Leaving the car at Bootle Station we take the train to Silecroft – it takes seven minutes.
At Silecroft I suddenly realise we have no water and the map is not showing anywhere to buy some for the duration of our walk. Looking round we spy what looks like a gift shop on the platform – it is closed but there are two women outside the door having a morning chat. Presenting my case, one of the women smiles and tells us to wait while she scuttles off into a back room and comes back with two bottles of water – she will not take any money and waves us on our way, what a nice way to start the day.
Before we leave the village and head west towards the coast, we have five minutes to say hello to some local sheep. They are unusually friendly with almost equine heads and the rams have magnificent spiralled horns.
Arriving at the coast we turn right and prepare for a straightforward tramp up to Bootle. There are a few fishermen on the beach but otherwise it is deserted.
Inland, the hazy profile of Black Combe can be seen, its summit shrouded in mist.
As we move off the beach through tracts of rough grass, the ground is peppered with rabbit hidey holes – we see no sign of them.
A little later we are directed down on to the beach again but not for long – ten minutes later we are back to a landscape of domed green hills . cattle graze in the distance.
Botany lesson of the day – six spot Burnet Moth containing Hydrogen Cyanide – toxic to predators – we do not disturb.
Bootle is now roughly a mile inland as we are directed off the beach and over a footbridge. At the foot of the signpost some good soul has cleared a load of rubbish off the beach but where does it go from here?
The bridge crosses over the River Annas into Hyton Marsh – we stand and watch the slow moving water for a while – it is very peaceful.
On the other side of the bridge the signpost points to Bootle so we follow the path alongside the marsh up to Selker Bay and back to our car. An uneventful walk but another milestone in our trek along the coast of Cumbria.
Distance: 10 miles
Joining the Dots 
Thank you Tricia & Damian,
Your walk was more interesting than eventful; water given with a smile, friendly sheep and a dangerous moth.
There were no muddy, squelching crossings and the rolling hills look inviting.
Looking forward to your next blog.
Thanks for reading Corinne – hope all is well and you’re having a good summer x
Kind humans and handsome friendly sheep. I’ve never heard of that type of moth. Pleasant scenery to enjoyxx
The red-spotted moth is new to me. Definitely best not disturbed!
Indeed!
beautifully written as usual. Well done you two. Nearly there.
That burnet moth photo is fantastic!
I’m pretty sure I photographed the pointy dune in the previous photo but from the its beach side.
There wasn’t a signpost pointing to Bootle at the other end of the footbridge in 2015 so I went the wrong way, backtracked, forded the Annas on the beach and then squelched along the beach and on to Bootle Station with wet boots. Your way sounds much better.