Spring is underway, and for a seasonal treat, there’s nothing better than heading to the seaside. And in West Cumbria, there is an added attraction as the Solway holiday park launched its spring ice rink, which is open to non-residents.
We have had a brilliant weekend away at the park in Silloth, a Cove Coastal Park.
We had an amazing opportunity to meet all the Cove Crew characters – on ice! The rink is here until May 4, covering the whole of the school Easter holidays and beyond. The rink is next to the main entertainment block at the park, which is an ideal family holiday location.
As well as general ice skating, there are themed nights including Disney, musicals, rock and roll, 80s and 90s party nights. We are not great ice skaters, but that doesn’t matter as there are Penguin and polar bear skating aids, which help you enjoy your time on the ice. There are one hour slots everyday from 12 noon until 10pm.
Go Cove provides lots of activities for all ages to enjoy onsite, with pottery painting, axe throwing, laser tag, archery, body zorbing and even a bird of prey experience. We had a lovely hour painting tealight holders, which were fired overnight and ready to pick up the next day.
And then there is the pool table and air hockey (which is a favourite of ours) – plus tennis courts, Dino Karts and soft play,
So you don’t miss an opportunity, the Park has a QR code for you to scan for all the information you need for the Go Cove activities, plus there is a daily information board in reception.
The onsite, indoor swimming pool offers more fun, if you don’t fancy a cold dip in the sea! And all the activities are available for locals and visitors to Silloth and the Cumbrian coast.
Dog friendly Cumbrian holiday park
This was the first holiday for our new pup, Finn, and he was made so welcome by everyone at the park.
We had one of their dog friendly holiday caravans, which was a two minute walk from the central activity centre.
With water bowls available, and dogs welcome in almost every part of the site, it is easy to enjoy a break away with your pooch.
Finn loved sitting out in the main outdoor area, and watched the entertainment there during the day. He was welcome in The Gateway Arcade Bar, and we have our dinner with him in the outside courtyard at Borders Bar & Restaurant.
He received a lot of fuss and attention from the Solway Park team who made his first holiday a great success.
Food glorious food
The self-catering holiday caravans and chalets are spacious and provide everything you need for a family getaway, including a well-designed kitchen, wifi and Freeview TV. And if you don’t feel like cooking the Borders Restaurant has a great menu choice including the burgers the kids will love alongside a great selection of dishes from around the world.
We shared our starters, as we couldn’t decide which to go for. The Garlic and Herb King Prawns and Cicpea and Cauliflower Bhaji croquettes were both new to the menu. The prawns were very succulent and Bhajis well seasoned and tasty. We also had the classic Southern Fried Chicken Strips, which can with a delicious sweet chilli dippng sauce. It was a great start to our meal.
For mains, I went from the Hot Sizzling Platter – choosing the new Lamb Kofta. It came to the table sizzling, with mouth watering aromas. The spiced lamb meatballs with harissa and garlic oil, roast peppers and onions, with a smoky tomatoes sauce were perfection. I had to choice of skin-on fries or spicy rice – and I made a perfect choice with the perfectly spiced rice.
This was the ideal meal after a 5k run and long walk along the seafront. My family ordered the traditional steak and ale pie and chicken Katsu curry which were equally as tasty.
We also sampled the Wood Fired Pizzas from the Top This Pizza Truck and Airstream Bar. The thin crips base and rich, sweet tomato bases and tasty mozzarella were divine. We had a Margherita for lunch and went back again for another Hawaiian before we left! We didn’t have time to try the Box Fish, the onsite fish and chip shop.
Our base to discover the Lakes & South West Scotland
The Park is well maintained, and next to the new King Charles Coastal Walk. Just a 10 minute walk west on this path and you come to the Edwardian Gem of a Town, Silloth, with its beautiful, well maintained green, family owned amusement park, outdoor splash zone and play area. This is a beautiful place to watch the stunning sunsets over the Solway with the hills of Scotland as the backdrop.
On our first night we went into Silloth to enjoy the famous Silloth fish and chips, and settle to watch the sun go down. It was the perfect start to a wonderful weekend away.
Solway Holiday Park has so much to enjoy onsite and is also a great base to explore the north west area of the Lake District and South West Scotland. You can be in Cockermouth or on the shores of Buttermere in half an hour, or swimming in Ullswater. You don’t have to be stuck in the busy hotspots of the Lakes and can enjoy the beautiful landscapes, and outdoor activities. There’s the Caledonia Park shopping outlet (formerly Gretna Gateway) just over the border with designer stores, cafes and restaurants, and the Rheged Visitor Centre at Penrith with 60ft giant cinema screens, gallery, shops, café and events.
ParkRun tourist spot
If you are a ParkRun tourist runner, Solway is the ideal base for bagging a few Cumbrian runs.
And Silloth is within easy reach of Maryport, Aspatria Bower Park, and Cockermouth.
We took joined the local ParkRun on Saturday morning. The Silloth Promanade ParkRun is a beautiful 5k along the seafront, and a very friendly group of people who made us feel really welcome. And they have their after run breakfast at The Fairydust Emporium where you get 10% off your post-ParkRun breakfast!
More to come to Solway Holiday Park
The ice skating rink is here for the spring holidays, and come the September they host their annual three day Solway Cove Fest with three days and nights of music, including the Shane Noland Band. They have a special pop-up market, funfair with special characters.
And if you want to glide smoothly between the winter festivals in one weekend, Cove Fest-ive present A Very Merry Weekend from Friday, October 31 to Sunday November 2 which celebrates Halloween with Scarefest, Bonfire Night and the start of Christmas! With fireworks every night, live music, funfair Christmas market and Santa’s grotto.
The new owners, Cove are investing in the Solway Park, and opening soon is a new pirate ship themed play park with plans to expand the activity centre and pool.
There are new caravans to own as well as hire for a holiday, and the onsite sales team can provide all the information – plus there is a residential village for those who dream of living by the sea.
Discover more and book a break away with Solway – A Cove Coastal Park by visiting their website https://cove.co.uk/solway/
Our visit was courtasy of Solway Holiday Park #AD/PRSTAY
