Cross Bay Walk
{{short description|Historic hiking route in Northwest England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox hiking trail
|name = Cross Bay Walk
|photo = Crossbay Walk.jpg
|caption = View from Lancashire side of the Cross Bay Walk, overlooking Morecambe Bay
|location = North West England
|designation = Public Byway
|use = Hiking
}}
The Cross Bay Walk is a historical hiking route in Northwest England that crosses Morecambe Bay. It traditionally connected Hest Bank, Lancashire with Kents Bank, Cumbria. The exact route of the walk varies depending upon local conditions, but is usually between {{cvt|6 and 8|mi}} in length.{{cite web |title=Cross Bay Walks |url=https://exploremorecambebay.org.uk/see-and-do/morecambe-bay-cross-bay-walks/ |website=Visit Morecambe Bay |access-date=10 October 2020 |language=en |date=18 November 2017}}
History and guides
{{Location map+|United Kingdom Morecambe Bay
|caption=Alternative ends of the walk on a map of the Bay
|float=right
|width=300
|places =
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Morecambe Bay|lat=54.199|long=-2.832|label=Arnside|label_size=85|position=right}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Morecambe Bay|lat=54.090|long=-2.811|label=Hest Bank|label_size=85|position=left}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Morecambe Bay|lat=54.173|long=-2.925|label=Kents
Bank|label_size=85|position=bottom}}
}}
A route across Morecambe Bay has existed for centuries,{{cite web |title=Cross Bay Walks - Guidance for walkers and organisers |url=https://www.lancaster.gov.uk/environmental-health/health-and-safety/cross-bay-walks-guidance-for-walkers-and-organisers |website=Lancaster City Council |access-date=10 October 2020}} with passage by foot and even, at least until the local railway opened in 1857, mail coaches.{{cite web |last1=Calder |first1=Simon |title=Sands and time: from Lancashire to Cumbria in bare feet |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/seven-adventures-days-morecambe-bay-sands-lancashire-cumbria-guided-walk-a9077946.html |website=The Independent |access-date=11 October 2020 |language=en |date=24 August 2019}} Due to the hazardous nature of the bay, particularly its areas of quick sand and unpredictable water channels, guides have assisted travellers throughout history. Prior to the dissolution of the monasteries, monks of Furness at Cartmel Priory provided guides for travellers across Morecambe Bay.{{cite web |title=Morecambe Bay Guides – Lancashire {{!}} |url=https://www.duchyoflancaster.co.uk/properties-and-estates/historic-properties/morecambe-bay-guides-lancashire/ |website=www.duchyoflancaster.co.uk |access-date=10 October 2020}} After the dissolution, the Duchy of Lancaster assumed responsibility for appointing the guides, with the first appointment made in 1538. The first two appointments were made by letters patent, with subsequent appointments made by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. In 2012, the duty to appoint the Queen's Guide to the Sands was transferred to the Guide Over Sands Trust,{{cite web |last1=Pidd |first1=Helen |title=Sands of time run out for Queen's Guide to Morecambe Bay |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/apr/12/sands-of-time-run-out-for-queens-guide-to-morecambe-bay |website=The Guardian |access-date=10 October 2020 |date=12 April 2019}} whose trustees include local aristocrat Lord Cavendish.{{cite web |title=Trustees |url=http://www.guideoversands.co.uk/trustees/ |website=Guide Over Sands Trust|access-date=9 September 2021 |date=23 April 2014}}
Route
The exact route of the crossing has always varied depending upon local conditions, such as tidal conditions and the location of the sand flats that make up the route. The walk originally connected Hest Bank in Lancashire with Kents Bank in Cumbria. More recently, the route has instead crossed Morecambe Bay between Arnside, Cumbria and Kents Bank due to safety concerns.{{cite web |title=Walk Across Morecambe Bay |url=http://www.morecambe.co.uk/walk.html |website=www.morecambe.co.uk |access-date=10 October 2020}}
=Public Right of Way=
File:Cross Bay Walk Warning.jpg
A public byway open to all traffic exists across Morecambe Bay, ensuring permanent public access to the route. However, the route of public right of way, which connects Hest Bank and Kents Bank, should not be taken as the exact crossing route. Indeed, the Queen's Guide to the Sands of the time, Cedric Robinson MBE, described the notion of a designated public right of way as "foolhardy" and stated that it was "impossible to draw the path on the map because it would be obsolete from day one".{{cite web |title=Byway plan will sink says guide |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/6210178.byway-plan-will-sink-says-guide/ |website=Lancashire Telegraph |access-date=10 October 2020 |language=en}}
The Cross bay working group, made up of Lancaster City Council, South Lakeland District Council, HM Coastguard, Lancashire Constabulary, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and Walk Guides, strongly advises that crossings should only be undertaken by well organised groups. Current signage located at the Hest Bank start of the public byway, warns hikers to only cross the bay with the official guide.
Charity events and culture
Taking part in an organised Cross Bay Walk is a popular charity fund raising event, with frequent events raising thousands of pounds for local charities.{{cite web |title=Cross Bay Walk raises £12k for Lancaster’s CancerCare charity |url=https://www.thevisitor.co.uk/news/people/cross-bay-walk-raises-ps12k-lancasters-cancercare-charity-649766 |website=www.thevisitor.co.uk |access-date=11 October 2020 |language=en}} Such events have always risked cancellation if the weather in the preceding days leads to unsafe conditions,{{cite news |title=Galloway’s devastated after having to cancel flagship Morecambe Bay Walk Fundraising Event |url=https://www.otsnews.co.uk/galloways-left-devastated-after-having-to-cancel-flagship-morecambe-bay-walk-fundraising-event/ |access-date=12 October 2020 |work=On The Spot (OTS) News Southport |date=5 July 2017}} and in 2020 events were cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web |title=Events |url=https://www.galloways.org.uk/events |website=www.galloways.org.uk |publisher=Galloway's |access-date=12 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012072134/https://www.galloways.org.uk/events |archive-date=12 October 2020}}
In 2021, guided crossings by 8,365 walkers, 860 runners and 61 horses raised over £300,000 for 35 charities.{{cite web |title=It is not goodbye it is see you in 2022..... |url=https://www.facebook.com/guideoversands/ |website=www.facebook.com |publisher=Guide over the Sands Trust |language=en |date=30 August 2021}} This included the first recorded naturist walk, in which about 60 participants disrobed half a mile offshore until within half a mile of the far shore.{{cite news |last1=Rouncivell |first1=Gayle |title=Sun shines down as first ever naked charity walk takes place across Morecambe Bay |url=https://www.lancasterguardian.co.uk/news/people/sun-shines-down-as-first-ever-naked-charity-walk-takes-place-across-morecambe-bay-3281048 |access-date=9 September 2021 |work=The Lancaster Guardian |date=21 June 2021 |language=en}}