Not such a lovely day as yesterday but not raining – a good start. Finding ourselves at Arnside railway station, we cross the railway bridge and head off down a permissive path which runs northwards, parallel to the road. The route around the estuary will be quite complicated today, particularly because we will be trying to avoid waterlogged fields and flooded footpaths.

The path is slippery with ice so I stick to the grass…………..

A mile on the path stops and we carry on across a small rocky beach to join the road.

This road runs through Sandside and is very busy, so we are happy to turn off right on to a footpath which leads up to a quiet lane. To our right is a high stone wall – the remains of a series of lime kilns. The limestone came from a vast quarry behind the kilns, and the fuel used to process the lime was locally produced charcoal.

From here our quiet lane joins the busy road but fortunately we can see a footpath on the other side, which leads down to, and along the River Bela.

Following the twists and turns of the river we pass a busy weir and then cross Milnthorpe Bridge, onto Marsh Road.

Marsh Road runs in a very straight line up to Marsh Farm with the river on our left and fields to our right. There is very little entertainment, so this flock of munching sheep keep us amused for a while. They have very pretty faces – I especially like the one peeking out from behind the haystack.

Further on we pass this naked tree, its boughs reaching to the sky, frozen in a silent entreaty.

On we tramp, turning right at some point to join the busy A6 running northwards. Fortunately there is a cycle lane beside the road so we’re slightly protected from the traffic. The road takes us past Levens Hall, famous for its topiary. Nice cup of tea? But no, the cafe is closed for the winter.

Crossing the river at Levens Bridge we carry straight on up the A6 until we come to a footpath that crosses the main roads and leads up to the village of Levens. Here we stop in the grounds of the church to eat lunch on a picnic bench, next to a set of bells, housed in what the church website describes as a Japanese frame. The installation of the bells in 1914 is attributed to Rev Swann who had previously been a missionary in Japan. As usual the church is locked.

It is now time to move on – at this time of year one is always conscious of the short days. Strictly speaking we should now be heading down a minor road which follows the twists and turns of the river but that would leave us in the dark, miles from any kind of transport to get back to our car in Arnside. So we take the more direct route over Gilpin Bridge and on to a footpath that follows the A590 for three miles, all the way down to the Derby Arms at Longhowe End.

Inside, a plump sofa with cushions sits waiting for us, next to the roaring open fire. We sink into it, only to surface for the next sip of cold beer. Heaven…..

Distance: 11 miles