Hi Spot,

When the weather gets a bit better I hope to be making regular trips up the M6 to Arnside/Silverdale and I will be looking at the brickwork with renewed interest!

I 'discovered' this area, for myself, in about 1983. I am an amateur botanist and first read about the area through J.E.Lousley's book, 'Wild Flowers of Chalk and Limestone', in the Collins New Naturalist series. I booked a fortnight's holiday up there and have been hooked ever since. For me there is very little to beat coming off the motorway, on a nice sunny day in May or June, and into that sublime landscape of neat hedges, coppiced woods and pale grey limestone. If you know where to look there are Wild Daffodils, Green Winged Orchids, Dark-red Helleborines, Fly Orchids, Hellebores, Birds-eye Primroses, Hard Shield Ferns etc., etc., and I add new photographs to my collection every year (well, such things please me!).
I introduced a mate of mine to the area a few years ago and, because he is self-employed, and can live anywhere, he bought a flat in Arnside overlooking the Kent Estuary (bastard!!).
I've probably left it too late - but never mind, it's only about an hour up the motorway from where I live in South Manchester.