by Lawrence Bland
Four hikers left Lancaster on the delayed 1028 train to Arnside. A glorious fine warm sunny spring day, and with the recent dry weather, perfect for walking, so good, I had to make an official complaint about the lack of MUD. We walked along the old railway, partway towards Sandside, coming back over Arnside Moss. Our first pub was the Ye Olde Fighting Cocks, a Thwaites house, nice pub with Wainwright and Nutty Slack available, and the food seemed reasonable well priced. Onto the Albion, another Thwaites house, Bomber, Original & Wainwright along with guest beer from Ruddles on tap. Seating outside and slightly more expensive food inside. We were a week too early for the 3rd Albion beer festival (April 12 to 14th, ten beers are promised). The walk continues along the shore line of the Kent towards New Barns, and then we crossed over Arnside Knott, but missing the summit, stopping for a short picnic. The Silverdale Hotel was our next call, the party was now six members, this is a Jennings house and Cocker Hoop and Cumberland Ale available. We passed the closed Royal and onto the Woodlands, four guest beers were on tap, OSB Hopscotch, John Smith’s Bitter, Hook Norton Old Hooky and Weetwood Oasthouse Gold. Two of the party returned by bus and the rest by car.