Pictures of Silloth
About Silloth
Silent sands and windswept marshes are a feature of the Solway Estuary, a gap in the land between the north-west of England and Scotland's south-west coast. The drama here is all about the sea caressing the land. As the estuary narrows, the tumbling waves thrust forward in a relentless ebb and flow until the creeks, bays and mudflats are awash with tidal water, making this a scene of coastal splendour, un-rivalled by any other estuary in the land.
Silloth lies at one of the widest points along the estuary, it was established as a harbour for coastal shipping during the 19th-century. When the railways arrived 1856, the town took off as a pleasant resort and quickly became popular with the Victorian families of the day. Pretty gardens were established, and as the resort developed, the old cobbled streets were extended to allow for the building of handsome Victorian hotels and dwelling houses of considerable substance. To this day, the town retains its exclusive Victorian atmosphere of calm serenity. Dominating the town, set against a backdrop of spacious green lawns, is Silloth's magnificent 17th-century church. The steeple of Christ Church is a landmark for miles around, whilst its beautiful interior is a fantasia of yellow and red bricked arches, colourful stained glass and intricate wood carving.
The town continues to be a favoured resort. It is popular with the yachting fraternity and has a sand and shingle beach which for the most part offers safe bathing except in adverse conditions when strong currents make swimming dangerous. Silloth has a pleasing, mostly mild climate and refreshing, invigorating air.
Between Silloth and Grune Point is a land of eyrie sands and mudflats where sea-birds forage for food. Its bareness is in stark contrast with the landscape deep within the estuary where Burgh Marsh is a reedy wilderness, densely populated with a wealth of wildlife.
The town offers modern day facilities for holiday makers, these include a lovely 18-hole golf course that was once the home of Silloth's most famous 'daughter'. Cecilia Leith, born in 1891, grew up to become the most celebrated Lady golfer of her day. Apart from golf, there are opportunities for boating, lovely estuary walks, with a favourite past-time being to sit on the harbour watching the ray's of a dazzling sun turning the sea to endless shades of copper and gold. There are boat trips featuring estuary wildlife and in the town there is a good choice of shops, hotels, guest houses, inns and restaurants. Being in close proximity to the coast of Scotland, you can cross the estuary by boat or, visit any one of the specialist shops stocking Scottish goods in what is purely mainland Britain.
Planning a visit? Please see below for other recommended towns, attractions and recommended hotels nearby.
Distances and directions below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner
Recommended attractions near Silloth
| Lees Scar Lighthouse | (0.7 miles, 1.2 km) | Pictures |
| Silloth Point Lighthouse | (0.9 miles, 1.4 km) | Pictures |
| Holme Cultram Abbey | (4.5 miles, 7.2 km, direction SE) | Pictures |
| Caerlaverock Castle | (9.3 miles, 15.0 km, direction NW) | Pictures |
| Comlongon Castle | (9.7 miles, 15.7 km, direction N) | Pictures |
| Maryport Lighthouse | (11.9 miles, 19.1 km, direction SW) | Pictures |
| Cockermouth Castle | (14.2 miles, 22.8 km, direction S) | Pictures |
| Trotters World of Animals | (14.4 miles, 23.2 km, direction SE) | Pictures |
| Lochmaben Castle | (16.8 miles, 27.1 km, direction N) | Pictures |
| Lorton Vale | (17.0 miles, 27.3 km, direction S) | Pictures |
| Carlisle Castle | (17.8 miles, 28.6 km, direction E) | Pictures |
| Carlisle Cathedral | (18.0 miles, 29.0 km, direction E) | Pictures |
| Skiddaw Forest | (18.4 miles, 29.6 km, direction SE) | Pictures |
| Whinlatter Forest Park | (19.7 miles, 31.7 km, direction S) | Pictures |
| Derwentwater | (21.2 miles, 34.0 km, direction SE) | Pictures |
All attractions in SillothAll attractions in CumbriaComplete A to Z of attractions in EnglandRecommended towns near Silloth
Maryport in the county of Cumbria (11.5 miles, 18.5 km, direction SW)
Today, first and foremost Maryport is a splendid resort town on the beautiful Solway coast, it is steeped in the maritime history of two thousand years of sea.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Cockermouth in the county of Cumbria (14.5 miles, 23.4 km, direction S)
Cockermouth is ideally placed to be used as a centre for touring the Lake District National Park. It has a High Street seemingly unaltered, and is ringed by some of the finest scenery in England.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Bassenthwaite in the county of Cumbria (15.3 miles, 24.6 km, direction SE)
This is the most northerly of all the lakes, it resembles beaten silver nestling between the sun dappled heights of soaring fells...
