B

irds, bike rides and breathtaking views… these are just a few of the things that you’ll love about Silverdale.

As did the Victorian novelist Elizabeth Gaskell who used to come here for inspiration back in the 1800s.

Perched beside Morecambe Bay, not far from Lancaster, this sleepy little village is surrounded by lush green hills and some of England’s most inspiring scenery. In fact, if you look out across the bay, you’ll see the edge of the Lake District rising up sharply on the other side, sailboats silhouetted against the sky.

Take a stroll up Arnside Knott – the huge grassy mound rising up out of the flatland near the neighbouring village of Arnside – and you’ll get to see this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in all its glory.

As you might have guessed, then, it’s pretty good for wildlife rounds here, too – especially birds. At Leighton Moss Nature Reserve you could take a guided walk around the wetlands to see the resident red deer, marsh harriers and other creatures that the kids will love.

And how about walking along the headland to Jack Scout, and on to Jenny Brown’s Point, where you can look out across Morecambe Bay? Or if you fancy a dose of history you could nip to Leighton Hall for a nose around (we’re big fans of the teashop there).

One of the best ways to see all this stuff is by bike – that way you can combine a few things in one day.