NORTH Lancashire's limestone coast is an enticing mix of woods, coves, caves and mudflats on the edge of the Lake District.

This day-long expedition starts in the holiday village of Silverdale and uncovers a 15th century pele tower, a mossland nature reserve, a stately home and a host of interesting coastal features -- from curious chimneys to limestone kilns.

DISTANCE: 11 miles

START: Silverdale village, Shore Road car park (OS Grid Ref. 458749). Silverdale is situated a few miles north of Carnforth along minor roads. Leave the M6 at Junction 35. From the village centre follow Shore Road which ends at a car park.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Silverdale has a train station and the walk can be started from there.

(Note: follow these route directions in conjunction with OS Map Explorer OL7 South East Lakes)

FROM the end of the car park continue along the shoreline path which heads north and leads to a cove with a large circular cave in a wall of limestone.

Leave the shore here by bearing right along a track leading to a wooden field gate which leads onto the end of a lane. Follow the lane and when it meets a road junction bear left heading for Arnside. When it kinks left after about 250 metres leave it on the right along the public footpath signed for Silverdale Road and Far Arnside. Keep going in the same direction through a caravan park.

The path leads along a driveway (Elm Grove) and when the drive bears right towards more caravans, leave it and go straight ahead under telegraph lines to follow a grassy track that leads to the remains of Arnside Tower built to repel Scottish invaders.

Go through the gate leading to the tower and follow the track downhill. Do not go through the next gate to the farm but turn sharp right in front of it along the path signed for Middlebarrow.

Enter a woodland (through the higher of the two gates) and a track through the wood is now followed for about half a mile to reach a railway crossing. Cross this with care and follow the lane which turns sharp right and runs parallel to the railway. Keep following this lane which eventually bears right and crosses the railway. At the next road junction turn right then almost immediately left along a minor lane past cottages. Follow this for nearly mile until it meets another road. Turn left along this road then right at the next junction (near to the train station). Leighton Moss Visitor Centre is reached on your right.

Continue straight ahead along the road for about mile until a footpath signed for Yealand Conyers is reached on the right. Join this path following a straight track through the reed beds of the nature reserve. It eventually passes a farm and joins the driveway to the stately home of Leighton Hall. As the Hall is passed on your right go straight ahead and leave the drive when it swings right. Veer slightly left up the steep slope and climb to the top of the hill where there are stunning views across Morecambe Bay.

Turn right at the top of the hill and follow the path which passes through kissing gates to reach a lane.

Turn right along the lane which is now followed for the next mile. Leave it on the right when you reach a bridleway signed for Crag Road. This stone road leads uphill and is followed for about 1 miles, eventually dropping downhill to meet a lane. Turn right along this and when it joins a lower road turn left and follow the pavement until a footpath signed for Jenny Brown's Point is soon reached on the left. Join this track which leads under the railway then turn right following a waymarked path to a stile and follow the embankment to reach the bottom of a wooded hill.

Turn left and follow the shore path to a chimney which was once part of a copper smelting mill. Continue to the cottages and join the end of a lane.

Go straight ahead along the lane which soon swings right. You may like to go through the kissing gate on the left leading to the National Trust cliff property of Jack Scout with its renovated lime kiln.

Another kissing gate leads back onto the lane. Continue straight ahead along the lane and at the next road junction continue in the same direction back to Silverdale village. The Shore Road is eventually reached on your left which leads back to the car park.