Leaving Carnforth Station, turn left down the main road, crossing to the other side and passing under two road bridges. Cross a footpath bridge over the River Keer. Take the next right turn along a lane signposted "Millhead Playing Fields". Go through a swing gate signposted "Warton" bearing slightly diagonally left across the field. Pass through another swing gate and keep near to the hedge on the right. After going through the next gate the path goes into a small lane. At the end of this lane turn right into a cul-de-sac. Cross to the other side of the road and on the left a footpath signpost directs the path around a snicket, between the houses, to reach the village of Warton. (Option 1 can be taken here)
Cross straight over the road (by the telephone box) and go up Churchill Avenue. Turn right at the signpost "Public Footpath Crag Road". Go through a wooden gate and climb fairly steeply keeping close to the wall on the right. Cross the stone stile in the corner of the wall onto a road.
Turn left and a few yards on the right take the gate, Ged's Gate, into the woods signposted "Warton Crag Local Nature Reserve". (Care must be taken on the limestone rocks, which can be very slippy especially after rain).
Take the path straight ahead in the woods, passing a wooden fence and then a stone wall on the right, until reaching a gap almost in the corner where two walls meet (there is also a marker post). Go through the gap and follow the well defined path and when the path veers slightly left away from the wall do not follow the path here but go up a small stony embankment (looks like stone steps) on the right. Continue then on the path with the wall close on the right. Just after passing a white arrow on a marker post on the right take a path to the right that goes up slightly scrambling over some rocks. Eventually arriving at an information board where there is a gap in the wall and a signpost "Concessionary Path Warton Crag". Go through the gap in the wall and turn left up a stony lane. Continue on this lane until reaching a gate called Kate Breakell and sign to Warton Crag. From here either follow Option 2 if wanting to go to the top of Warton Crag or continue along to the end of the lane, which joins a main road.
Option 1
A detour if not wanting to go through the woods. Arriving at the main road in Warton turn left and go along Main Street passing the Church and Pub on the left. Proceed to near the end of this street take a left turn called Coach Road which rises gradually. Carry on along up this road until reaching a footpath sign on the left "Public Bridleway" next to a house called Potts Cottage. Follow the bridleway (which goes to Crag Foot) until reaching a gate called Kate Breakell and sign to Warton Crag on the left. This is where the path joins the path if taking the option above of going through the woods. From here either follow Option 2 if wanting to go to the top of Warton Crag or walk to the end of the lane to join a main road.
Option 2 - To the top of Warton Crag (allow ½ hr)
To go to the top of Warton Crag these instructions apply if using the wood or Option 1 walk. Go through the Kate Breakwell gate, which is well defined to the top of Warton Crag. Extensive views of Morecambe Bay and the Lake District can be seen from this spot. When returning take the left path at the Beacon on the top until reaching a signpost. Take the left path signposted Crag Foot. This descends gently and is well defined. Pass through a wooden gate and the path continues to another wooden gate onto the stony lane where turn left. Walk to the end of this lane to join a main road.
Turn right onto the road. This road then merges with a road from the left signposted "The Lancashire Coastal Path". Continue straight ahead on this road passing over a railway crossing. At the road junction turn right towards Arnside. Go right at the signpost "Leighton Moss Nature Reserve" (Kendal).
After visiting the Reserve turn right along the road. Turn right at the signpost "Bridlepath to Leighton Hall Farm". This path runs along the edge of the Nature Reserve, passing the reed beds for nesting birds and a couple of hides. At the end of this path go through a gate and follow the track bearing left to some houses and onto a tarmac lane. After about a ¼ mile, cross the cattle grid into the grounds of Leighton Hall Holme Farm. Bear left following the power lines steeply uphill to a couple of seats at the top of the hill. After having a rest turn right and follow the path through the woods. Go through two wooden gates to join a road and turn right. This road passes the main entrance to Leighton Hall and drops down into the village of Warton. At the junction in the village, turn right. Go along the main street, through the village until reaching a phone box and a bus shelter on the left. Turn left through the snicket as on your outward walk, into the cul-de-sac, left down the small lane, through a gate into a field to follow the hedge on the left. Through another gate, diagonally across the field to a gate. Arriving into the lane, turn left at the end of the lane onto the main road and back to the station.
Shops, pub and toilets at Warton village and Carnforth. Café and toilets at Leighton Moss Nature Reserve (entrance fee payable, free for RSPB members)
