Crossing the Sands of Morecambe Bay

Before the railway viaduct was built in 1857 the main route from Lancashire to the Furness Peninsular was across the treacherous sands of the Kent Estuary where it widens into Morecambe Bay.

The first official Guide to the crossing was appointed in 1548. Before that travellers relied on help from the Monks of Furness Abbey.

The Queen’s Guide is a Royal Appointment. The present Guide, Cedric Robinson, has held the post since 1963. The Guide is paid £15 per annum but has free use of the 700 year old Guides Cottage in Kents Bank.

In former times there was much commercial traffic. But nowadays the crossings are charity events. They usually start from Arnside and the route is about six miles long ending on the north shore at Kents Bank.

The walks take place on several weekends in the summer when the tides are right and the river is low. The Guide walks over from Kents Bank early in the day to check whether the quicksands have moved. He marks a safe route by pushing laurel branches into the sand.

My blip shows todays group leaving Arnside. They pay £10 and get a tee shirt and a certificate when they finish.
Many return by train, usually free as the train is so full the Conductor is unable to collect fares. The railway company has a big job cleaning mud from the floors and seats. The journey is less than ten minutes.

We have done the crossing twice taking friends with us each time. I have no ambition to do it again.