Ravenglass

This is a beautiful little seaside village down the coast about 6 miles away. It was once a Roman settlement and is the site of a historic bathhouse. The village has one of the smallest narrow-gauge railways - the little steam engines "La'al Ratty" which pull carriages all year round up to other villages. Great fun for all, and ideal for stopping off for lunch and enjoying fabulous views of the fells and rivers.

Muncaster Castle is well worth a look around - the gardens are amazing when the rhododendrons are in flower in the summer. Recently they have opened a new attraction – The Weapons Hall, and they often have events in the gardens. You can check out more information on their website. Oh, and by the way.... if you are visiting around Hallowe'en you are in for a spooky treat or two!

Whitehaven

This lovely seaside town boasts a beautiful marina and a shopping centre where you’ll find almost anything you need. You can walk along the harbour front, wander in the pretty park and enjoy independent shops along Lowther Street.

There’s a family-owned department store Dixons, Michael Moon’s Bookshop (one of the most quirky and famous in the world, with 13 rooms filled with 30,000 or more books), and Richardson’s - an Aladdin’s cave of a Wine Shop. Plenty more to enjoy.

The town has a great history - George Washington’s grandmother is buried in St Nicholas church in the centre of town on Lowther Street. The American Navy led by traitor John Paul Jones, undertook a raid on the town disabling a number of canons, before getting drunk and courting the local women! A rich history which is documented at The Beacon Museum, The Rum Story and on information boards and statues around the town. There is plenty of evidence of the town’s rich mining history.
Jonathan Swift, of Gulliver’s Travels fame, lived up by the Candlestick chimney above the marina. When you look down on the dock, you can see where he got his inspiration from.

We are lucky enough to be visited most summers by Tall Ship La Malouine, amongst others. There are some lovely festivals on the harbour front, and regular markets in the town (usually on the third Saturday of the month). A great place to find out what is happening is on the Facebook Cumbria Guide page - usually has all the latest craic!

Food and Drink:
There are many cafés in Whitehaven and some really good pubs and restaurants. We’ve mentioned a few below and added web or Facebook links where available:

Georgian House, Church Street 01946 69611
Number 11 Restaurant, Market Place 07432 296382
The Pour House, Lowther Street 01946 328310
The Westminster Café, Queen Street 07543 522162
Anna’s, Millenium Parade, 01946 695454
Howling Wolf Café and Bakery, under The Beacon Museum, 07564 593767 (they do the best cinnamon rolls!)

St Bees

About nine miles from Windhall is St Bees. There is a wonderful beach and café, and this is a great starting point for a walk to Whitehaven if you fancy a stride out along the cliffs and through beautiful countryside. There is a seabird nature reserve up on St Bees Head.

This is the traditional start of the Coast to Coast walk, just as Whitehaven is the start of the C2C cycle! The village is home to the famous St Bees School and the historic Priory. A couple of great pubs serve good food and have a beer garden: The Queens, Main Street 01946 822287 and The Manor, Main Street 820587.

Also, if you choose to bring your horse on holiday, this is a lovely place for a ride on the beach.

Egremont

The market town of Egremont has some interesting ruins of a historic castle in the centre. This was first built here in Norman times, and the ruins you see now are from the impressive construction which was built around 1130 by William de Meschines.

There are a few cafés and traditional pubs along the Main Street and a lovely circular, flat walk around Longlands Lake nearby.

Cockermouth

This pretty market town is about 20 miles away and has many attractions from shops to eateries and plenty of history! Wordsworth House, the childhood home of William Wordsworth is here, along with a historic museum in the hardware shop in the market square. There are lots of really nice restaurants and a theatre (Kirkgate Arts and Heritage), lots of boutique shops, and an indoor Sunday Market at Mitchell's (off the main roundabout). A great place to visit, and along with Keswick, good for a rainy day.

Keswick

Keswick's bustling Market Square is the hub of activity, surrounded by lovely shops, hotels, and restaurants. At its heart lies the historic Moot Hall which houses the Tourist Information Centre. Keswick has a great market on every Thursday and Saturday.
In the surrounding parks, there's plenty to enjoy. Fitz Park is worth a mention as it has a great café, a children's play area, BMX track, and picnic tables. Theatre by the Lake is well known for its fantastic programme of plays and cultural activities. On a rainy day, The Puzzling Place is an excellent option.

Just outside the town, Whinlatter Forest is England's only true mountain forest – a haven for outdoor enthusiasts.

And when it comes to scenic walks, Keswick has it all – from the majestic Cat Bells to the breathtaking Skiddaw. Just outside town near Portinscale lies Lingholm Estate, featuring stunning gardens, delicious cuisine, and even the opportunity to walk with adorable alpacas!

Carlisle

This is Cumbria’s only city and boasts a number of attractions. Another great option if you have a day where the weather is a bit on the dreary side. You can visit the majestic Castle, Tullie House Museum, and Carlisle Cathedral has a beautiful sky-blue interior roof amongst its other wonders. Carlisle has a great shopping centre and indoor market, as well as plenty of restaurants and cafes.
It’s worth mentioning that a day out driving up the beautiful and rugged West Coast is a lovely way to spend some time. Check out Maryport with its rich fishing heritage, Allonby, and the lovely Victorian Seaside town of Silloth.
We hope this gives you a flavour of the area, but please do ask if you would like any other ideas or further information.

Images at top of page from left to right: Whitehaven Marina - Sunrise; Start of Coast to Coast, St Bees; Ennerdale Water; Horse riding at Silecroft; Keswick. All images (apart from Carlisle and Keswick) are from the collection of Kate Wilson - KW Creatives.