Arnside and Milnthorpe

Given its location, it’s hardly surprising that the once quiet fishing village of Arnside developed into a popular resort town. At the southernmost tip of the Lake District and set in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty of low limestone hills, marshy plains and deciduous woodland, the village grew in popularity during the 19th century when pleasure boats sailing from Morecambe and Fleetwood would dock here so passengers could enjoy the promenade walks, partake of the famous salmon and shrimp teas or ride up Arnside Knott by wagonette.

Milnthorpe, on the banks of the River Bela and sitting astride the A6, is a thriving market town with a diverse range of industries. Its former port at Sandside was a busy commercial centre until the building of the viaduct silted up the estuary.
 

Food & Drink

Seaside cafes, Espresso bars and Bakeries jostle for position along this pretty, Arnside promenade, all offering tempting snacks, hot drinks and pastries.

When you’re by the sea, you’ve just got to have fish and chips at least once during your stay and the fish and chips at Arnside will not disappoint, although you will probably have to queue as they’re very popular! Many of the cafes, pubs and restaurants have the advantage of stunning views across the Kent estuary, so what better way to enjoy your beautifully prepared meal, than watching the sun go down across the bay, it is simply breathtaking.

There’s always plenty of fresh fish on the menu for restaurants in and around Arnside and Sandside, but there’s also lots of lovely, local meats too. If you’re lucky enough to be here on a warm day, you can sit in one of the beer gardens and soak in the view over a pint of real ale, a craft larger, or perhaps a glass of wine, while you enjoy some excellent traditional pub food. There’s also some very good Asian food around from Malaysian and Indonesian to Vietnamese. A great choice of venue for Vegetarians and Vegans.

Milnthorpe has a different feel to Arnside as its inland and is largely based around a busy market square, offering a number of very good takeaways from fish and chips to Chinese and Indian. There’s a delightful market to browse on a Friday and there are two good pubs in the centre of Milnthorpe to try, offering wholesome family food.

Milnthorpe also boasts amazing restaurant food, with a contemporary style of eating, where food is exquisitely prepared and is heavenly delicious. Warm and friendly Cafes are plentiful offering scrumptious, home-baked cakes and light meals - and some of the cafes are able to offer a full gluten free menu too. If you travel a bit further afield to places like Farleton, Beetham and Silverdale, there is yet more choice of delightful family-run little tearooms, where the food is all home-baked and super delicious.

Culture & Heritage

Anglo-Saxon sites can be found at Heversham (‘Hefresham’) and Beetham. St Peter’s at Heversham was built on the site of a monastery founded in the 7th century and contains part of an Anglo-Saxon cross shaft, while the church tower of St Michael’s at Beetham is built on Saxon foundations. Both churches administered large parochial areas stretching from Arnside to the Lyth Valley, and for centuries people had to carry their dead along so-called ‘coffin routes’ for burial. The route from Arnside to Beetham meant hoisting coffins up a narrow rock staircase known as the Fairy Steps.

Although Heversham and Beetham were important ecclesiastical centres, Milnthorpe (‘the village by the mill’) was where all the trading action took place, as it was closer to the Kent estuary and had decent road links to Kendal and Lancaster. In 1280 it got a charter allowing to hold a weekly market and annual fair, which led to the construction of several inns and hostelries – trading is thirsty, tiring work.
 
For centuries the swift-flowing River Bela was navigable to Milnthorpe, and port facilities developed along the river and at Sandside on the estuary. The town thrived on coastal trade well into the 19th century exporting woollen goods, leather, charcoal, gunpowder, limestone and timber, and importing coal, grain, spirits and ‘exotic’ goods such as sugar and spices until the building of the Arnside Viaduct in 1857 effectively cut off sea-borne trade for ever.

The Bela also supported numerous water-powered mills further upstream, one of which was Heron Corn Mill at Beetham. Conishead Priory acquired the rights to grind corn here in 1220 – an agreement that lasted until the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1538. The mill continued in use into the 20th century, and is now a working museum that still relies on water power to turn the machinery. As well as flour production, other early industries included iron smelting at Leighton Furnace, boat building, salt making, charcoal burning and making quicklime.

The railway age also impacted on Arnside. From being a quiet fishing village, Arnside began to develop as a resort in the 19th century, with pleasure boats sailing from Morecambe and Fleetwood. Passengers came ashore to enjoy the promenade walks, partake of the famous salmon and shrimp teas or ride up Arnside Knott by wagonette. The construction of the Arnside Viaduct to carry the Furness Railway over the Kent estuary made the village even more accessible and led to a proliferation of guesthouses, many of which line the promenade today. The final chapter in the railway era came with the building of the Arnside to Hincaster branch line (opened in 1876) to connect the Furness railway with the main north−south line at Hincaster junction. Although providing a useful link between the two railways, the line became a victim of the Beeching cuts of 1963 and now forms part of a permissive footpath between Arnside and Sandside.

Limestone has not only shaped the landscape of Arnside and Milnthorpe, it has influenced the way in which people have used the land from earliest times. In 1972, the varied landscapes and habitats within this small corner of Cumbria were recognised through designation of the Arnside and Silverdale Area of Outstanding Beauty − a body that works in partnership with other organisations to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the area.
 

Surrounding Areas

Beetham - Inland is Beetham at the parochial heart of the area. This attractive village on the banks of the River Bela can trace its lineage back to Anglo-Saxon times, with its ancient church, fortified farmhouse and historic corn mill.

Burton-in-Kendal - On the eastern edges is Burton-in-Kendal, an 18th-century village that was on the stagecoach run between Kendal and Lancaster; its former importance reflected by its market cross and a wealth of Georgian architecture.

Brigsteer - Brigsteer is a delightful little village laying within the Lake District National Park. Much of the village is built either under or into the limestone escarpment known as Scout Scar, offering spectacular views across the Lyth valley.

Heversham - To the north is Heversham, another ecclesiastical centre associated with an Anglian monastery and an early grammar school.

Holme - By contrast, life in nearby Holme revolved around a large flax mill, now home to a thriving complex of craft workshops and small enterprises.

Silverdale - A picturesque coastal village overlooking Morecambe Bay. Situated approximately 8 miles north of Lancaster looking across the bay to the Lake District, and stands within the Arnside and Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which is also home to Leighton Moss, the RSPB coastal nature reserve.