Whitehaven colourful coastal walk
This dramatic cliff-top walk starts at Whitehaven’s historic 17th-century harbour, passing the town’s industrial archaeology to join Wainwright’s Coast to Coast path.
See the work of the Colourful Coast project
Experience wild, secluded beaches and discover a series of hidden gems such as Saltom Pit, the Haig Pit and Fleswick Bay. Learn more at www.colourfulcoast.org.uk (National Trust and partners).
Map
Start:
The Beacon, Whitehaven, grid ref: NX969181
1
Start by Wellington Terrace at Whitehaven Harbour (just past the Beacon Museum). Follow waymarkers up to The Candlestick (Wellington Pits imposing chimney), then continue to the Haig Pit (hidden gems one and two). On the cliff top you'll join the wagon way where trucks full of coal used to be shunted down to the harbour. With Georgian alabaster mines, sandstone quarries, a 12th-century priory, England's first under-sea coal mine and even the site of a top-secret Second World War radar station; this coastline has fascinating stories to tell. The Beacon, Haig Pit and St Bees' Priory all tell them well, and are well worth stopping at to find out more.
2
Just after Haig Pit, follow the side path to the right to an information board above Saltom pit. There's a path here down to the ruined winding house (hidden gem three) or continue along the cliff path.
Saltom Pit
Saltom Pit was the first under-sea coal mine in England. It stands just 20ft (6m) above the beach, and the shaft was dug by hand in 1725. The Colourful Coast project has stabilised the building and restored the path down to it.
3
Follow the path for a short distance to come to another junction. Here, the wagon way continues on to the left, while the narrower footpath runs along the cliff top to the right. Follow the cliff edge path beyond the fields up the heathery slopes ahead onto St Bees Head. You will join an incline sloping up the cliffside towards the sandstone quarry. Here you can choose to drop down to Barrowmouth Bay (hidden gem four). Fleswick Bay, Barrowmouth and Saltom Bay are wild and tranquil worth a bit of a scramble to get down to them. Semi-precious stones hide among the shingle at Fleswick and we've been told that the caves there were used by smugglers.
4
At the quarry follow the way marked path on the seaward side of the quarry gates. At the far side of this quarry you will finally emerge onto the St Bees coastal path, which you can now follow all the way to St Bees. At first there is only one path, running along the top of the cliffs, but for most of the route there is also the option to walk in the fields to the left.
Colourful coast
We're working with partners to improve access and conservation along this coast. Together we call ourselves the Colourful Coast project: www.colourfulcoast.org.uk. The cliff tops are a mass of wildflowers in spring. The project partners have reclaimed former industrial land for wildlife and access and have worked with local farmers to improve habitats for farmland birds.
5
This path brings you to the lighthouse (hidden gem five), RSPB viewing points (hidden gem six), Fleswick Bay (hidden gem seven) and eventually to the beach at St Bees (hidden gem eight). To reach the railway station next to St Bees Priory (hidden gem nine), take the road running out of the car park behind the beach. When the main road curves to the left, turn right onto a side-road and then onto a footpath which crosses a field towards the Priory. The station is 220yd (200m) to the right of the Priory.
Guillemots, puffins and chough
St Bees Head is an RSPB nature reserve featuring three secure viewing areas on the cliffs near the lighthouse. From May to July it's possible to get stunning views of the nesting sea birds. The cliffs of St Bees provide the only nesting site in England for the black guillemot. Although rarely seen, ten pairs of puffins are also believed to nest here. Additionally the Colourful Coast project is working to improve habitats to encourage chough back to nest here, for the first time in one hundred years.
End:
The Beacon, Whitehaven, grid ref: NX969181
