Wide open spaces

At the end of March, I enjoyed a weekend away at an hotel near Grange over Sands. It is on the coast immediately south of the Lake District, on the northern edge of Morecambe Bay. Morecambe Bay is a vast expanse (120 square miles) of salt marshes and shallow mudflats, sometimes covered by the tide and sometimes exposed. It attracts many wading birds and is an important wildlife habitat. It holds rich cockle beds too, which have been fished by locals for generations. It's a very dangerous area to explore on foot. The incoming tide rushes in unpredictably and alarmingly fast; for centuries the area has had royally appointed local guides to assist people to cross. Nowadays they conduct guided walks, often to raise money for charity.

The photo above is looking east across to the area called Arnside and Silverdale. The prominent hill to the right is Arnside Knott. The picture below is looking in a more south-easterly direction and you can just see Ingleborough, one of Yorkshire's famous 'three peaks' in the distance. There is also a hot air balloon soaring over the scene. It was a beautiful day with no wind so it would have been ideal for a balloon ride. These wide open spaces are a real tonic for this valley-dwelling girl; my spirit seems to breathe and expand!