Silloth
OS Grid ref:- NY 110537
The popular Victorian seaside resort of Silloth lies on the Solway Firth with fine views across the estuary to the hills of southern Galloway and is backed by the magnificent fells of Lakeland.
Silloth is famed for its spectacular sunsets, once captued by the landscape artist JM Turner. The coastal area is around the town is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, while the inter-tidal saltmarshes and the sand dunes are Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
The town boasts large, safe beaches and wide, elegant tree-lined streets. An attractive 36 acre open space known locally as 'The Green' lies between the town and the sea and contains a paddling pool and sand pit, crazy golf, putting green and bouncy castle. There is a wide promenade stretching toward Skinburness.
Christ Church overlooks the Green, The Church dates from the 1870's, it was designed by Cory and Ferguson and is constructed of granite, (which was imported from Ireland), sandstone and brick.
The wide range of visitor facilities include a number of hotels, guest houses and holiday parks providing a variety of accommodation as well as cafes, clubs and other entertainment catering for all tastes. The town has a busy dock, where its small fishing fleet is harboured, which fish for Solway Shrimps.
The town's interesting Solway Coast Discovery Centre, is well worth a visit. The centre looks at the environment, heritage, history and development of the Solway Coast over the past 10,000 years. Visitors can meet Romans, Vikings and monks. They can walk through salt marshes, raised mires and sand dunes and will explore what the future holds for the Solway Coast. (Open 10.00 am. to 4.30 pm all year)
Silloth derives its unusual name from the silos, known as lathes, in which the Cistercian monks of nearby Holme Cultram Abbey, at Abbeytown, stored their grain. Due to the fact that they were by the sea, they became known as sea-lathes, which over time was corrupted to Silloth
The planned town of Silloth was designed by the Carlisle and Silloth Bay Railway as a railhead and port in the 1850's.
Silloth is noted for its excellent 18 hole natural links Golf Course, one of the finest in the north. The Championship links of over 6,600 yards has been laid out over the sand-hills west of town. Silloth's famously mild climate make this an all year course. The course was the home course of Celia Leith (1891-1978), the famous female golfer.
Silloth's annual Carnival on August Bank Holiday Monday is a popular attraction, together with the Vintage Rally and Beer Festival.
Nearby Grune Point, a mile long sand and shingle spit which protrudes into the largely unspoilt Solway Estuary, near Skinburness, is a nature reserve and a popular spot with birdwatchers. The pleasant walk along the coastal path from Silloth to Skinburness takes in fine views across the estuary over rolling sand dunes and vast inter-tidal salt marshes, which are a haven for plant, bird and animal life.