Itinerary Planner

Cumbrian Coastal Route - Section 4 - Seascale to Maryport - The Nordic Coast

Route: A595

Miles: 39

Route Guide and GPX File

As you travel further up the West Coast you get a sense of this areas patchwork past. For many years Cumbria was more Scottish than English, with the eldest son of the king of Scotland known as the Prince of Cumberland. These "Borderlands" were hard fought over by the Reivers and the Romans. As the rest of the country fell under Norman rule, Cumbria was occupied by settlers from the north, the Norsemen. This is especially evident in traditions, accents and language of this area, where many nordic words and names like "fell" and "tarn" are still used.

In its more recent history, the areas ports and harbour towns grew affluent through trade and tourism. This brought with it grand highstreets and public areas but also dealings with pirates and smugglers!

On this section of coast, you can easily flit between wild, rugged headlands and serene, well-manicured Victorian and Georgian towns. Our first stop is on the wild side. Head up on the A595 to St Bees for towering red sandstone cliffs, a perfect sandy beach and a rich past – part of England’s only heritage coast between Scotland and Wales. Enjoy a walk around the Cumbrian coast on the towering cliffs of St Bees Head, taking in the largest sea bird colony in the northwest (during spring and summer).

The dramatic cliffs of St Bees rise from the seafront and are the highest and most westerly point in Northern England, made up of vast slabs of red sandstone laid down some 240 million years ago. Home to an array of sea birds and wildlife, these cliffs will inspire you to explore off the beaten track during your trip.

Discover the legend of the Irish princess who fled across the Irish Sea to St Bees to avoid an enforced marriage, wonder at the carved stones in the priory left by Irish-Norse Vikings who settled in the area in the 10th century and marvel at the tale of St Bees Man. There is a wealth of history here, just waiting to be unwrapped.

Explore the promenade and beach and don’t forget to pop into Hartley’s for an Ice-cream.

The four miles of St Bees Head’s stunning red sandstone cliffs is well worth the walk. It’s the source of St Bees’ sandstone – the red stone used for many buildings in Cumbria. The area is an RSPB nature reserve and provides nesting sites for more than 5,000 pairs of seabirds. It’s also famously home to England’s only colony of black guillemots.

Almost 100 metres high, the towering cliffs are topped with grassland and patches of wild gorse, which also provide havens for a wide variety of small birds. Keep cameras and binoculars on standby for the peregrine falcons that often hunt along the coast and can sometimes be seen flying overhead or perched on the cliff face.

Access to the reserve is via the path over the metal footbridge at the north end of the promenade. From here follow the coastal path to St Bees Head and back. Tread carefully, as this is an unprotected cliff-top route.

The next stop is the seaside town of Whitehaven. This maritime port was once the third-largest in the UK with trade links all over the world. The town’s prosperity was built on coal, developed by the wealthy Lowther family who also laid out the elegant Georgian town. The wealth of architecture led to Whitehaven being listed as a ‘gem town’

Its strong trade links with America shine through. In the mid-18th century, Whitehaven was used as a template for the expansion of New York, and George Washington's grandmother was from Whitehaven. She was laid to rest in St Nicholas’s Church on Lowther Street. The town has a rich history which is well told through the Beacon Museum and The Rum Story.

The historic 17th century harbour is enhanced by nautical sculptures, dramatic lighting effects and a brand-new marina, is the focus for spectacular maritime events and activities including the occasional visit of tall sailing ships.

Whitehaven offers a great base to explore the surrounding countryside, especially by bike. National Cycle Route - Cycleroute 72 runs through the town and is the start of the C2C. However, if you can follow a 10-mile section of the route through Cleator Moor and Rowrah. It's possible to use the back roads and cycleways from here to access the Ennerdale Valley. There are also several bike hire options in Whitehaven.

Once you have finished exploring on foot or two wheels, hit the road and take a slight dogleg along the A595 inland to Cockermouth. This handsome Georgian town is the gateway to the western Lake District. A busy schedule of events keeps the town buzzing throughout the year 

The town is the proud birthplace of William and Dorothy Wordsworth; Wordsworth House offers a fascinating insight into the poet’s early life but also gives modern visitors a glimpse of how people lived in the 18th century. Other famous children of Cockermouth include astronomer Fearon Fallows, scientist John Dalton and Fletcher Christian of Mutiny on the Bounty fame.

Cockermouth has a tasty selection of places to eat and drink, catering for every appetite and every craving. It’s home to a wealth of cafes and traditional tea shops, perfect for breakfast or a light lunch, as well as pubs serving up the heartiest of local fare, and contemporary restaurants with an international flavour. If it’s just a drink you’re after, a pint of Jennings ale will always go down well. Brewed in the heart of the town, it doesn’t get more local than that.

Arrive in Maryport and head for the harbour. Here you will find the Maritime Museum and the Lake District Coast Aquarium, both well worth a browse. The aquarium boasts over 75 themed tanks containing a collection of the diverse marine life found around the Cumbrian and UK coastline. The Sealab is home to juvenile species such as rays and cat sharks. It also houses a lobster breeding programme. This sees lobsters released back into the Solway once they are fully formed & healthy, to combat the low survival rate of their larvae in the wild. The quayside Cafe is also worth a visit.

Walk off your lunch with a Roman themed ramble, starting at the Maritime Museum. This 3-mile walk climbs the sea brows, yielding spectacular views of the Solway Firth. The route meanders into the Solway Coasts Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and takes in the Senhouse Roman Museum, which houses some of the most important archaeological finds in Europe and is sited near the Roman settlement of Alauna.