A straightforward one day jaunt around Duddon Sands, which is served by an excellent train service between Carlisle and Lancaster.
I parked in a free car park just by the shoreline in Askam. There are only few clouds in the sky and the sun has yet to rise above the fells to the east. I am rewarded with great views across the estuary to Millom, which is tantalizingly close and also up the estaury to a range of lakeland fells including Old Man of Coniston and Wetherlam.
I set off walking along the shore, which with the tide well out, is very easy. I head towards the small outcrop of Dunnerholme and cut across part of a golf course. I follow the railway line on the western side up past Soutergate to Kirby-in-Furness station. Here I enter onto the station platform and cross over the tracks via the footbridge. I leave the station and bid a chap good morning, but get no response. After about 250m I turn into a field and walk towards the railway viaduct. Alongside the railway bridge which crosses over Kirby Pool are two large oil/waste/gas or water pipes which also span the small water course. The footpath, very cleverly, makes use of the gap between the two pipes for the path to cross the river. At the other end I cross the railway and head into a field towards Angerton Hall, here I re-cross the rail and continue along small single track roads.
I am now passing around Angerton Moss, which has no roads or rights of way running across it. Theses quiet lanes deliver me to a railway crossing at Foxfield. Here I join a car waiting at a crossing for an oncoming train. After about 3 minutes I look up and down the track and cross the track. By the time I have reached Foxfield station the train arrives from Barrow. This particular train is an old diesel locomotive pulling carriages. They are dirty and noisy but have a charm, but perhaps not as appealing as Steam. I am now on the busy A595, fortunately with a footpath. But not for long, at a junction with a small road leading into the small village o Broughton-in-Furness the footpath stops. I head into Broughton and head out again to rejoin the A595. I have a footpath for another 200m, before the footpath makes a direct line across country towards Duddon Bridge, my bridging point across the River Duddon.
Looking at the map I was hoping to walk along the sea-wall on the opposite side of the Duddon. This was because the A595, for about three-quarters of a mile has no footpath and more importantly no verges. I cross the bridge and drop down a small track only to be met by the abomination in the photograph. A carefully built metal structure screwed to the locked gate encompasses two sets of barbed wire strands. The people who don’t want you walking along this river bank in the Lake District, appears to be the DBAC. An angling club I would imagine. While I have no problem with people fishing, the monstrosity perched on the gate is something that you normally see guarding a scrapyard! I will attempt to contact the local footpaths officer to report this. I will mention the fact that people are being forced to walk along an extremely dangerous section of road. Hopefully, the England Coast Path will provide a solution?
I don my hi-vis vest and play dodgems with the saturday afternoon traffic. The small side road down to Lady Hall comes as a great relief. I drop down a footpath and head towards the railway viaduct which crosses the Duddon at this point. I am now walking along the grass-covered sea-wall which runs all the way to Millom. I could have gone on for a few more miles, but decide I have done enough for today. I make my way to the railway station and get myself a coffee and giant crumpet. An enjoyable day, apart from the GOML structure.
Distance today = 17 miles
Total distance = 2325 miles
Walking the Coast of Great Britain 
How frustrating to come across that obstruction. I must confess I don’t have much patience with fishermen, who seem to sit around all day doing nothing except inflicting unnecessary suffering on harmless fish. Glad you survived the road walking. (Note to self: must buy a hi-vis vest!)
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Hi Ruth, for the strecth around Duddon Bridge, you could use a couple of footpaths just north of the roads, to get you past the worst bit of the A595.
Yes buy a hi-vis vest, they are very light. The cheapest one I got was from Morrison’s, they are intended for motorists that beak down and sell for something like 65p!! Aldi have them in sometimes as well.
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