'Skinburness'

Map - Google
Map - Ordnance Survey - NY 124558

Looking north from Silloth to Skinburness, and beyond to Grune Point.
Across the Wampool estuary is Anthorn, and beyond that the Solway Firth and Scotland.

Skinburness is a small hamlet a mile north of Silloth, consisting of houses and a hotel. There are wonderful extensive views over the sea to Dumfries and Galloway beyond. The surrounding area is one of Special Scientific Interest, with miles of unspoilt coastline affording wonderful opportunities for walking and bird watching.

North of Skinburness, Grune Point is a sandy, raised shingle beach approximately one mile long, from Skinburness to its furthest extent. Its western side is exposed to the Solway and prevailing westerly winds. To the eastern side, which is more sheltered, is Skinburness saltmarsh.

Grune Point along with other areas of vegetated shingle along the coast supports a community of specialist vegetation, including sea sandwort, sea holly and sand couch-grass. It is also a good migration watchpoint for warblers and hirundines. Check tide times in the local papers - bird watching is better around high tide, but it can flood some local roads. Believe the warning notices!

The Allerdale Ramble is a 55 mile walk through the Lake District and along the West Cumbrian coast, from Seathwaite in Borrowdale, to Grune Point north of Silloth.

At grune point, and marking the end of the Allerdale Ramble, is the "Cumberland Machine-Gun and Anti-Tank Rifle Emplacement" - a design of pill-box unique to what was Cumberland. The cairn on top was added later as a memorial to four Silloth Firemen who drowned while trying to rescue a wildfowler.

At low tide the remains of Hudson AM 771, which crashed on take-off from Silloth airfield during WWII, can be seen in Moricambe Bay, near Grune Point.

Aerial photos by Simon Ledingham.

A walk around the Skinburness area.