Arnside - background information.

 

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Arnside is a charming, small and unspoilt holiday resort on the estuary of the River Kent where it enters Morecambe Bay.

It is within the Arnside/Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and, although presently in Cumbria, it lies within the borders of the historic county of Westmorland, near the border with Lancashire.

The former fishing port has retained many of the features from its past. The promenade and stone jetty offer stunning views across Morecambe Bay to Grange-over-Sands and the Lakeland fells. as well as providing an enduring reminder of Arnside's history.

The area is a haven for birds, and the surrounding countryside contains a wealth of flora and fauna. Nearby is the National Trust owned Arnside Knott, a 520 ft high flat rock, which with neighbouring Silverdale in Lancashire, has done much to secure the designation of 'Area of Oustanding Natural Beauty'. There are many lovely wooded walks around Arnside Knott, up to the "Pepper-Pot" at Silverdale or around the coast.

The village lies on the railway line to West Cumbria, which passes over the River Kent via the Arnside viaduct (pictured right). Up to the 19th century, the village had been used as a local port, but the building of the viaduct caused the estuary to silt up.

The oldest building in the parish is Arnside Tower, a Pele tower built in the 14th/15th century as a defence against raids from Scots and the Border Reivers.