The scientists will let you know that Morecambe Bay in Northwest England is the most important space of intertidal mudflats within the UK. However the romantics will let you know that the massive, ever-changing skies and shifting sands right here have impressed poets, painters and adventurers for hundreds of years.
No matter is in your vacation guidelines, you’ll in all probability discover it right here, from quiet sandy coves to historical past, mountain climbing and bird-watching – to not point out the proper gin and tonic. Learn on for a radical insider information to Morecambe Bay.
Begin by going throughout and round Morecambe Bay by foot, bike, bus and prepare
Traditionally, one of the best ways to navigate the bay was by crossing the treacherous sands, however quicksand and speedy incoming tides have at all times made this dangerous. Today, the most secure approach to discover the bay itself is with a correctly organized and totally guided group stroll from one facet to the opposite. A number of such fastidiously deliberate walks happen in the course of the summer time months, most arrange by the Information Over Sands Belief. Every tour will contain loads of splashing round – so come ready to roll up your trouser legs and put on gentle, simply detachable footwear (undoubtedly no wellies).
Should you desire two wheels to 4, pedal alongside the Bay Cycle Method, created with the ethos of providing “a brew, a toilet and a view” at common intervals. It has glorious signposts all through, loads of cafes (and truffles) alongside the best way, and only some hills (which common cyclists will possible stroll their bikes up).
Amongst loads of different biking routes within the space, a experience alongside the namesake canal provides an effective way to discover Lancaster. A go to to the elegantly sweeping arches of John Rennie’s Lune Aqueduct needs to be on each bicycle owner’s must-do listing within the space.
In relation to public transport, Lancaster is your most important hub, with prepare service on to Morecambe and across the coast to Barrow-in-Furness. Moreover, the city has a superb community of bus routes. Should you desire to drive, tune into Lake District Radio for the newest site visitors circumstances and different nice native information.
Watch ospreys and seals frolic
Morecambe Bay’s distinctive ecosystem hosts a tremendous vary of wildlife. The Royal Society for the Safety of Birds (RSPB) reserve at Leighton Moss provides insights into the native fauna at any time of the 12 months (the on-site cafe can also be famend for its legendary carrot cake). Hen lovers will discover that the very best time to go to is between late autumn and early spring, when tens of 1000’s of starlings collect for his or her mesmerizing murmuration – a sight to cease anybody of their tracks.
At Foulshaw Moss you’ll be able to discover all issues boggy – and in the summertime months watch the resident ospreys. A pair of those migratory raptors has been breeding right here since 2014, yearly making the grueling journey of 1000’s of miles (in all probability from West Africa) to their nest in Cumbria from March till September. Should you’re fortunate, you would possibly see these majestic birds of prey hovering above or returning to their nest with fish for his or her chicks. And in the event you simply can’t wait to see them, the Osprey Cam will allow you to observe all of them day.
Should you desire mammals, try Cumbria’s solely breeding seal colony at South Walney Nature Reserve. At excessive tide, you’ll be able to spot the seals within the water across the nature reserve; at low tide, they haul out in massive numbers on “the spit,” a sandbar on the finish of the island. There’s nice pleasure each autumn when pupping season begins (it lasts from October to December). Whereas there’s no entry to the reserve’s seashores, Cumbria Wildlife Belief’s live-streaming Seal cam permits you to watch them up shut up.
Sip artisanal gin by the canal in Ulverston
Begin your go to to the city of Ulverston at Canal Foot by the coast, the place views throughout Morecambe Bay showcase ever-changing skies above and shifting sands under. Half a mile from shore is Chapel Island, as soon as a resting place for these crossing the bay and now the positioning of the stays of a Victorian folly. There are common guided walks throughout the sands to the island, with wild samphire to select alongside the best way.
Tucked away alongside the small canal – and its distinctive rolling bridge – is multi-award-winning Shed 1 Gin, which along with impeccably inexperienced credentials provides an outstanding afternoon “G&Tea” service. All of the truffles are made by proprietor Zoe Arnold-Bennett, typically with substances additionally used within the gin-making course of, all grown in window packing containers made out of upcycled pallets. You too can customise your personal bottle of gin to take residence – and even prepare a marriage, if the temper strikes.
Should you’re after the proper gin glass then head to the car parking zone of the close by Cubicles, the place on the far facet in an unassuming industrial unit you’ll discover Cumbria Crystal, a agency that’s produced handmade crystal for James Bond movies, Downton Abbey and numerous royal households world wide. Permit time to browse their seconds store, the place you’ll be able to choose up beautiful items which have flaws solely seen to the skilled eye. And don’t miss the viewing space, the place you’ll be able to see the excellent crystal being made.
Promenade alongside the waterfront in Morecambe
On the coronary heart of Morecambe Bay is the city Morecambe, with 5 miles of seafront promenade (or “promenade”) to discover between Hest Financial institution and Heysham. (Your greatest guess for a free parking spot is towards Hest Financial institution, only a quick stroll into city, previous a few cafes on the best way.) The city is rightly happy with native comedy legend and proud son Eric Morecambe (actual identify: John Eric Bartholemew), who took his stage surname from his hometown. The statue of his likeness at all times attracts a contented crowd. Remember to take the time to learn the stone carvings within the backyard across the statue in the event you actually need a giggle.
Morecambe Bay potted shrimps are an area delicacy. Contemporary shrimps from the bay are boiled in butter, then coated in a secret recipe earlier than being sealed into small white pots. The perfect place to seek out them is Edmondson’s – however don’t get there too late, or you possibly can be disillusioned.
And in the event you like issues on the upper finish, splurge on a go to to the enduring, artwork deco Midland Resort. The superb (and expensive) delicacies right here comes with spectacular views, and sipping a G&T of their bar because the solar units over the bay is the proper finish to any day.
Make the leap into the bay
Morecambe rose to fame due to its seaside – and you’ll nonetheless take pleasure in a swim right here. Loads of native coves and seashores nonetheless beckon, although due to the continuously altering sands and infrequently unpredictable tides, it’s most secure to test in with native swimming teams like M.A.L.L.O.W.S. first to seek out precisely out the place and when to swim safely every day. Swimming throughout the bay was as soon as a preferred pastime, and there’s a beautiful marble statue on the promenade saluting world file–breaker Commander Gerald Forsberg, the primary man to make a two-way crossing of the bay.
Should you desire to discover the bay from on the water quite than in it, then hoist the mainsail and set your compass for Bay Sea Faculty, which provides yachting programs for all talent ranges. Should you’ve by no means finished it earlier than and have nerves, strive the “Taster Enjoyable Sail,” an effective way to check out your sea legs.
Discover Heysham’s hidden corners
Past the massive nuclear energy station identified all through England, Heysham has a fairly little village nicely price exploring. Don’t be fooled by its chocolate-box exterior: yearly the city hosts a Viking pageant to have fun its colourful historical past. Stone-carved Norman graves at St Patrick’s Chapel additionally trace at its gone.
After you’re finished constructing sandcastles and splashing round on the proper sandy cove at Half Moon Bay, take pleasure in a cup of tea and a tea cake on the Half Moon Bay Cafe, which is perennially standard with these within the know.
And if you wish to see one thing that even many of the native people miss, then monitor down the Close to Naze Towers subsequent to the ferry port. Hardly anybody ever visits these mysterious buildings, and even historians can’t agree on what order they have been in-built or what exactly they have been for. (One was definitely a lighthouse in some unspecified time in the future; the opposite could have been a climate station.)
As you gaze past the towers and out on the bay on a pleasant sunny afternoon, you’ll perceive why the views from right here impressed famend artist JMW Turner himself.
