Discover
This extraordinary place is famous for its amazing wildlife, stunning scenery, and superb walks. From the seasonal abundance of stunning butterflies to the shining sands of Morecambe Bay, the area is simply awe-inspiring - full of natural spectacles and a surprise around every corner.
Silverdale
Image: Art-image, Tony Riden
About Silverdale
Silverdale lies just across the border from Arnside in Lancashire. Originally a series of scattered farmsteads, Silverdale offers sheltered walks along limestone paths and amongst woodland, leading to panoramic views across the Bay to the Lakeland Fells.
The area is renowned for its flora and fauna, historic buildings, and interesting geological features. There are numerous springs and no less than 11 wells and three named watering places in the immediate area.
The author of ‘Windyridge’ and ‘The Silver Dale’, Willie Riley and the late comedienne Victoria Wood lived in Silverdale and the village’s Gaskell Hall is named after the Victorian novelist Elizabeth Gaskell (1810–1865) who regularly holidayed in Silverdale to escape the summer heat and dust of Manchester and wrote some of her works at Lindeth Tower, next to Gibraltar Farm.
Believed to date to around 900AD, the famous ‘Viking Hoard’ was found near Silverdale and is one of the largest Viking hoards ever discovered in the UK.
Popular sites to visit include:
- RSPB Leighton Moss Nature Reserve
- Eaves Wood National Trust Nature Reserve
- Jack Scout & Heald Brow
- Jenny Brown’s Point
- Gait Barrows National Nature Reserve
- Trowbarrow Quarry Local Nature Reserve
- Silverdale Golf Club
- Silverdale Shore
- St John’s Church
- George Whitaker Memorial Children’s Playground
Images: AONB
How to get there
Silverdale is located between Lancaster and Kendal, at the north western edge of Lancashire.
North of Silverdale is Far Arnside and Arnside.
South of Silverdale is Warton and Carnforth.
East of Silverdale is Yealand Storrs, Yealand Conyers and Yealand Redmayne.
Images: Adam Donaldson, AONB
Public Transport
Trains: Silverdale Railway Station is located very close to RSPB Leighton Moss, just under a mile from the village. There are regular trains to and from Lancaster. Further up the line is Grange-over-Sands, Barrow-in-Furness and stations up the coast to Carlisle. (what3words: interlude.sloping.group). Timetables can be found via National Rail Enquiries.
Information about Silverdale Station, including cycle storage and accessibility is available on the Northern Railway Website.
Buses: The Stagecoach 51 service goes between Silverdale and Carnforth, via Warton and runs Monday – Saturday.
Parking
There is limited parking in Silverdale. You can park at the end of Shore Road on the shore itself where a donations box is provided, but beware of Morecambe Bay’s fast, incoming tide! Other parking is provided in small pockets along the roads and lanes. Across the road from RSPB Leighton Moss is a small, free car park for RSPB visitors, and there are very small car parks at Eaves Wood and Gait Barrows. At Bank Holiday weekends, you may find extra temporary car parking around the village, which will be signposted.
There have been recent incidents where parked cars have blocked gates, driveways and emergency services access, so please be very careful where you park in the village.
Public Toilets
There are public toilets in Silverdale, on Bank House Lane (what3words: stocky.unlimited.hoot).
Places to Eat and Drink
Coronavirus: Check beforehand if you need to book to visit a pub or restaurant.
Local Shops
- Co-op Food, Emesgate Lane
- Wolf House Gallery, Hollins Lane
- Vintage & Country, Emesgate Lane
- Burrow’s Butchers, Emesgate Lane
- Silverdale Newsagent & Post Office, Emesgate Lane
- Silverdale Pharmacy, Emesgate Lane
- Gibraltar Farm (Eggs, milk, preserves)
Local Accommodation Providers
- Silverdale Hotel
- Challan Hall (B&B)
- Holgates Holidays Park (Caravans & Camping)
- Holgates Holiday Cottages
- Wolf House Cottages
- Gibraltar Farm (Campsite)
- Ivy Cottage, Gibraltar Farm
Images: June Harrison, AONB
Before you visit
Make sure you’re familiar with the updated Countryside Code, so that you can stay safe and help us look after this beautiful landscape.
Check the tide timetables.
When you’re visiting
Think about how you park – please don’t obstruct pavements and dropped kerbs, pathways, driveways or gates, or park on verges or blind bends. Make sure you leave enough room for a large vehicle such as a bus or fire engine to pass and consider the need for pedestrians to socially distance. If parking on the shore, be aware of tide timetables.
Drive safely – many roads in Silverdale do not have pavements and at points can be very narrow. Be aware of people walking in the road. Observe the 20mph speed limit, drive carefully, and show consideration to people using prams and wheelchairs.
Take your litter home – Since COVID and the restrictions on overseas travel, many beauty spots in the UK, including Silverdale, have been overwhelmed with visitors leaving mounds of litter and human waste, even though Public Toilets are available in the village. If you are going out for the day, take spare bags for litter, wipes, and waste – and take it home.
Don’t be a risk to others – The shifting sands of Morecambe Bay are dangerous. Emergency services have been called out many times to rescue people stranded by the fast-incoming tide or stuck in mud and sinking sand. If you ignore the dangers, you put your life and others’ lives at risk.
For more information about Silverdale, visit the Silverdale Parish Council Website
Walks in the area
It is said that there are 365 different walks around Silverdale, one for each day of the year. Just one is to walk up to the highest point of Eaves Wood to see The Pepperpot, a 20ft stone memorial built in 1887 to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. From this point you get a fantastic panoramic view of the entire village and on a clear day you can see as far as Morecambe and even Blackpool Tower.
You can buy a handy, pocket walking guide ‘Around and About Arnside & Silverdale AONB’ from the newsagents in Emesgate Lane.
Silverdale Walks: Jenny Brown’s Point
Silverdale Walks: Across the Meadows
Silverdale Walks: Through the Woods
Silverdale Walks: Stunning Silverdale
Local Events
For a listing of village events visit Silverdale Events.
Thumbnail image: The Pepperpot (Art-image)
