Rarity and Solitude, a Big Dunes walk

Just for a change it is nice to go for a walk where few others will be. Walney Island is the 2nd largest island in England, and whilst 15000 people live there you can bet your last shilling that very few or even none will be out and about either at the north or south extremities. So after many year's absence I was inclined to revisit the North End of Walney, just to see how things have changed over the years. You must prepare your mind for a day of solitude and quiet...there will be nobody else about!

Earnse Bay and looking towards Black Combe. There were a few visitors on the foreshaw, and a few dog walkers, as is usual.

But they have turned the area into a 'nature reserve'. The fence is the boundary of 'Walney International Airport'. My objective is several miles north of this.

These quite delightful tarns are in fact the remains of industrial gravel extraction. They are on the site of an old rifle range used for training in WW2. We used to go as boys to recover the bullets(full metal jacket, .303 rounds) from the sand, melt out the lead for fishing weights and use the nickel jackets for arrow tips. I suppose the site of a gang of youths, slung with longbows and a quiver of metal tipped, seagull feather fletched arrows would be cause for alert today. But that was before we moved on to air rifles.....

After walking across the island it appears someone has provided a nice seat. I was looking forward, not to a nice seat, but to the sight and sound of skylarks. There used to be many in the meadows hereabouts. I saw none and was disappointed.

But there were loads of fresh flowers abounding. From the 'seat' to the norther tip and back round to the western shore I saw nobody, apart from a lone canoeist, paddling away against the tide!

The northern tip of Walney was warm and sunny. The tide was up and there were no beach casters in sight.

Pretty wave patterns bely quite a dangerous beach for swimming. The current in this part of the channel can be quite strong. If you can bear the cold water (we used to) the western beaches of Walney are quite safe.

The northern/inner Walney Channel at high tide. I reflected on the changes to Barrow over the years. Family history says that my great grandfather was the driver of the little train that took the slag from the ironworks to dump on the slag bank which you can see to the left. That was in the 1800's. Today in the buildings on the right they build nuclear submarines. I wonder what another 100 years will bring.

Finally one of the best things about this walk is the stunning panoramic views of the Lakeland Fells. Above the sand dunes, from left to right, The Scawfells, Great End and Bowfell, and to the right, Dow Crags and Coniston Old Man. It is big country, with big skies and big views. 6 miles of flat easy walking, but plenty of time to reflect and relax, and no car parking fees!

End of post.