art & culture of silloth...
Bank Mill Nurseries
Discover the wealth of wildlife to be found at Bank Mill Nurseries. The centre is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with its own nature reserve consisting of ponds, wetlands and flower meadows. Shore waders and ornamental fowl can be regularly seen feeding at the scrape. Guided walks take place around the reserve and nearby Mawbray Banks by prior arrangement. A heated glasshouse provides suitable habitat for tropical butterflies and reptiles.
The Gincase
Enjoy a family day out to this award-winning tea room, craft gallery and farm park and meet the resident pigs, goats, donkeys, sheep, geese, hens and rabbits. Children's play area with go-kart track, sandpit, indoor play barn, aviary and picnic tables. Admission charge to farm park only.
Solway Coast Discovery Centre
Explore the landscapes, history and heritage of the Solway Coast and its wealth of wildlife. Admission charge to exhibition. Permanent and changing displays of artwork by Solway artists.
Solfest at Tarns
A 3-day event held over august bank holiday weekend that has attracted well-known musicians for the past two years. Various workshops in drama, sculpture, music and even belly-dancing. www.solwayfestival.co.uk
Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail follows the historic course of the Wall between Bowness-on-Solway and Wallsend at Tynemouth (via Port Carlisle, Glasson, Drumburgh and Burgh-by-Sands). www.hadrians-wall.org.uk.
The Cumbria Coastal Way, as the name describes, follows 150 miles of footpaths close to the Cumbrian shoreline from Silverdale on the border with Lancashire (or Roa Island at Barrow-in-Furness) to the Scottish border near Gretna (or Carlisle). The route passes through Mawbray, Silloth, Skinburness, Newton Arlosh, Kirkbride, Drumburgh and Burgh-by-Sands.
The Allerdale Ramble is a 54-mile walk starting at Seathwaite in Borrowdale (central Lakeland) through Keswick, Cockermouth, Tallentire and Dearham to the coast at Crosscanonby, from where it follows the coast through Silloth, ending at Grune Point.
The Smuggler's Route, a gently graded 27-mile (43.5 km) walk between Maryport and Ireby (via Allonby, Aspatria and Mealsgate), provides an insight into the history, heritage, flora, fauna and landscape of the Solway coast and plain.
Solway Coast Rambles describes five circular walks around the Roman frontier, celebrating the area's rich natural and cultural heritage. Walks begin at Bowness-on-Solway, Port Carlisle, Drumburgh and Burgh-by-Sands, and range between 6 km (3.5 miles) and 14.5 km (9 miles).
The Eden Estuary Trail is a 12 km (7.5 mile) circular route from Burgh-by-Sands to Beaumont along the banks of the River Eden, returning along the line of Hadrian's Wall. Leaflet from Silloth Tourist Information Centre.
The Solway Villages Trail also starts at Burgh-by-Sands and heads south to Thurstonfield and Moorhouse on a circular route of 10 km (6.3 miles). Leaflet from Silloth Tourist Information Centre.
The Silloth Sea, Sand and Shingle Stroll introduces three easy routes that look at different ecological habitats around Silloth. Leaflet from Silloth Tourist Information Centre.
Guided Shoreline walks take place in summer. For details, contact 01900 817760
Other walking routes are downloadable from www.lakedistrictoutdoors.co.uk
