This was our last day and with all of my planned botany and things done we decided on a long walk around the Arnside peninsular and back over Arnside Knott. And boy it was a hot one!
On Arnside seafront at the start of the walk I found English Scurvygrass and around the coastal strip west Sea Milkwort on the edge of the saltings and Wayfaring Tree growing out of the rocky cliff. The path veered into the edge of the woods of Arnside Park and in the shade was a good number of Columbine plants and Early Purple Orchid. After we had rounded the end of the peninsular a nice patch of Bloody Cranesbill was by the path with a pair of Common Blues nearby and some very welcome Dropwort in flower. After lunch in the shade of a tree at Far Arnside we began the toil up and over Arnside Knott. I was checking everywhere for Northern Brown Argus but succeeded in finding just Dingy Skippers and Small Heaths. The display of Early Purple Orchids on the walk down was superb with one specimen up to my knee in height!
With time to spare (if no energy!) we popped back to Gait Barrows and with Belinda opting to stay in the car I wandered off on the trails. And after rather too much searching I was delighted to find a single Duke of Burgundy, my very first one in the north and a fitting way to conclude the trip.
All that was left was a fish and chip supper from the Arnside Chip Shop sat on the ege of the saltings watching the sun go down over the estuary.
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