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Caldbeck in the county of Cumbria (15.6 miles, 25.1 km, direction SE)
An old brewery stands beside the Caldbeck - a tribute to the cold clear waters which gave the village its name. Caldbeck, which...
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Workington in the county of Cumbria (16.8 miles, 27.1 km, direction SW)
Ancient market town of quintessential English charm, where you could easily swap the modern day cars parked in gracious tree-lined avenues for the horse and carriage of Victorian times.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Carlisle in the county of Cumbria (18.2 miles, 29.3 km, direction E)
For over 1700 years this town occupied an important position on the Scottish-English border, few town's have experienced such...
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Loweswater in the county of Cumbria (20.2 miles, 32.6 km, direction S)
Loweswater is centred in a landscape of grandeur, it is surrounded by Mellbreak Fell, Carling Knott Fell and Burnbank Fell, all excellent climbing and walking country giving views of a mountainous landscape reflected in sun-kissed pewter waters.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Keswick in the county of Cumbria (21.4 miles, 34.4 km, direction SE)
Keswick is a pretty Market Town that nestles between the spectacular Skiddaw Mountains and the northern end of the serene...
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Threlkeld in the county of Cumbria (21.8 miles, 35.1 km, direction SE)
This is a magical area of sparking lakes, tumbling waterfalls, high peaks and vast moorland regions.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Castlerigg in the county of Cumbria (22.4 miles, 36.0 km, direction SE)
Castlerigg is a favoured destination for tourists, it is easily accessible from the market town of Keswick and is within easy reach of the snaking waters of the pretty River Greta, picturesque becks and fells.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Ullswater in the county of Cumbria (29.2 miles, 47.0 km, direction SE)
Ullswater is considered by many to be the lake districts most beautiful lake. It is 7.5 miles of pure beauty, and as you approach...
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Martindale in the county of Cumbria (29.2 miles, 47.0 km, direction SE)
Info | Pictures | Hotels
All towns in CumbriaComplete A to Z of towns in EnglandNearby travel help
| Aspatria Station | (8.0 miles, 12.9 km, direction S) |
| Wigton Station | (9.0 miles, 14.5 km, direction E) |
| M74 Junction 19 | (14.1 miles, 22.6 km, direction NE) |
| M74 Junction 20 | (14.3 miles, 23.0 km, direction NE) |
| Prestwick International Airport | (65.1 miles, 104.8 km, direction NW) |
| Newcastle International Airport | (68.4 miles, 110.0 km, direction E) |
| Silloth to London | (268.9 miles, 432.6 km, direction SE) |
Hotels & Accommodation in Silloth
| Hotel Name | Approximate distance from Silloth center |
| Wheyrigg Hall Hotel | (6.0 miles, 9.7 km, direction SE) |
| Cavens | (8.9 miles, 14.3 km, direction W) |
| Best Western Hetland Hall Hotel | (11.5 miles, 18.5 km, direction N) |
| Broughton Craggs Hotel | (13.8 miles, 22.2 km, direction S) |
| Allerdale Court Hotel | (14.2 miles, 22.9 km, direction S) |
| Kirkconnel Hall Hotel | (14.9 miles, 23.9 km, direction N) |
| Aston Hotel - Dumfries | (14.9 miles, 24.0 km, direction NW) |
| The Castle Inn Hotel | (15.2 miles, 24.4 km, direction SE) |
| Shepherds Hotel | (15.3 miles, 24.6 km, direction S) |
| Smiths At Gretna Green Hotel | (15.4 miles, 24.7 km, direction NE) |
| All hotels in Silloth |
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