Arnside is a picturesque coastal village often overlooked by tourists heading to nearby Lake District hotspots, and locals are happy to keep it under wraps
A village with a seaside fell beside the estuary of the river Kent in northern England.(Image: Photos by R A Kearton via Getty Images)
A stunning UK coastal village remains under the radar as tourists flock to a nearby hotspot, and residents are quite content with flying under the tourist board’s radar.
The Lake District has earned worldwide recognition for its breathtaking scenery that has captivated poets, writers and musicians across the centuries. Whilst holidaymakers descend upon famous locations like Lake Windermere, Kendal or Keswick, a charming seaside village – praised by The Times as one of Britain’s finest coastal places to reside – often escapes notice.
Arnside presents a captivating mix of lush, countryside vistas where pheasants are spotted as frequently as seagulls gliding above the pristine sands.
Jackie Ellis, 69, who lives in Penrith in the Eden Valley, Cumbria, made the 50-mile journey from her home to the picturesque coastal gem. “I like to be beside the sea. It’s near for me and it’s very charming. It’s an oasis of peace and it’s beautiful,” she explained.
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Yet, she reckons that the tourist board’s preoccupation with marketing the Lake District means lovely places like Arnside stay off most people’s radar, reports the Express.
Jackie, who works as a writer, continued: “Cumbria Tourist Board is obsessed with the Lakes and don’t take an interest in us! Who on earth wants to go to Beatrix Potter [a famous Lakes’ museum] if you can come here! What’s the point? You have beautiful countryside on your doorstep. People come and stay here as it’s maybe that bit cheaper than Ambleside and use it as a jumping off point.”
However, she pointed out that locals enjoy a peaceful environment compared to the bustling tourist hubs in Cumbria. She commented: “But if I lived here I would be very grateful to be overlooked.”
Visitors to Arnside should note that the village boasts two geographical phenomena that make it slightly more challenging than your typical seaside location.
The village is famous for its tidal bore, a unique tidal event that occurs when the incoming tide meets resistance from the bay’s sandy channels. When the wave surges up the estuary, an alarm echoes throughout the village, alerting residents and visitors to the approaching swell.
Situated on Morecambe Bay, Arnside is infamous for perilous quicksand and mudflats, which frequently result in Coastguard teams and Bay Search and Rescue saving people and animals trapped in the dangerous, waterlogged sand as the tide rolls in.
Trevor Brown, 72, made the move to Arnside from East Sussex 14 years ago. He vividly remembers how his first trip to this scenic village captivated him entirely. The retired industrial chemist now dedicates himself to landscape photography, snapping breathtaking shots of his cherished locale.
He remembered: “Somebody said to me ‘go and see Arnside’ as the sunsets are the best in the world. The first time I came here the rain was hitting me horizontally but I came back when it was sunny. I fell in love with the place.”
Although practically devoid of tourists during our visit, he notes the location’s increasing popularity. He observed: “If you come here in the summer it is very busy – you won’t get a parking spot as it’s like Brighton!”
Leonie Punter, 53, runs She Sells, a seafront enterprise she’s operated for 15 years. A Manchester native, she currently lives in Lancaster, roughly 25 minutes away by vehicle. She noted: “On a sunny day it attracts lots of people but it’s overlooked as lots of people go to the Lake District. Only people in the know come here. It’s a hidden gem.”
