B5302 road
The B5302 is a
The route
Silloth-on-Solway to Calvo
The B5302's western terminus is in the coastal town of
As the cobbles give way to tarmac, the road begins heading in an easterly direction out of Silloth-on-Solway. On the outskirts of town it reaches Barracks Bridge, and a quarter-of-a-mile thereafter, Silloth Airfield.[2] This airfield was constructed during the Second World War by RAF Coastal Command, and served primarily as a training base.[3] It was closed in 1960 and today is used for a weekly market and car boot sale.[4]
Half-a-mile past the airfield and the B5302 bends sharply to the left in the small hamlet of Causewayhead, in the civil parish of Holme Low. Two side-roads in quick succession lead south-west to a junction with the B5301 and south-east in the direction of Blackdyke. Also in Causewayhead is Tanglewood Caravan Park,[5] which the B5302 passes on its way through the settlement. The B5302 is now heading in a north-easterly direction as it reaches the hamlet of Calvo, approximately one mile from Causewayhead. Upon entering the hamlet, the road turns sharply once again, heading in a south-easterly direction as it leaves the hamlet towards Abbeytown.
Kingside Hill to Wheyrigg
One-and-a-half miles from Calvo, past the side-road that leads to Blackdyke, is Kingside Hill, named for the local legend that
Entering Abbeytown the speed limit is reduced, and the B5302 passes
On its way out of Abbeytown, the B5302 passes close to the site of the former Abbeytown railway station. After leaving Abbeytown, the road heads in a vaguely south-easterly direction, passing mostly fields with the occasional farmhouse, eventually reaching Wheyrigg after one-and-three-quarter miles. One side-road along this stretch leads to the hamlet of Kelsick.
Waverbridge to the Wigton bypass
After another mile-and-a-half of scattered farmhouses and fields, the B5302 arrives in Waverbridge, where it descends to cross over the River Waver. A side-road just beyond Waverbridge takes a different route into Wigton, passing Wigton cemetery and arriving at Station Hill.
The B5302's route, however, continues through the fields for just over a mile. As it approaches the junction with the A596, the road's previous route (before the Wigton bypass was constructed) into Wigton is still visible, though no longer used. As it approaches Wigton, there is a staggered crossroads which means that the two sections of the B5302 don't join up with one another.
Through Wigton town centre
Having crossed over the A596 at the staggered crossroads, the B5302 enters Wigton, crossing over the
In the centre of Wigton is the town's monument, built in 1872 and now a listed monument.
Incidents
The B5302 has seen numerous incidents and accidents, including some fatalities. In 2004, a man was killed in an accident involving a car and a coal lorry on the road between Abbeytown and Waverbridge.[12] In 2013, a quad bike rider was left with serious injuries in an accident on the road near Causewayhead, and was airlifted to Newcastle hospital by the Great North Air Ambulance.[13] In November 2018, the road was briefly closed between Abbeytown and Silloth after a lorry collided with a bridge.[14]
Public transportation
References
- ^ "Google Maps - Route of the B5302". Retrieved 3 March 2015.
- ^ "Wartime Memories - RAF Silloth". Archived from the original on 10 September 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
- ^ "Silloth Airfield - History". Retrieved 3 March 2015.
- ^ "Silloth Sunday Market". Retrieved 3 March 2015.
- ^ "Tanglewood Caravan Park". Retrieved 3 March 2015.
- ^ "Forebears - Holme Cultram". Retrieved 3 March 2015.
- ^ "Cumberland News - Global help to restore abbey". Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
- ^ "Visit Cumbria - Holm Cultram Abbey". Retrieved 3 March 2015.
- ^ "Construction News - Wigton Bypass". Retrieved 3 March 2015.
- ^ Historic England. "Wigton Monument (1327148)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
- ^ "Google Maps - Route of the B5302". Retrieved 3 March 2015.
- ^ "Cumberland News - Man killed in Wigton smash". Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
- ^ "Quad bike rider in Newcastle hospital after crash at Silloth". Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
- ^ "Road between Silloth and Abbeytown reopens". Cumbria Crack. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
- ^ "Stagecoach - 400 timetable" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
- ^ "Reays - City Hopper 60". Archived from the original on 10 March 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.