From time to time, we will be highlighting great places to visit for people living in and coming to England. For this travel feature, we’re exploring the village of Silverdale in Lancashire
Whenever you write a piece extolling the virtues of a particular place, there is often a conflict. On the one hand, you want to keep this special place for yourself. On the other hand, there is a duty to our global audience to highlight the hidden gems we discover.
So, it is almost with a heavy heart that I tell you about Silverdale. A gorgeous little village in North-West England with the coast on one side and beautiful countryside on the other.
To date, I have been to Silverdale three times. Exploring many of the quaint nooks and crannies on foot, ambling through the quiet roads and lanes. These visits armed me with enough information and experiences to declare it a must visit place.
Silverdale and Arnside Art and Craft Trail
My first trip to the village coincided with the Silverdale and Arnside Art and Craft Trail. It wasn’t planned, I just so happened to be driving out with my wife exploring the surrounding countryside and upon reaching the village was curious as to why there was a large number of cars parked along the main road.
Having time on our hands and a hearty dose of curiosity. We parked up and discovered a haven for those that appreciate art and crafts. In a village of approximately 1500 people, I was excited to discover that a higher-than-expected number of the residents were artists. Specialising in various mediums including oils, watercolours and pottery. We even found someone who was an expert stone mason! For the Art and Craft Trail, the featured artists open the doors to their homes. This allows the general public to walk around a private gallery, viewing what appeared in my eyes to be high-quality artwork. To assist us, the Art and Craft Trail provided a glossy leaflet style map showing all of the exhibitors that year.
For those wanting to visit the 2018 Silverdale and Arnside Art and Craft Trail, it starts on 24th June (1pm – 8pm) and runs through the 26th June (10:30am – 5:30pm).
The village centre
Silverdale forms part of an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and has the RSPB’s Leighton Moss nature reserve close by. These two facts, coupled with the seashore and the resident’s artistic talents should start to create a picture of just how special this village is.
Walking around the village centre, you’ll find all the basic necessities including a convenience store, village hall, church, post office, public houses, places to eat, doctors clinic, pharmacy and there is even a library! For those wanting a wider choice, the town of Carnforth is a short journey away.
Unlike some English villages where the buildings follow the same theme in their style and use of materials. The properties within Silverdale are a mixture of old and new. This works well and certainly does not reduce its visual appeal.
The peace and quiet
The main hub in Silverdale is in an elevated position with a road that gently sweeps down to one of the outstanding attractions, Morecambe Bay. The three times I have been to the village, the tide has been out. I’ve always been greeted by miles of flat golden sand interspersed with a few tributaries. In addition, I am constantly amazed by how few people are down by the shore. Each time we visit, my wife and I feel like we had the whole place pretty much to ourselves. The shoreline along the bay is rocky and offers many naturally formed places for you to sit down and if you’re anything like myself, de-stress.
Final thoughts
In conclusion, Silverdale is a lovely quaint village. To some, it is known as St. Ives of the North. This comparison is hard to dispute given its close proximity to the sea, rolling hills, beautiful countryside and the number of artists who reside here. One of my acid tests is listening out for the thrum of distant traffic. In Silverdale it is absent. It might not be the easiest place to get to, but this is one the lures of living within a village. For those wanting to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Yearning to experience village life with the added bonus of the seashore. Silverdale should be a shoo-in for places to visit in North-West England.
To read our feature on Downham village in Lancashire, click here.
See more of Silverdale in the gallery below
You must be logged in to post a comment.