Visit Arnside and Silverdale
The Arnside and Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is situated along the coast of north Lancashire and south Cumbria, on the Kent Estuary in north-west England next to Morecambe Bay.
Although it is one of the smaller AONB's in England, and often ignored because visitors head for the nearby Lake District National Park, Arnside and Silverdale has a very wide range of habitats and is a very scenic part of the north-west. There are a few villages within the defined area, with Arnside and Silverdale being the most important.
Ancient deciduous woodlands of oak, ash and hazel (eg Eaves Wood), areas of open grassland (eg Arnside Knott), coastal salt-marshes and fine coastal scenery (Morecambe Bay) are among the natural highlights of the area scattered across the low hills that stretch inland from the coast, mixed with low-scale agriculture (usually sheep and cow farms).
Outdoors in Arnside and Silverdale
Avoiding the tourist volumes of the nearby Lake District, Arnside and Silverdale is a quiet region where walking and cycling are a pleasure on the quiet roads.
Bird spotters will appreciate the unique opportunities to explore the Leighton Moss Nature Reserve, a large area of reedbeds with a diverse range of wildlife - it is said that more than 100 different species of bird, some rare, have been identified here.
Wildflower and butterfly enthusiasts will find a lot to enjoy in the more open inland areas. Because of the diversity of wildlife in this small area there are no less than fifteen designated 'sites of special scientific interest'!
Notable Monuments
The 18th century Georgian style house at Leighton Hall (near Lealand Conyers) is a notable historic monument - a fine house surrounded by attractive gardens;
The sturdy 14th century Arnside Tower (at Arnside) dates from the time when Arnside needed protection from the invading Scots.
Map of Arnside and Silverdale and places to visit
Arnside and Silverdale places to visit
Arnside
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