How long is the The Cumbrian Coast Circuit from Carlisle route?

This route takes 9 days taking in 5 stops.

Where does this route start and end?

The route runs from Carlisle, Cumbria to Carlisle, Cumbria in Cumbria, England.

When is the best time to travel this route?

The best time to travel this route is May to September.

How active is this route?

Activity level: Active. Moderately active — expect some walking and light physical activity.

What transport do I need for this route?

This route works best with a car or a campervan.

What budget do I need for this route?

Mid-range spending — expect comfortable accommodation and a mix of dining options.

What type of accommodation suits this route?

Mixed accommodation works well along this route.

What is the pace of this trip?

Relaxed — plenty of time to linger at each stop.

What type of trip is this?

This route is well-suited to: Scenic, Coastal, Culture, Adventure, Classic road trip.

The Cumbrian Coast Circuit from Carlisle

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The route · 5 stops

1
Carlisle
2 nights
England's most-sieged city, built on Roman foundations. The castle (English Heritage) held Mary Queen of Scots; Carlisle Cathedral's painted ceiling is one of the finest in England. Use two nights: explore the city on day one, then drive the Solway Coast on day two — Maryport's Senhouse Museum holds Britain's largest collection of Roman altars.
England's most-sieged city, built on Roman foundations. The castle (English Heritage) held Mary Queen of Scots; Carlisle Cathedral's painted ceiling is one of the finest in England. Use two nights: explore the city on day one, then drive the Solway Coast on day two — Maryport's Senhouse Museum holds Britain's largest collection of Roman altars.
Park near the castle and walk to both the cathedral and Tullie House. The Solway Coast AONB is 20 minutes north-west: follow the B5307 to Bowness-on-Solway for estuary views across to Scotland.
2
Whitehaven
2 nights
Built on Caribbean trade, Whitehaven is England's finest Georgian port. The Rum Story museum (1785 warehouses) tells its rum and slave history. Use two nights: explore the Georgian grid and harbour on day one; drive 15km south to St Bees Head, red sandstone cliffs sheltering the only Heritage Coast between Wales and Scotland.
Built on Caribbean trade, Whitehaven is England's finest Georgian port. The Rum Story museum (1785 warehouses) tells its rum and slave history. Use two nights: explore the Georgian grid and harbour on day one; drive 15km south to St Bees Head, red sandstone cliffs sheltering the only Heritage Coast between Wales and Scotland.
The Rum Story is on Lowther Street; book online for a small discount. St Bees Head RSPB reserve, 15km south, has puffins and guillemots in spring; park at St Bees village.
3
Ravenglass
2 nights
The only coastal village in the Lake District UNESCO site. La'al Ratty, England's oldest narrow-gauge public railway, runs 40 minutes through Eskdale to Dalegarth for Boot. Use two nights: ride the railway and walk the valley on day one; cross Hardknott Pass (1:3 gradient, Roman fort at the summit) to Wast Water, England's deepest lake, on day two.
The only coastal village in the Lake District UNESCO site. La'al Ratty, England's oldest narrow-gauge public railway, runs 40 minutes through Eskdale to Dalegarth for Boot. Use two nights: ride the railway and walk the valley on day one; cross Hardknott Pass (1:3 gradient, Roman fort at the summit) to Wast Water, England's deepest lake, on day two.
La'al Ratty runs every 90 minutes March to October; book online. Hardknott Pass is 1:3 gradient — avoid in snow or wet. Approach from the Eskdale end heading east toward Ambleside.
4
Barrow-in-Furness
2 nights
An industrial port with an extraordinary medieval secret: Furness Abbey, 2 miles north, was England's second richest Cistercian monastery. Use two nights: the abbey and the Dock Museum on day one; take the seasonal ferry from Roa Island to Piel Island on day two, where a ruined castle stands above the Ship Inn.
An industrial port with an extraordinary medieval secret: Furness Abbey, 2 miles north, was England's second richest Cistercian monastery. Use two nights: the abbey and the Dock Museum on day one; take the seasonal ferry from Roa Island to Piel Island on day two, where a ruined castle stands above the Ship Inn.
Furness Abbey (English Heritage) is 2 miles from centre, signposted from A590. Piel Island ferry from Roa Island runs in summer; check before planning as it can be weather-dependent.
5
Carlisle
Return to Carlisle to close the loop. The A590 via Ulverston and the M6 north is straightforward; allow 1 hour 30 minutes. A detour through Ulverston adds 20 minutes and passes the birthplace of Stan Laurel.
Return to Carlisle to close the loop. The A590 via Ulverston and the M6 north is straightforward; allow 1 hour 30 minutes. A detour through Ulverston adds 20 minutes and passes the birthplace of Stan Laurel.
Trains from Carlisle to London Euston take 3 hours on the West Coast Main Line. Follow the A5087 along the Furness peninsula coast to the A590 for a scenic final drive.

Route highlights

Scenic Drive
Solway Coast Drive from Carlisle
Drive the B5307 west from Carlisle to Bowness-on-Solway, where Hadrian's Wall ends at the tidal flats. Continue south along the AONB coast to Maryport's Senhouse Museum, which holds Britain's largest collection of Roman altars in one place.
Culture
The Rum Story, Whitehaven
Housed in original 1785 warehouses on Lowther Street, The Rum Story is Whitehaven's most engaging museum. It traces the town's wealth through the slave triangle: rum and sugar from the West Indies, enslaved Africans transported by Whitehaven ships to the Americas.
Viewpoint
St Bees Head RSPB Reserve
The red sandstone cliffs of St Bees Head form the only Heritage Coast on the English west coast between Wales and Scotland. The RSPB reserve above has England's only mainland nesting guillemots, razorbills and puffins from April to July.
Activity
La'al Ratty to Dalegarth
The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, England's oldest public narrow-gauge line, climbs 7 miles from the coastal village into the eastern fells. At Dalegarth for Boot, a short walk reaches Boot village and Eskdale Mill, a working 16th-century water-powered corn mill.
Viewpoint
Hardknott Roman Fort
Mediobogdum fort sits at 393 metres, just below the Hardknott Pass summit. Its walls, gates and bath-house foundations are among the best-preserved Roman military remains in northern England, with unbroken views west to the Irish Sea and east to the Central Fells.
Culture
Furness Abbey
Founded in 1123, Furness Abbey was England's second wealthiest Cistercian monastery before the Dissolution. Its red sandstone choir arcade and chapter house walls survive to near-full height in a wooded valley, with an English Heritage exhibition including the rare 12th-century Furness Crozier.
Beach
Piel Island
A 10-minute ferry from Roa Island, Piel Island holds a 14th-century castle, a handful of cottages and one pub: the Ship Inn. By tradition, anyone who drinks in the landlord's chair is dubbed a Knight of Piel. The island is only accessible in summer; check the service before planning.

The Cumbrian Coast Circuit from Carlisle

The route · 5 stops

Carlisle

Whitehaven

Ravenglass

Barrow-in-Furness

Carlisle

Route highlights

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The Cumbrian Coast Circuit from Carlisle

The route · 5 stops

Carlisle

Whitehaven

Ravenglass

Barrow-in-Furness

Carlisle

Route highlights

Photos & videos · 0

No photos yet

Frequently asked questions

Ratings & reviews

Comments · 0

No comments yet

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