St Bees Coast

About

Located on the Cumbrian Coast, St Bees is a popular destination thanks to its expansive sandy beach and the striking red cliffs of St. Bees Head - the only Heritage Coast on the Irish Sea. Its beach is great for making sandcastles and paddling, with lots of fun to be had exploring tidal rock pools too. Stroll along the wide beachside promenade, which has good wheelchair access; there are toilet facilities, and a pleasant children's play area too. 

St Bees beach is also the start of Wainwright's 'Coast to Coast' walk, which runs for 190 miles - including stunning stretches in the Lake District, Cumbria - before culiminating at Robin Hood's Bay on the east coast.

Rising to a height of over 300ft, St Bees Head is a Heritage Coast and home to an RSPB nature reserve, with the only cliff-nesting seabird colony in North West England. Here, you'll find birds like puffins, razorbills and herring gulls; it's also the only place in England where Black Guillemot breed. The sandstone cliffs of this stunning location look across to the Isle of Man, and support a fasciating array of flora and fauna.

In the pretty St Bees village, you'll find a rich history dating back over 1,000 years. Don't miss a trip to St Bees Priory Church: dating from 1120, it's open daily and features history displays, including the story of “St Bees Man”. There's also a charming main street, and a train station which stands on the scenic Cumbrian Coast line. Bus services to St Bees are available, and it's easy to reach by car.