My companions for today, Loes in the purple coat and Lill in the white,

both wrapped up warm as there's a chill in the air this afternoon.

We join the coast path at the northern end of the Maryport promenade and sea wall.

Our starting point . . . adjacent to the first hole on the Maryport Golf Course.

The path will take us along the top of the beach.

It looks good with the tide in, but apparently at low tide there's a reasonable amount of darker sands reaching out into the Solway.

The top of the beach is covered by sea-worn rocks, concrete and old bricks, presumably sea defence measures from years back.

The path eventually meets up with the coast road from Maryport to Silloth.

Don't panic . . . this is just an off road car parking area !

With rather more sand we walk for a while on the harder sea-washed shoreline,

but soon pass in favour of an easier walking surface.

On the other side of the road is the coastal cycle way and footpath . . . you can't get much easier walking than this.

Colourful gorse flowers defy the season and cheer us on the way.

On the opposite side of the track, where neither man nor cycle venture

I found these delightful small late autumn toadstools.

Dylan waits as I catch up . . . ahead is the rise that has a Roman Fort on it

This is the first fort after Maryport, in the defensive line which stretched from here to Wallsend in Newcastle.

Road signs advertise the location and the possible danger ahead from people crossing the road.

On the junction was an information board about the Roman Fort.

Funnily enough the sign didn't advertise the horses.

I thought they may have been the ones I remember from last time, but they turn out to be a totally different colour . . . and a different farm.

Looking back after our walk up the 'hundred foot hill' into the village.

At the top, closer to heaven, is Crosscanonby Church.

Inside the delightful Church, as seen from the upper balcony.

The map names this area as Hall, but I think it is more likely to be named something like West Farm.

Whatever it is called, it has an impressive stack of hay bales lined up alongside the track.

We follow the Scad Beck west now, heading home on the second half of the walk.

The track, after several muddy fields, brings us out on the back of the golf course.

We follow the footpath signs most of the way . . .

. . . but deviate up alongside the fairway to reach the top of the slope, and obtain a view of the sea once more.

Adjacent to the top tee of the course there was a "fortlet" signposted on the map.

We presume this patch of rough vegetation would be covering the foundations of the historic intermediate guard post.

[ This fortlet is not to confused with the preserved foundations of 'Mile Fort 21' which is further along the hillside.]

Conveniently for the golfers and for us, was a walkway down to the lower level fairway

which gave simple access back onto the coastal cycle-way that we used earlier.

At the appropriate moment we crossed the road.

Our timings for the walk were good as the sun was setting, with just the smallest of colourful displays to look at

as we made our way back to the car.

- - - o o o - - -

Sometimes after a walk I manage a picture of a cool pint of beer.

Today we took up the invite in the Golf Club window, for non-members to call in for refreshments.

This is what you call golfer's tea . . . it's like builders's tea but with a posh teapot,

and just like a good golfer, this cup of tea "really hit the spot" . . . after this rather different coastal walk.

On the way home the light was fading . . . which served to emphasis an extensive Christmas display

in the garden of one Maryport house close to the main road.