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• Windermere In The Rain
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St Bees

Situated on the west side of the Lake District National Park, at the most westerly point of Cumbria, St.Bees is a small village centred around an 11th Century Priory.

St. Bees Head is a red sandstone headland which forms one of the most dramatic natural sights along the whole north-west coast, with over four miles of steep sandstone cliffs. The sandstone has been used to build houses in the area, and the headland is also famous for its RSPB Nature Reserve – the only settlement of Black Guuillimots.  Other rare creatures live on the headland, including puffins and terns. View points and bird watching spots can be found along the coastal route.

Visitors to the area can enjoy plenty of attractions and things to see and do, including Lowes Court Gallery, Muncaster Castle and Owl Sanctuary, Whitehaven Harbour and Marina, the Haig Pit and Mining Museum, The Sellafield Visitor´s Centre, Whitehaven Beacon and The Rum Story.

The Coast to Coast Walk, which was started by A.Wainright in 1972, starts at St. Bees coastline and runs across northern England to Robin Hood´s Bay in north Yorkshire on the East coast.

The impressive mile-long sandy beach at St. Bees is one of the best in the Lake District, and was named a Seaside Award Beach in 2005, in recognition of its cleanliness. The wide promenade is lined with small cafés and restaurants, and also offers younger visitors a children´s play area.

St. Bees Priory Church is well worth a visit, and the building stands out for its impressive Norman doorway. The town has its own railway station and bus services and is easily accessible by car.

According to legend, St. Bega, an Irish nun, was shipwrecked at St Bees in the 9th Century, and, along with the other surviving nuns, she went to see Lord Egremont for land to build a priory. He told the nuns they could have any land that was covered by snow by the next day. It was midsummer at the time but next day, the land between the castle and the sea was covered in snow, and the priory was built.

A Millenium project saw a new statue of St Bega arriving by boat from Ireland to the village, and the names of all villagers was written on a scroll and buried in a time capsule, along with other objects from the 21st Century. The statue was made from a mixture of iron ore dust from the nearby Florence Mine and resin by Colin Telfer.

St. Bees School was founded in 1583 by Edmund Grindal, Archbishop of Canterbury, and son of a local farmer. The original quadrangle at the school bears his coat of arms, and the bridge he gave to the village, which is now a listed structure, is still used today.

Travelling north from the cliff top path takes visitors to Fleswick Bay, which is situated between St Bees and St Bees Head, and forms part of the Coast to Coast Walk.
St Bees is a great base from which to tour the western end of the Lake District, and visitors can choose from a wide range of accommodation, including guest houses, bed and breakfast accommodation, five-star hotels, hostels and holiday cottages. Take your time to explore the central Lake District, including Windermere, Bowness and Grasmere, and check out the late deals and weekend breaks. Wherever you decide to stay in the lakes, you will find plenty of attractions, events and festivals to keep the whole family entertained.
      

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