Itinerary Planner

Explore Cumbria’s West Coast Car-Free

For a memorable visit to a lesser-known, but no less beautiful part of Cumbria, our coastline is a must. Stretching from Millom up to Maryport, sit back and relax as you trundle along the coast on one side and the countryside on the other.

Cumbria’s coast line offers passengers a pleasant, winding journey along a 45 mile route which constantly hugs the shoreline, offering visitors plenty of stops along the way which offer tales of Romans and Vikings, peaceful beach exploration and an authentic insight into the coastal way of life.

Accessing Cumbria’s coast by train is easy, thanks to direct rail links from the West Coast Main Line at Carlisle in the north, and just over the border in Lancashire at Lancaster in the south – the latter of which will also take you along the Morecambe Bay coastline too. For more on that journey, check out our suggested Morecambe Bay itinerary, here.

Maryport is the most northerly railway station on Cumbria’s coast and is the proud home of the Lake District Coast Aquarium just a five minute stroll away from the station, and the Senhouse Museum which stands on a cliff top overlooking the Irish Sea – just a ten minute walk away.

Continuing your journey south along the coast by rail, around half an hour later you’ll arrive in the historic trade harbour town of Whitehaven – once serving as Cumbria’s gateway to the rest of the world as a key trading post. Listed as one of the UK’s top six coastal towns by The Telegraph, Whitehaven the fascinating history of Vikings and Victorians is laid-bare at the Beacon Museum which stands on the harbour’s edge. How can we tell tales of the sea without mentioning every sailor’s favourite tipple, Rum? Fear not, the sights and smells of the drink are captured perfectly at the town’s Rum Story attraction.

Just another few minutes by rail takes you to St Bees station, with a peaceful walk of around an hour and a quarter taking you to St Bees Head, where you can enjoy a four mile stretch of coastline from the top of stunning red sandstone cliffs: At 100 metres high in places, this is the highest and most westerly point of England. The area is also home to an RSPB nature reserve which more than 5,000 pairs of seabirds call home.

The next stop on the list is the coastal village of Ravenglass, just 20 minutes away from St Bees by train. This former Roman port and fishing town is The Lake District National Park’s only coastal town and home to the narrow gauge Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, offering a return journey to the Eskdale Valley through 14 miles of wild countryside. Ravenglass is also the site of Muncaster Castle, reputed to be among the most-haunted buildings in England!

A further 20 minutes south by train is the coastal town of Millom, which sits on the Duddon Estuary, with vast expanses of salt marsh and sandy beaches to explore under the watchful eye of the 2,000 foot high Black Combe; a moderate walk which regularly makes lists of England’s hidden gem places to climb lists. The town is also the home of the Millom Discovery Centre which is conveniently positioned at the railway station and features a scale model railway and a complete history of the local iron ore industry. The Hodbarrow Nature Reserve is also nearby, with a half-hour walk taking you to a brilliant viewing hide which looks across a large coastal lagoon.

Of course, there are plenty more stations to explore from along this line, with many beaches to explore – including Haverigg’s soft sand dunes and Silecroft’s shingle delights which stretch as far as the eye can see. Read more about Cumbria’s best beaches in our dedicated blog, here.