St Bees

Coastal walking at the start of the Coast to Coast Path

St Bees is a coastal village in Cumbria, set beside the Irish Sea between Whitehaven and the sandstone cliffs of St Bees Head. The village marks the western start of the Coast to Coast Path, making it an important stopping point for walkers preparing to cross northern England.

The Coast to Coast Path begins beside the beach before climbing onto St Bees Head. Rather than immediately heading east, the route first follows the coast north across the clifftops, giving walkers an opening stretch of sea views and exposed coastal landscape before turning inland towards the Cumbrian countryside.

St Bees Head forms the dominant landscape immediately north of the village. Red sandstone cliffs rise above the Irish Sea, with grassland and coastal paths extending across the headland. From higher ground there are broad views along the Cumbrian coast and, in clear conditions, across the Irish Sea.

The village itself has places to eat and drink, accommodation and a railway station, making it a practical place to arrive the day before beginning the Coast to Coast Path. The beach, village and surrounding paths also make St Bees a walking destination in its own right rather than simply a departure point for the longer trail.

Exploring St Bees on foot

Walking from St Bees naturally begins with the coast. From the beach, paths climb towards St Bees Head, where clifftop walking combines open sea views with the red sandstone landscape characteristic of this part of the Cumbrian coast.

Walkers following the Coast to Coast Path continue across the headland before turning inland through the countryside towards Ennerdale Bridge. Beyond Ennerdale, the character of the route changes considerably as it enters the mountains and valleys of the Lake District National Park.

Shorter walks can concentrate on the coast around St Bees Head, while the railway provides connections along the Cumbrian coast towards Whitehaven and other settlements. This makes it possible to combine local coastal walking with longer sections of the surrounding path network.

St Bees works particularly well as an overnight base before beginning the Coast to Coast Path. Staying in the village gives walkers time to reach the western trailhead, explore the beach and coastline, and begin the long-distance route the following morning.