust’s May 2021 access statement reports no toilets or visitor building on Arnside Knott. It places public toilets just off Arnside promenade and refreshments in the village. Check current opening and payment arrangements before relying on them, and carry water for the walk.

Safety Information

Known Hazards

  • Steep, uneven paths and loose limestone require care. Wet limestone can be slippery; there is a drop near the Arnside Tower viewpoint.
  • Grazing cattle may be present. Follow local signs, leave gates as found and keep dogs on leads on the National Trust circuit.
  • Coastal sections of the longer route have fast-moving tide and quicksand risks. Channels may fill well before high water. Check current conditions, stay on established shore paths and never shortcut across bay sands; this is not an all-tide route.
  • Ticks occur in the wider National Landscape. Check yourself and dogs after the walk. The National Trust’s May 2021 statement reports poor mobile reception on parts of the site; do not rely solely on a phone for navigation.

General Safety Tips

  • Check weather conditions before setting out
  • Carry appropriate clothing and equipment
  • Let someone know your planned route
  • Take a map, compass, and GPS device
  • Carry emergency supplies: food, water, first aid kit, torch

Hills

Some common questions about the hills answered

Are there group walks up Arnside Knott?

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Location

Arnside Knott location map

Grid reference: SD456774

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