St Bees Head

Cumbria & the Lakes


Five-and-a-half miles south of Whitehaven and 1½ miles north of the tiny town of St Bees, this wind-battered headland is one of Cumbria's most important reserves for nesting seabirds. Depending on the season, species nesting here include fulmars, kittiwakes and razorbills, as well as Britain's only population of resident black guillemots. There are more than 2 miles of cliff paths to explore.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Cumbria & the Lakes attractions

1. Beacon

4.09 MILES

In the coastal town of Whitehaven, this intriguing museum explores the town's maritime history. It's split into four levels: floor 1 hosts temporary…

2. Rum Story

4.13 MILES

This budget museum explores Whitehaven's rum-running history through a mix of waxwork models and dioramas, including an 18th-century sugar workshop and a…

3. St Nicholas Church

4.16 MILES

Whitehaven's red-brick Victorian church was burned to the ground during a huge fire in 1971. Only the clock tower remains, but the nave is now a pleasant…

4. Muncaster Castle

13.38 MILES

This crenellated castle, 1.5 miles east of Ravenglass, was originally built around a 14th-century pele tower, constructed to resist Reiver raids. Home to…

5. Wastwater

13.97 MILES

In his 1810 Guide to the Lakes, William Wordsworth described Wastwater as 'long, narrow, stern and desolate', and it's a description that still seems apt…

6. St Olaf's Church

14.71 MILES

Supposedly one of the tiniest chapels in England, this 16th-century church is full of atmosphere. Legend claims the roof beams were salvaged from a Viking…

7. Wordsworth House

15.58 MILES

The poet William Wordsworth was born on 7 April 1770 at this handsome Georgian house at the end of Main St. Built around 1745, the house has been…

8. Jennings Brewery

15.76 MILES

Real-ale aficionados will be familiar with the Jennings name – it has been brewing beers since 1874 and its pints are pulled at pubs all over the Lake…

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