In our occasional series, Stuart Fisher explores some of the often overlooked but still navigable river estuaries of the UK
The River Kent is a short river that starts in the Kentmere Valley in the Southern Lake District and empties into Morecambe Bay. It’s a mere 32km in length but takes in some beautiful Lakeland scenery, passing close by the charming Lakeland village of Grange-over-Sands plus the historical village of Arnside, famous for building the beautiful Morecambe Bay Prawners.
Highest navigable point
The river is tidal from Lakesway Holiday Home & Lodge Park, near the hamlet of Sampool. That said, the River Gilpin, flowing down the Lyth valley, is tidal for longer, starting from the A590, which crosses with the Cumbria Coastal Way. Sluices block the river on the south side of the road, isolating the Gilpin Bridge Inn opposite. Overlooking the area is the wall of 187m White Scar, and 265m Farleton Fell stands away to the southeast. A mast on the west side is screened by trees.
The Gilpin is deep at first, its banks grazed by sheep and rabbits while swallows and wagtails fly over it, as do jets on training runs. Approaching the Kent, it becomes shallower and there is quicksand about.
The Kent winds past Foulshaw Moss and around sandbanks which attract swans, herons, greylag geese, shelducks, blackheaded, blackbacked and other gulls and lapwings, oystercatchers and other waders. The River Bela joins from the east as the Kent meanders across its estuary, followed by the line of the former Oxenholme to Arnside railway and with a distant hilltop tower visible.
On spring tides with low pressure there can be a bore but, more often, there is nothing at all, the sandbanks remaining unwashed.
Middle reaches
Extensive marsh pushes out onto Milnthorpe Sands at Storth but still leaves plenty of width for the Kent Viaduct to cross. This structure has carried the Cumbrian Coast Line since 1860, its 50 spans at 9.1m centres with a clear 11m telescopic opening span near the east end. A line of rocks has been tipped across the upstream side of the rest of the viaduct.
The west bank has traditionally formed the boundary of the Lake District National Park from Gilpin Bridge but this boundary now crosses to the centre of the main channel, bringing most of the estuary into the park.
Lower reaches
Arnside was a Viking settlement which later enjoyed a flourishing boatbuil
