Allonby Bay

Allonby Bay is a crescent-shaped bay of the Solway Firth on the north-western shore of Cumbria, United Kingdom. The bay is approximately five-and-a-half miles (nine kilometres) across. Its northern point is at Dubmill, between the village of Mawbray and the hamlet of Salta, and its southern end is just to the north of Maryport, near the village of Crosscanonby. The B5300 coast road follows the shoreline of Allonby Bay, running between Silloth-on-Solway in the north and Maryport in the south.

As an inlet of the Solway Firth, Allonby Bay is also part of the Irish Sea. The bay is named for the village of Allonby, which sits roughly in the centre of the shoreline.

Geography and conservation

Allonby Bay is home to a five-mile stretch of beach which was awarded the coveted blue flag in 2005. However, following water quality tests in 2012, Allonby Bay was on the verge of losing its blue flag status, which caused much concern in Allonby itself, as the village relies on tourism as a major source of income.

Allonby

Coordinates: 54°46′18″N 3°25′53″W / 54.7717°N 3.4313°W / 54.7717; -3.4313

Allonby is a village on the coast of the Allerdale district in Cumbria, England. The village is on the B5300 road 5 miles (8.0 km) north of Maryport and 8 miles (13 km) south of Silloth. The village of Mawbray is 3 miles (4.8 km) to the north, and 3.5 miles (5.6 km) to the east is the village of Westnewton. The county town of Carlisle is located 26 miles (42 km) to the north east. Other nearby settlements include Crosscanonby, Edderside, Hayton, and Salta.

The village overlooks Allonby Bay in the Solway Firth. The area is within the Solway Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the historic county of Cumberland. Allonby, and the five-mile coastal strip of the bay, afford spectacular views across the Solway to the Galloway hills of southern Scotland. Both the South Saltpans beach and the West Winds beach were awarded the Blue flag rural beach award in 2005. The village is located on the 150 miles (240 km) Cumbria Coastal Way long distance footpath.