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Towns and Areas in the Western Lakes |
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Silloth |
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Workington |
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Whitehaven |
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Egremont |
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This historic Norman market town boasts a wealth of Georgian architecture on its bustling Main Street where its shops offer a range of good local produce and gifts. Spend some great days out in the surrounding countryside enjoying our new walking or cycling routes and discovering the superb rural features at nearby Clints quarry, with its amazing orchids, or the peaceful surroundings of Longlands Lake. Come back to town for a late afternoon visit to the Egremont ice cream factory and evening tour of the local hostelries and eateries in town. In addition to comfortable hotel and bed and breakfast accommodation, visitors to the area will also find specialist cycling accommodation. For the cyclist, Egremont’s location is ideal. On the route of the Hadrian’s cycleway and now part of an alternative start (or finish) to the popular coast to coast route, Egremont is also proud to have a developing network of mountain biking routes. Visit the Norman Castle and perhaps take in a concert. Buy your craft ware, enjoy the current exhibitions and find the tourism information staff inside the quaint charm of 18th Century Lowes Court Gallery or pick up those bargains to take home from our factory outlet shop. You will find Egremont a good place to visit at any time of the year but you could plan your stay to coincide with the historic Crab fair, pipe smoking, gurning and new greasy pole competitions in September or to experience the torchlight parade around Christmas time. Egremont makes the ideal base for your stay in the Western Lake District. |
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Millom |
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Maryport |
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Cockermouth |
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Wigton |
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Ravenglass |
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Silloth-on-Solway with its grand Victorian houses,
wide, cobbled streets and fine seaward vista, offers the opportunity
for a relaxing, ‘get away from it all’ break. The views
out to sea are magnificent, but Silloth has a lot more to offer
than landscapes alone; a very fine links course provides a demanding
and
enjoyable test for golfers while families can enjoy a traditional
seaside holiday with an award winning beach at Silloth West while
staying at one of a number of quality caravan parks. Festivals add
an extra dimension to a break in Silloth. Its kites in July, vintage
vehicles in June and a beer festival in September to name a few.
Flora and fauna delight and a good starting place is the Discovery
Centre
of the Solway Area of Outstanding Beauty. You can find out how this
unique area was created and how it is being conserved. The centre
also has a fine selection of locally produced arts and crafts.
If shopping is your thing, Workington has bags of interest courtesy
of a sympathetically re-developed town centre featuring high street
names and local specialist shops. The remains of Curwen Hall in
Curwen Park are worth viewing whilst 200m across the park, the Helena
Thompson Museum houses a scale model of the Hall and its various
galleries give an intimate flavour of the town's history. Close
by is the oldest part of town radiating out from the market square
- worth exploring too for its range of local shops and pubs.
Picturesque Whitehaven is a must for
the discerning visitor. Once one of the busiest ports in England,
it is now famous for it’s
magnificent bi – annual International Maritime Festival. The
highly recommended Rum Story shows how the town prospered in the
past but also illuminates the dark side too - the slave trade. The
Beacon visitor attraction on the harbour side also lets you into
some of the town's best kept secrets including the story of John
Paul Jones, the father of the US navy attacked his home port during
the American War of Independence whilst Haig Colliery Mining Museum
brings to life the town’s proud industrial past. Whitehaven
also plays host to some of the best and stylish restaurants the
coast has to offer, drawing on both local produce and international
to offer the food lover a sumptuous range of flavours. 
Sitting by the Duddon river estuary with
Black Combe Fell on its doorstep, the former fishing village of
Millom became rich on iron-ore mining
and steel making in the 19th Century. Today, nature reserves and
fabulous views across the Duddon estuary to the Lake District
have replaced industrialisation. At the Tourist Information Centre
is
the Folk Museum with displays on the 20th century Millom poet
and resident, Norman Nicholson, who spent his life in the town.
Next
to the church are the ruins of the 14th century moated, Millom
Castle whilst on the nearby is Millom RAF Museum, packed with exhibits
illuminating the town’s role in World War II.
Maryport is a town of discovery. On foot you can see how the town
is built on a grid pattern in the 18thC, and is very easy to find
your way around. Take time to wander and enjoy the special seaward
views and then find out about the fauna in the sea - the Lake District
Aquarium does just that in a lively and informative way. Also by
the harbour is the Maritime Museum - the town's strong links to
the tragic Titanic are displayed. North of the harbour is the Senhouse
Roman Museum with its exceptionally well preserved collection of
Roman sculptures. Retrace your steps to Fleming Square which is
a beautifully conserved, cobbled town square while Senhouse Street
close by has a host of local and specialist shops to browse. Try
and visit when the town's Bitter and Blues or Maritime Festival
is in full swing to get the full flavour of Maryport.
This town of just 7,000 inhabitants has so much to offer the visitor.
Starting at the west end of Main Street is Wordsworth House, the
home of the poet William. In the care of the National Trust, the
house gives a fascinating insight into the formative years of the
poet, perhaps best remembered for Daffodils. From his home walk
along Main Street and enjoy a range of local shops and pubs including
antique shops and small galleries. In particular, Castlegate House
at the east end of the street has a fine record of shows ranging
from Lowry to Peascod. Opposite the gallery is Cockermouth Castle,
open for pre booked visits only during Cockermouth's Georgian Festival
each July, it is still the seat of the Egremont family. The castle
is best viewed by taking a lovely stroll along the banks of the
River Derwent. In the shadow of the castle is Jennings Brewery whilst
the quirky and entertaining Sheep and Wool centre offers a final
must see opportunity in Cockermouth.
Melvyn
Bragg is Wigton's most famous son and the town features prominently
in a number of the author's best works including The Cumbrian Trilogy,
The Soldier's Return and the acclaimed oral history, Speak for England.
He grew up in the Blackamoor pub where you can still enjoy a pint
and the crack. Enjoy your drink after exploring the town - there
are lots of interesting features to discover. For instance, the
town fountain in the market place incorporates in the design four,
fine bronzes by Thomas Woolner, an artist of the 19thC Pre - Raphelite
movement, while the Church of England parish church has some good
examples of stained glass windows. The development of Quakerism
resonates in Wigton - the great orator George Fox spoke in the Market
Square in 1653 and there is a Quaker congregation in the town to
this day. 
Ravenglass
on the Lake District Coast is a pretty village with lots of leisure
craft in its estuary. Almost 2000 years ago, the Romans guarded
this coast against Barbarian invasion and heir bathhouse can still
be seen in the village. Transport of a more modern kind is in evidence
as the village is the starting point for the famous Ravenglass and
Eskdale Railway. The regular steam train service meanders its way
up the spectacular Eskdale Valley with England's highest mountain
- Scafell Pike at the head of the valley. Just minutes from Ravenglass
and easily accessible by a new cycle track is the award winning
Muncaster, home since the 13th century to the Pennington family.
With magnificent gardens and views up to Scafell Pike, the Castle
is also the home to the World Owl Trust, a charity which breeds
endangered species and re-introduces breeding birds into the wild.
The Castle itself has a fascination history and must not be missed.site produced by Cypher
images by Brian Sherwen
Western Lake District Tourism Partnership - Telephone: +44 (0)1900 818741 |
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