There are plenty of quiet corners of Lancashire that feel a world away from the county's better-known towns and seaside resorts, but few are quite as unusual as Sunderland Point.
Tucked at the mouth of the River Lune, the tiny coastal settlement is home to around 30 houses and a farm and can feel remarkably remote despite being only a short distance from Lancaster and Morecambe.
Its position at the end of a tidal causeway means the village is cut off from the mainland twice a day when the surrounding road and shingle are covered by the tide.
That unusual location is reflected in the village's name.
Lancaster City Council says Sunderland Point was probably first recorded in 1246 as "de Sinderland", with the Old English name meaning "separate or detached land".
Today, it is a peaceful spot for walking, wildlife and taking in views across Morecambe Bay, the Lune and towards the Forest of Bowland and the South Lakeland hills.
But Sunderland Point has a much more fascinating past than its sleepy appearance might suggest.
A forgotten Lancashire port
Sunderland Point was once an important port serving Lancaster.
The settlement developed as a port from around 1680 and became particularly important during the 1720s, when ships could unload goods there before cargo was transported inland towards Lancaster.
The port was closely connected to Britain's international trade, including the transatlantic slave trade.
Lancaster's merchants brought goods through Sunderland Point, while the quayside was the first legal quay in the area before 1739.
The opening of Glasson Dock in 1787 changed everything, with ocean-going ships able to travel further inland.
Sunderland Point's importance as a port declined and the village eventually developed a very different identity.
By the early 19th century, it had become a destination for sea bathing and even earned a reputation as a resort.
The haunting story of Sambo's Grave
One of the main reasons people visit Sunderland Point today is a small grave on the western side of the village.
It is traditionally said to be the burial place of a young African man who arrived at Sunderland Point around 1736 as a servant or slave to a ship's captain.
The details of his life and death are uncertain, and modern research has questioned some aspects of the traditional story.
What is known for certain is that a man known as Sambo, or Samboo, came to Sunderland Point around 1736 and died at what is now Upsteps Cottage.
The circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear.
Around 60 years later, the Reverend James Watson learned of the grave and arranged for a stone and brass plate to be placed there in 1796.
The memorial has become one of Sunderland Point's most significant historical sites.
The epitaph ends with the words: "Not on man's colour but his worth of heart", reflecting changing attitudes towards slavery at the time.
The site remains a place of remembrance today, with visitors leaving flowers, stones and other small tokens.
What can you see at Sunderland Point?
Sunderland Point has also had its moment on screen.
The village was transformed into a Victorian seaside and fishing resort for the 2006 BBC adaptation of Philip Pullman’s The Ruby in the Smoke, starring Billie Piper, Julie Walters and Matt Smith, with several local buildings dressed up as part of the period setting.
The village itself is small, but the surrounding landscape provides plenty of reasons to visit.
A walk along the shore takes in views of Morecambe Bay and the River Lune, while the area's salt marshes and mudflats attract large numbers of birds.
As many as 50,000 birds can feed in the area, including dunlins, bar-tailed godwits, redshanks and shelducks.
There is also a bird hide overlooking the estuary and the unusual Horizon Line Chamber, a land-art installation by artist Chris Drury.
The domed structure contains a lens that creates an inverted view of the horizon and Morecambe Bay.
For visitors interested in local history, the Sunderland Point Mission Heritage Centre tells the story of the community and its past.
One thing is essential before visiting, however: check the tide times.
The causeway can be covered by several feet of water for more than four hours, particularly around higher tides and in poor weather.
Visitors are advised to check conditions before attempting to cross by car.
It is this combination of isolation, dramatic scenery and a history stretching from Lancashire's maritime trade to one of the county's most poignant memorials that makes Sunderland Point such an unusual place to discover.
Just remember to check the tide before you go.
Happen to know of any other interesting facts about Sunderland Point, or have you recently enjoyed a visit? Let us know in the comments.
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