Chestnuts Bed & Breakfast - Around The Area

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Whitehaven

The Georgian town of Whitehaven, now a pleasant coastal town, was once a bustling port - in fact, the second busiest in England, behind only London. In fact, the town was once so important that it was the site of the last invasion of the English mainland, in 1778, when the American Navy, led by John Paul Jones landed in the harbour, only to be swiftly defeated by the townsfolk. Additionally, the man who was to lead America after their success in the War of Independence, George Washington, had strong links with Whitehaven, where his grandmother lived and is buried in the grounds of St. Nicholas’ Church. The church sits in the centre of the town, in the middle of a grid-system that was the result of the first post-medieval town planning in Europe, and the blueprint for the streets of New York.

Today, Whitehaven and it’s resident’s are proud of the town’s rich maritime history, and the harbour was revived for the 21st Century with a multi-million pound renovation. In recent years, the harbourside has played host to the bi-annual Whitehaven Festival, with visits from tall ships, air displays from the Red Arrows, live music from acts as diverse as Status Quo, Katherine Jenkins and N-Dubz, and much more attracting almost half a million visitors.

Also in Whitehaven is the Rum Story, the world’s first museum dedicated to the story of the rum trade and it’s impact on Britain, America and the Caribbean. The museum is housed in the former property of Jefferson’s Wines and Spirits, a Whitehaven family business that supplied drinks to Lord Horatio Nelson and the English Navy, and was - until it closed in 1998 - the oldest family-run wine merchants in the country.

Aside from the history, the town offers delightful parks to relax in, stunning Georgian architecture to stroll through, and friendly cafe’s to sit in and enjoy a tea or coffee. Large shops line the intersecting King Street and Lowther Street, with smaller shops and business on the side streets. For nightowls, there is a healthy selection of bars and pubs throughout the centre of town.

lakes and mountains in England, the area is heaven for those who like nothing better than a walk through stunning scenery with abundant wildlife. A walk round Ennerdale Water can yield sightings of deer, the hillsides around Bassenthwaite Lake are home to a pair of Ospreys, and a solitary Golden Eagle resides at Haweswater. Not to mention the constant Herdwick sheep that roam the hillsides, and often the roads.

The towns and villages of the Lake DIstrict are as unique as the scenery, full of stone-built buildings and narrow, winding streets holding many delights amongst the plethora of outdoor-wear shops. In Keswick, one can visit the Beatrix Potter Museum, dedicated to the life and work of the author who fell in love with the area, as well as the Cars of the Stars Museum, holding such

St Bees

This quaint seaside village, almost 1000 years old, is just 10minutes drive away. It was originally home to a priory, praised by William Wordsworth for it’s expansive influence, and home to Edmund Grindal, Archbishop of Canterbury during the reign of Elizabeth I. Grindal founded the public school in the village that is still open and well-respected, boasting alumni including Bounty mutineer Fletcher Christian and comedian Rowan Atkinson.

The sandy beaches make the village a popular destination for tourists and locals alike in the summer, and the RSPB nature reserve of St. Bees Head is a wildlife haven all year round. This headland, the most westerly point in Northern England, is home to one of the largest seabird colonies in England. Guillemots, Kittiwakes, Fulmars and Razorbills call this home in spring and summer, and Puffins, Ravens and Peregrine Falcons are seen even more often. If a visitor is to take their eyes from the air, they may see even more, as the sea becomes home to seals, and harmless Basking Sharks in the summer, whilst porpoises and dolphins are becoming even more common.

Muncaster Castle and the World Owl Centre

Situated just outside Ravenglass in south-west Cumbria, Muncaster Castle is a stately home which dates to the 13th Century in it’s oldest parts, and is host to fabulous gardens, beautiful walks and the MeadowVole Maze, where visitors young and old can experience what it is like to be a rare Meadow Vole. The Castle grounds are also home to the World Owl Trust, and the Owl Centre has aviaries that are home to one of the largest collections of owls in the world, and dedicated to conserving species all over the globe.

Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway

This narrow gauge railway was originally used to transport ore from mines in the Esk valley, but is now run by a preservation society as a tourist attraction. The seven mile line from Ravenglass to Dalegarth runs through typically luscious lakeland scenery, and is run by miniature - but fully functional - steam engines. The railway was also the basis for the Arlesdale Railway in the books of the Rev. W. Awdry, creator of Thomas the Tank Engine.

Cockermouth

Birthplace of William Wordsworth, fishing haunt of Bing Crosby, and home to Jenning’s Ale, Cockermouth is a town full of Cumbrian charm. Enjoy a visit to Wordsworth House, take a tour of the Jenning’s brewery, a cup of tea in one of the many pleasant tea rooms or just a calm stroll around the town and along the river Cocker.

Sellafield Visitor’s Centre

Situated near the power plant that gives it its name, Sellafield Visitor’s Centre is home to various exhibits and science workshops, as well as Europe’s first immersion cinema, to educate young and old alike about science and the truth about nuclear power.

Carlisle

Cumbria’s only city is located an hour away, but is well worth a visit. Used as a Roman stronghold, and with a castle begun by King William ‘Rufus’ II in 1093 and improved by Henry I in 1122, the city is chock-full of history, having been host to Mary Queen of Scots during her imprisonment, and captured by Bonnie Prince Charlie during the Jacobite Rebellion. The castle still stands proud and is open to tell the tale to visitors, as is the Tullie House Museum and Gallery, which also hosts displays on the local area and temporary art exhibitions.

Carlisle city centre has many shops, many of them in the Lakes Shopping Centre, with all ages and tastes catered for in all products. Restaurants and cafes are also in abundance. The city is also home to Cumbria’s only professional football club, Carlisle United, who currently reside in League One, the third tier of English football.

Hadrian’s Wall

Just north of Carlisle stands the remains of Britain’s most important Roman relic, and the northern border of the vast Roman Empire. Built on the orders of the Emperor Hadrian in 122 AD, and spanning 150 miles across the country, the wall was built to protect the northern frontier from the barbarians inhabiting the wild lands of Caledonia, now Scotland. The wall itself is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and can still be seen, even walked along, and a number of the forts that were built along it are now open as visitor’s centres and museums, such as Birdoswald, Vindolanda and Housesteads.