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Food & Drink Trails in Carlisle, The Western Lake District and Coast - Discover the Solway Coast

From Silloth in the north to Millom in the south, Cumberland enjoys a vast and varied coastline encompassing quaint villages, fishing ports, historic railways and haunted castles!

Perfect for exploring by bike, a vast swathe of this coastline has off-road cycle routes and it’s relatively flat too!  Or for those who prefer to explore by public transport excellent train links run out of Carlisle and traverse much of the coastline between Maryport and Bootle.

Silloth in the north is home to some fantastic cafes and restaurants from The Bank of Silloth to the super-quirky Fairydust Emporium.  A short distance south is the small village of Allonby, it’s just seven miles from Silloth so easy to cycle or even walk and there’s a great stopping point on-route at community pub, The Lowther Arms in Mawbray.  Once in Allonby, you’ll find, spectacular ice-cream creations at Twentymans, traditional food offering at the Ship Hotel and if you're lucky, pop-up coffee truck the Drowsy Goose.  Silloth and Allonby’s views can be spectacular on a clear day with Scottish munros and Lake District fells each looking majestic against the flat estuary of the coastline.

Continue south to the picturesque harbour town of Maryport (also where you can first encounter the rail route that runs up this coastline). The Marina View Café and The Wharf Ice Cream and Coffee House are both perfect places to enjoy a drink or bite to eat with stunning harbour views.  While for an overnight stop off or chic pub style dining The Old Mill Inn is the ideal. Meanwhile when in the town, keep your eyes peeled for bakery pop-up Maryport Born and Bread serving up delicious breads, cakes and pastries. For an evening meal, be sure to book a table at Portobello Wood Fired Pizza.

Workington’s Melbreak Hotel is another of this coastline’s stand out hotels as is Moresby Hall Hotel at Whitehaven.

Whitehaven’s long history with food and drink is told by local museum, The Rum Story.  Here visitors can learn all about the importation of sugar, molasses and rum.  The museum, which is based in warehouses once used for smuggling, depicts the story of importers the Jefferson family, who brought produce into the UK in the 18^th century.

Today, food and drink in Whitehaven ranges from harbourside restaurant Zest to cafes such as the Howling Wolf where customers dine on antique furniture with a library and baby grand piano for company, and the new retro-inspired vegetarian restaurant and cocktail bar, Raven’s Nest.

From Whitehaven, a visit to St Bees, with its wide beaches and impressive cliffs, allows an opportunity to indulge in delicious treats or pick up gifts and souvenirs at Hartley’s Beach Shop and Tea Rooms.

Journey south to the coastal town of Seascale, which was popular in Victorian times.  To this day the town continues to tempt visitors to the likes of Calder House Hotel with its new bar and restaurant which features panoramic coastal views.  Also new in Seascale is a chic fish and chip restaurant, Salt, which alongside serving locally sourced produce, brews beers onsite.  Meanwhile, pick up a delicious sweet treat at Mawson’s Ice Cream Parlour.

England’s first narrow gauge railway, Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, has long been a popular attraction and that too is a haven for foodies, whether coming for one of the regular food and drink themed trains or to sample the produce at one of the hospitality venues along the line.

Complete a day out with a visit to Muncaster Castle, a historic haunted house where you can joust, encounter owls and even book a group private dining experience in a medieval dining room.  Or take in nearby The Byre Café at Bootle.
               

The Cumberland Food & Drink Programme is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and is supported by Cumberland Council and Sellafield.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus