EXPLORE ARNSIDE & THE LOCAL AREA

The quaint village of Arnside is a tempting spot with a pretty Victorian parade of shops along the promenade and a choice of pubs from which to enjoy the spectacular sunset overlooking the Bay. There are plenty of easy walks in the surrounding woodland. Why not head up to Arnside Knott to enjoy the sweeping sea views?

It's never very crowded here, but it is an excellent base close to the Lake District so you can explore the whole area. There are excellent views across the bay to Grange-over-Sands and the Lakeland fells.

There are ruined Pele towers at Towers farm (Arnside Tower) between Arnside and Silverdale, and Hazelslack tower, Nr Carr Bank. Also very popular within the AONB is Leighton Hall which is open to the public and hosts an annual craft fair and theatre season.

The historic villages of Arnside and Silverdale sit snugly on the coastline of Morecambe Bay in a spot that’s been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty thanks to its rich diversity of habitats and wildlife. Its deciduous woodlands, limestone grasslands and coastal salt marshes are enclosed by low limestone hills creating a perfect environment for rare butterflies and marshland birds.

You can discover the rich birdlife on a visit to RSPB Leighton Moss in Silverdale, where the largest reed bed in the north-west attracts more than 100 species of bird, including breeding bitterns, bearded tits and marsh harriers. Spring is the best time of year to spot colourful butterflies flitting along the reserve trails. There’s a shop and cosy tea room serving delicious slabs of cake and home-cooked meals where you can warm up afterwards.

The Arnside & Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is a haven for birds, and the surrounding countryside contains a wealth of flora and fauna. Here is the National Trust owned Arnside Knott, a 520 ft high flat rock, which with neighbouring Silverdale in Lancashire, has done much to secure the designation of 'Area of Oustanding Natural Beauty'. It has many lovely wooded walks around Arnside Knott, up to the "Pepper-Pot" at Silverdale or around the coast with its cliff top walks and sea views.