Whitehaven Coast

Only 5½ miles from the border of the Lake District National Park, this coastline stretches south from the 18th century harbour of Whitehaven towards the sandstone cliffs of St Bees Head.

The site of England's first under-sea coalmine, Whitehaven had the deepest mines in the world by the 1730s. The last working pit here closed in 1986. The local community have succeeded in securing the funding to open it as a museum to Whitehaven's mining heritage.

For wildlife lovers, the best time to visit is May to July. The thin spoil-tip soils grow a colourful carpet of wild flowers. At the RSPB reserves on St Bees head, puffins, guillemots and razorbills join thousands of seabirds nesting on the tallest sea cliffs between southern Scotland and northern Wales.

We have partnered with the RSPB, Natural England, the Land Trust, Cumbria Wildlife Trust and the local councils to join up how we care for our 'Colourful Coast' between Whitehaven and St Bees.