STAY AT HOME
ARNSIDE & SILVERDALE
Straddling the border of Cumbria and Lancashire, this rural region is home to bays, birdlife and rare butterflies
Why go
Many bypass Arnside and Silverdale, touching Morecambe Bay to the west and the Lake District to the north, on their journey along the M6 motorway. Detour to this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AOBN) — one of the smallest in the UK — and you’re in for a surprise. The region spans just 29sq miles, but its diversity belies its humble size, with woodland, limestone hills and a coastal area all linked by a network of paths. Trails start right from Arnside station, which has direct rail connections to Lancaster and Manchester and e-bikes available for rental at Ease E Ride. arnsidesilverdaleaonb.org.uk easeeride.co.uk
What to do
Head to Warton Crag, a local nature reserve on the southern edges of the AONB, home to a limestone hill among gnarly, weather-beaten woodland. The crag is the highest point in the area and offers magnificent views of summits in the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales, but tear your eyes away from distant peaks and you’ll find its most special sight: butterflies. The reserve is home to some of the UK’s rarest species, including the pearl-bordered fritillary. Keen hikers can continue north to Arnside, at the mouth of the Kent Estuary. If visiting during a particularly high tide, head down to the seafront to watch the impressive tidal bore roll in from Morecambe Bay.
Don’t miss
With the largest reed bed in northwest England, Leighton Moss harbours a wealth of wildlife, from marsh harriers and egrets to elusive otters. During the colder months, visitors gather to watch thousands of starlings, which swoop and swirl in murmurations through the dusk sky before descending to roost among the reeds. rspb.org.uk
