Silverdale

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 fewer 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 Nature Reserves
  • 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

For more information about Silverdale, visit the Silverdale Parish Council Website.

How to get there

Silverdale is located between Lancaster and Kendal, at the north western edge of Lancashire.

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 Arnside 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 there is a charged car park, but beware of Morecambe Bay’s fast, incoming tide! Other parking is available 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 (pay via Ringo). 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).

There are disabled access toilet facilities in the following venues:

  • RSPB Leighton Moss
  • Holgates Holiday Park Cafe
  • The Wolfhouse Cafe
  • The Silverdale Hotel

Places to Eat and Drink

Local Shops

Local Accommodation Providers

Local Events

For a listing of village events visit Silverdale Events.

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 Arnside 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 –  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.