Five Things Outdoor Loving Families should do in Silverdale

Silverdale!? Where is that I hear you asking!

Silverdale is a village in Lancashire, England. The village stands on Morecambe Bay, near the border with Cumbria, 4.5 miles (7 km) north west of Carnforth and 8.5 miles (14 km) of Lancaster. Silverdale forms part of the Arnside and Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which is why we decided to visit and exactly why you should too. It’s proximity to the fells in the Lake District probably means this location is often overlooked, but it is well worth a visit. Here are five things you should do while you are there!

1. Jenny Brown’s Point

We stayed at Gibraltar Farm Campsite (full review to follow) and we loved how much there was to explore directly from the campsite. Providing you enjoy walking and are wearing comfortable walking boots, there is lots to see without having to drive.

Access the beach via the campsite and turn left. From here you'll be able to walk to Jenny Brown’s Point. You can opt to walk along the roadside, or along the beach. We decided to walk along the beach which we found to be much more interesting. Be sure to check the tide times and expect to get muddy though! Along the way, there are so many pretty little coves to search for seaglass and rocks to scramble over, that this short ½ mile walk could take you hours. We walked back to the campsite along the road, so we could admire the views from up high.

There are various theories about the third picture below. It has been said that Jenny was a lover waiting for her lost sailor to return, a nanny who saved her charges from the tide, a lodging-house keeper, or a steam engine (or "jenny") sent to Brown's Point.

2. The Cove

Head down to the beach from the campsite again, but this time turn right (head past Silverdale, towards Cove Beach). Enjoy scrambling and climbing across the rocks until the beach opens up. Here you will discover lots of hidden caves in the rocks. You can squeeze/climb into many of them along the way. It was on this stretch of beach that we found the most interesting pieces of seaglass. We also loved it so much that we visited twice.

3. Arnside Knott Circular Walk

The Arnside Knott Circular Walk starts off in a National Trust carpark. It is a stunning, gentle woodland walk with great views suitable for families and an ideal place for dogs to let off some steam. The highest point of Arnside Knott is 159 metres (522 ft). The trig point lies just off the main path. Along the route, you can enjoy beautiful vistas across the tidal sand and mud flats, towards the Lake District and over to the Bowland Fells and Yorkshire Dales. On a clear day, you can make out the distinctive shape of Ingleborough.

The village of Arnside is a pretty seaside location and well worth a visit while you are in the area. There are several shops and art galleries to visit, but you may also choose to indulge in one of the tea rooms, or treat yourself to fish and chips!

4. Eaves Wood and the Pepperpot

This is probably the most enchanting and wonderful woodland we have ever visited. The bird song could be heard in every direction. There are so many paths to explore within this ancient woodland, the girls had the best time deciding which one we should follow next. We were lucky enough to catch a glimpse of three deer as we strolled through the ancient yew trees. Well sign posted, we headed to the Queen Victoria Jubilee monument (also known as the Pepperpot), which is the monument on the summit of the woodland. Here you have stunning views overlooking the village of Silverdale. The perfect spot to stop for some lunch. From here, you can walk to Arnside Tower or even to The Cove.

5. Warton Crag

Warton Crag is a landmark site for the AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty). It is a mixture of limestone grassland with scrub and woodland, but beautifully peaceful. The site is nationally important for butterflies and moths and many interesting plants can be found here. During certain times of the year, you can also see peregrine falcons nesting in the rock face. It was a great outdoor classroom for my girls as we tried to spot local wildlife. We found the fold out guides from Field Studies Council really useful on our visit.