Horse Riding Routes in /Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

North Bridleways Society

An area to explore and enjoy

Storth G Warton Crag G Arnside Knott

www.nlbs.org.uk Storth

The name Storth comes from an old Norse name 1. signifying a woody place. Storth is an area with an Storth estuary (anglers can often be seen fishing for Length of Ride fluke), surrounded mainly by woodland and Approx 16km (10 miles) limestone. Ash, Yew and Hazel all grow well over (2.25 hours) the limestone. In the Spring can be seen an abundance of damson and apple blossom. Wild species of plants, such as rockrose, thyme, cowslip Terrain:- Easy – quiet and primrose can be found. One old road from country lanes, bridleways and byways. No gates to north to south through Storth village was probably open. Spectacular views used for carting iron ore from the pier at Sandy over the Kent Estuary. 1. Bank to the Leighton Furnace.

Anglers fishing for fluke

3. Warton Crag

Warton Crag is a prominent limestone hill which 2. lies on the southern edge of the Arnside/Silverdale Warton Crag AONB. The limestone habitats of Warton Crag Length of Ride are amongst the most important in the area and Approx 16km (10 miles) several nationally rare species are found here. (2.5 hours)

A special plant of the area is Blue Moor Grass and the light cover of bracken provides an ideal habitat Terrain:- Easy –Mixture of for a rare butterfly, the High Brown Fritillary. roads and bridleways. Lovely The flora and fauna is protected by designation views of Bay 2. of much of the Crag as a Site of Special Scientific and Leighton Hall. Interest (SSSI).

View of Leighton Hall

Arnside Knott

This site, owned by the National Trust, is 3. 1. Storth renowned for its outstanding views of the Arnside Knott Lake District Fells, the Kent Estuary and Length of Ride 2. Warton Crag . Approx 16km (10 miles) (2.5 hours) 3. Arnside Knott Covered with limestone grassland and mixed woodland, the site is of national importance for butterflies such as the High Brown Fritillary, Scotch Terrain:- Easy – Country Argus and Northern Brown Argus. At Heathwaite lanes and bridleways. on the western part of the site, in spring and early Spectacular views of summer, you will find a magnificent display of Morecambe Bay from Cowslips, Primroses and a variety of orchids Arnside Knott. The ride also including Early Purple, Common Spotted, takes you through part of Green-winged and Autumn Lady’s Tresses. Arnside Village, which is popular with walkers and other visitors. Tower Arnside/Silverdale North Lancs Lancaster area and beyond, namely the Lune Area Of Outstanding Valley Millennium track, the Lancaster to Riding in the Natural Beauty Bridleways Society: Condor Green track and the North Arnside and NLBS had its inaugural meeting in May, Lancashire Bridleway which extends from Silverdale AONB 1997 when a handful of enthusiastic ‘happy Lancaster to Chipping in the Ribble Valley, a hackers’ met together with the intention route of 45km. Our social rides continue to The Arnside/Silverdale AONB of improving the area’s off-road riding. be a very popular and successful aspect of offers an accessible and varied There were many, sometimes frustrating, our work. landscape in which to discover the uniqueness of this very years of attempting physically to clear We now have the experience of those ten attractive area.As a designated overgrown bridleways, which were years, with many of those initial members Area of Outstanding Natural overgrown again the following year; years of still working hard within the Society. We The Beauty, the conservation and trying to persuade local councils to do their have our aims more clearly defined – with Area of Outstanding Natural enhancement of natural beauty bit in maintaining and developing off-road road safety and an encouragement to know Beauty is a unique landscape is promoted and managed and routes; and years of encouraging landowners and ride the available bridleways at the top of national importance that by riding through the area on that horseriders were not the ogres and of our list – and so we introduce you to extends to approximately 75 horseback, the rider can enjoy vandals which they seemed to expect. riding in the Arnside/Silverdale Area of square kilometres overall, this beauty to the full, with including around 30 square Outstanding Natural Beauty. At times we felt we were ‘banging our minimal disturbance to nature kilometres of inter-tidal heads against a stone wall’! If you enjoy these routes, then take a look at and wildlife.The horse is at one sands and mudflats. It is one our web site: www.nlbs.org.uk where we of the smallest of the 40 However, during these years, membership with the wildlife in an area such have routes in adjacent areas which can be AONBs across and steadily increased, friendships with like- as this and it is thrilling to see a Wales. minded people blossomed and we held downloaded free of charge.You may even deer at close quarters, undisturbed many very popular social and fund-raising be tempted to join us, at only £5 per year, by the passing of the horse and Within the AONB there are rides using the very bridleways we were and share in our fun, friendship and the hopefully a soundless rider! more than 4,000 hectares of promotion of safe riding routes for all in Sites of Special Scientific wishing to promote. It is an area of historical and North Lancashire. If you have any feed-back Interest (SSSI) and 121 After ten years of hard work much of the archaeological importance and from these routes, complimentary or hectares of National Nature effort is slowly but surely showing benefits. details of this can be found on otherwise, then please contact us via the Reserve which together We have a membership of 300, continually the AONB web site: web site but please also remember that all make up almost 55% growing, we have contributed money and www.arnsidesilverdaleaonb.org.uk of the total area. of our work is voluntary and we are not efforts in establishing multi-user routes in the infallible! The area is undulating and, after the beauty of the woodlands and pastures, stunning views open up of the Kent estuary or the stretches of Morecambe Bay. This area is truly an experience for the horse rider. Disclaimer: Parking: North Lancs. Bridleways Society In the area, suitable parking is limited, Officers have checked the venues and especially in the summer months. routes in this leaflet at time of printing Parking places are indicated with each but they cannot accept responsibility for riding route but these will generally any inaccuracies which may occur. only accommodate one or two ‘horse’ Please remember that the countryside, vehicles. For further possible parking and its agricultural uses, is constantly on private land, or for any further changing. information about riding in the area, Insurance: contact North Lancs. Bridleways All riders should hold third party Society via the web site, which insurance in case your horse injures includes contact numbers. someone or causes damage. Other information on the area can be obtained from the AONB office during office hours.

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f B O l a u r ts u ta at ndin g N Sustainable NLBS web site: Development www.nlbs.org.uk Fund Contacts: Arnside/Silverdale AONB tel.01524 761034 www.arnsidesilverdaleaonb.org.uk Photo credits:Arnside/Silverdale AONB, Natural England, NLBS. Equestrian Routes only: Accommodation in the area: Please note that, unfortunately, these There are several places in or adjacent routes are not suitable for cyclists to the area which are willing to provide because certain landowners have ‘B&B’ for riders and horses. Please stipulated that the section crossing use the above contacts for further their land is for equestrian use only. information, particularly the NLBS web site where these details will be kept updated. Ride safely and considerately: • It is advisable to tell someone where • Ride at a safe and controlled pace and you are going and the approximate show consideration for other users time of your return • Please acknowledge drivers that slow • Wear suitable clothing, particularly down for horses reflective/fluorescent gear as sections of • Fasten any gates that you open, keep to each route are on quiet roads the designated route and take your litter • Carry a suitable map, mobile phone home with you and some form of identification in • Respect the life and work of the case of emergencies countryside • Check safety of your tack, horse’s shoes and transport