St Bees: Cliffs, Beach and History

St Bees combines an impressive coastal landscape with an unusual piece of English history. At St Bees Head, cliffs, seabirds and far-reaching views meet the start of a famous long-distance trail. There is also an approximately one-mile-long sandy beach, rock pools shaped by the tides and the historic St Bees Priory. Those looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home for a varied trip can choose between days at the beach, coastal walks, nature watching and cultural discoveries here.

Cliffs, Seabirds and Beach

St Bees Head is England’s only breeding site for razorbills. The headland is also home to the only cliff-nesting seabird colony in north-west England. Three viewpoints at St Bees Head provide views of the seabird colony; in clear weather, the view extends as far as the Isle of Man. This special combination of cliffs and birdlife makes the coast a distinctive focal point of the village.

At St Bees Beach, the coast reveals another side of itself. The sandy beach is approximately one mile long and offers space for classic beach activities: children can build sandcastles and paddle in the shallow water. At low tide, the rock pools shaped by the tides can also be explored. This creates different ideas for days out, without the beach and cliffs offering the same kind of experience.

Walking at the Start of the Coast to Coast Path

The Coast to Coast Path begins on the cliffs of St Bees Head. The National Trail runs for 190 miles, or 306 kilometres, through landscapes in northern England. This makes St Bees not only a coastal destination but also a starting point for an extensive walking route.

For a shorter walking plan, the section from St Bees to Ennerdale Bridge is of interest. It follows the King Charles III England Coast Path for approximately 4 miles. The two figures show different scales: here, an individual coastal section can be considered, while there, the major route through northern England is the focus. If you are planning your trip around walking, you can take these perspectives into account when choosing your accommodation and structuring your days.

Even for travellers who are not planning the entire long-distance route, the path remains a defining feature of the village. Its start on the cliffs connects the walking theme directly with the coastal landscape. Those primarily looking for sea views, beach and nature watching, on the other hand, can regard the viewpoints and sandy beach as separate focal points of their trip.

St Bees Priory and the St Bees Man

St Bees Priory was founded in 1120 and has a magnificent Norman west portal. The priory also contains panels and artefacts about the Crusader known as the St Bees Man. The name St Bees Man refers to the almost completely preserved body of a medieval knight, discovered in 1981.

The priory therefore complements the natural experiences with a historical theme featuring specific details. On one day of your trip, you can focus on the coastal landscape and its wildlife, and on another, discover the history of the village. For families, this change between visible nature, beach activities and historical discovery creates various opportunities to make the trip varied.

Which Accommodation Suits Your Travel Plans

The right holiday apartment in St Bees depends primarily on the character you want to give your trip. For coastal enthusiasts, the beach, cliffs and viewpoints at St Bees Head are the main attractions. Walkers will focus their planning more on the start of the Coast to Coast Path or the approximately 4-mile section towards Ennerdale Bridge. Those wishing to include culture can complement these themes with St Bees Priory and the St Bees Man.

When choosing, consider which of these experiences should have the most important place in your trip. This keeps the decision to choose a holiday apartment or holiday home closely connected with what you actually want to discover in St Bees.

More Destinations to Compare

If you would like to view other destination pages alongside St Bees, here is a compact selection: Shap, Cotehill, Crosby Garrett, Greystoke, Allerdale District, Bampton, Baycliff and Uldale.

For the higher-level travel overview: Cumbria.