//
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in England
Photo: en:User:Klrbilly, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Arnside and Silverdale is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in North West England on the border between Lancashire and Cumbria. It's one of the smallest AONBs, just 29 square miles between the Kent Estuary, the River Keer and the A6. The terrain is limestone crags with deciduous woodland and grassland, with salt marshes along the coast. The AONB is variously managed by the National Trust, Woodlands Trust, RSPB and other bodies. The highest point is only 159 m at Arnside Knott and you're always within half a mile of a road. The climate is the same as the rest of lowland Cumbria, so always expect rain. There are no entry gates or fees to use the area.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
This is a large area of fresh-water lagoons and wetland, now in the care of RSPB, who also manage the nearby salt marshes. Highlights are avocets (spring & summer), bearded tits (year-round, flocking in autumn), bitterns (most visible in winter), marsh harriers (year-round) and water-rail (in dry or icy conditions). The woodlands have nuthatches, bullfinches, tawny owls, long-tailed tits, tree-creepers and woodpeckers. Look out also for otters and red deer - plus a few cattle, it's their job to graze and trample down certain areas for the benefit of the birds.
The original hall was torched as retribution for supporting the Jacobites. In 1760 it was rebuilt in Georgian style, and expanded by the Gillow family who still live here. So the contents are impressive but on a domestic not palatial scale. Extensive gardens, and watch the hawks being fed around 3PM.
Pub & restaurant, they also have a couple of self-catering cottages but no longer operate as a hotel.
Three-star with bar and restaurant, pets allowed in some rooms.
B&B with five rooms and grand seafront views. No children under 5 or dogs.
Dog-friendly 3-star with bar and restaurant.
Trains run hourly through this area between Preston, Lancaster and Barrow in Furness. They stop at Carnforth, Silverdale and Arnside then cross the viaduct to Grange-over-Sands and Ulverston.
Read in the guideChoose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Leeds, West Yorkshire · International · LBA
Loading places around the airport…
Articles and travel topics about Arnside and Silverdale and United Kingdom.
Travel tipsComplete 2026 guide to the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). Check eligibility, the £20 fee, application steps, and transit rules.
7 min read
Travel tipsComplete 2026 guide to global tourist taxes and access fees. Compare entry fees in Venice, Bali, Bhutan, Kyoto, and Edinburgh, and learn how to pay them.
8 min read
Travel tipsFind the cheapest countries to fly to from the US and UK in 2026. Compare realistic round-trip flight deals, budget airlines, and prime booking windows.
8 min read
Travel tipsA complete guide to taking the Eurostar from London to Paris. Learn about check-in times, border controls, baggage limits, ticket tiers, and booking tips.
7 min read
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.