Memories

Arnside village dominated by Arnside Knott

Arnside Knott from the Kent estuary

The screes of Arnside Knott from the castle

Dick Gobble was in the Pub. He was telling us about his ramble around Arnside Knott, the hill behind the village of Arnside. Apparently when he first moved to this area - he's a Yorkshireman, born & bred - he'd been up the Knott. He'd found it uninspiring & resolved never to go again. Then, on Wednesday, his usual rambling friends invited him to come with them on the Knott. He decided to go along for the company, not expecting to be excited by the walk. Wednesday here was a fabulous day. Blue skies. He discovered the fabulous views over the Kent estuary to the Lakeland views.

The classic view from Arnside Knott to the railway viaduct across the Kent estuary to the Lakeland fells beyond

Fellow appreciators

Having lived in Arnside for over twenty years the Fox & I had fond memories of the Knott, a place we often went to walk. We remembered the fabulous views. We asked whether he'd also been over to the other side where on a good day you could see over Silverdale, down to Blackpool Tower & the Isle of Man. Dick was astounded.

The view south

 We also remembered the knotted larch. Legend has it, in Victorian days a couple of mischievous boys knotted two larch saplings together. They subsequently grew together as one tree. They did this twice. By the time we'd found them one tree had blown down. We wondered if the other still stood. Dick had no idea. 

The lone knotted larch

The knot in the larch

The Fox, too, recalled how fabulous the Knott could be under snow.

All these memories inspired this blog, & these pictures.