Cockermouth
The Town
Cockermouth is a popular town that lies 25 miles south east of Carlisle, and 30 miles west of Penrith where the M6 motorway can be picked up. The town’s main street is full of local shops selling everything from fresh fish to toys, ladies’ clothes to ironmongery. The town is very well provisioned with well-known high street names and smaller independent shops for the more specialised goods and discerning customers. ‘Taste Cumbria’ food festival events are hosted in Cockermouth a couple of times a year; this brings trade and visitors to the town as well as providing a lovely community event.
Attractions
Our agents love this picturesque town that is steeped in history and packed with things to see and do. Cockermouth Castle is well worth a visit; it is believed that Mary Queen of Scots visited here while fleeing her home in Scotland and heading South. William Wordsworth, the poet, and Fletcher Christian, the infamous mutineer on Captain Bligh’s ‘Bounty’ were both born in the local area, and the town market that hosts craft and continental markets is known to pre-date 1221.
Activities
For the active residents of Cockermouth, the town offers a leisure centre and a local Golf Course at Embleton that was designed by James Braid, and The Reivers Cycle route passes through the town as part of its 150-mile route through the lakes and borders. Harris Park is located in the town and has tennis courts, a bowling green, a children’s activity play area, and many lovely terraces to wander along taking in the views of the town. Highfield Sports ground on the outskirts of the town provides good quality space for amateur football and rugby.
The town sits on two rivers, the Derwent and the Cocker, and although the area has suffered from flooding in the past, much preventative work and investment have been provided to prevent this from occurring in the future.
Schools
Cockermouth School offers secondary and sixth form provision and is rated one of the best schools in the locality, making Cockermouth popular with families wishing to live within the catchment area. There is also a choice of state primary schools offering a good standard of education.
Surrounding Areas
Keswick, located 14 miles from Cockermouth, is a popular market town in the northern part of the Lake District National Park and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the home of the only actual lake in the Lake District, Bassenthwaite, all the rest are meres or waters, it also sits on the banks of Derwentwater. Towering nearby are some of the largest mountains in England, known locally as fells, including Helvellyn and Skiddaw, making the area incredibly popular with walkers who return time and time again, often eventually deciding to settle here.
The Keswick Adventure Centre is the perfect place to go ghyll scrambling, rock climbing, abseiling, canoeing, paddle boarding, and canyoning, or perhaps whiling away the hours with a wander through the town centre taking in a little bit of retail therapy and a rest at one of the many restaurants, cafes, bars, and pubs. Unsurprisingly, tourism is the largest industry and employer in the town and surrounding areas.
Another popular location in our area is Aspatria, a small town to the north west of Cockermouth and close to the coast. Aspatria is more industrial than the other neighbouring towns and has more of a focus on a farming and agricultural economy. Split down the middle by the A596, which is one of the major trunk roads linking Carlisle with the west, it is an ideal place for anyone looking to commute to Carlisle, Keswick, or the Cockermouth area. There is a real feeling of community here and locals tend not to move away.
Property Market
The Cockermouth and North Lakes housing market is very diverse with everything from starter homes to retirement homes, and family homes to second homes. Cockermouth itself is popular with local house buyers raising their families and working either on the west coast, Carlisle, or in the tourism industry within the Lake District National Park. Towards Keswick and the surrounding villages within the national park, there is a noticeable rise in selling and rental prices as ‘home hunters’ seek to live in one of the UK’s most beautiful destinations.
Whitehaven
The Town
Whitehaven is a thriving Georgian town conveniently situated less than 40 miles south west of Carlisle, 45 miles north of Barrow in Furness, adjacent to the Lake District National Parks, and is on the splendid Cumbrian heritage coast, which is often also referred to as ‘Britain’s Energy Coast’ due to the high number of innovative and sustainable energy initiatives located offshore and on the coastline.
History
The most famous landmark in Whitehaven is the harbour, this provides a focal point for the town and has benefitted from heavy investment and an extensive programme of renovation in recent years. The harbour was a large part of the Whitehaven economy back in the 18th century as it was a hub for the import of tobacco, sugar, alcohol, and shamefully even slaves- around the same time (circa 1730) Whitehaven had the deepest coal mines globally so the harbour was used extensively for exporting coal. Whitehaven’s rich trading history during the era of the British Empire is documented in the Beacon Museum located at the harbour, and at The Rum Story visitors centre on Lowther Street.
Local Life
Whitehaven is well serviced with a local market, a good range of independent shops and big high street names, there is also a local library, a choice of restaurants covering most cuisines, cosy pubs, swimming baths, an established 18 hole championship course at Whitehaven Golf Club, a sports academy and centre, a theatre, and a civic hall which regularly stages live entertainment.
Transport
Rail network and road connections are very good in the area, Carlisle is just over an hour away by train and driving takes around an hour to make the 38 mile trip. This makes Whitehaven an ideal location for those wishing to commute to work and enjoy all the benefits of living near the beautiful Lake District National Park and the coast.
Whitehaven is also a stop on the scenic Cumbrian Coastline train service that runs from Barrow in Furness to Carlisle; a wonderful way to see the lake district fells, picturesque villages, rugged countryside and the coastline… perfect for business or leisure.
Keen cyclists can easily access the ‘Coast to Coast’ cycle route which passes through nearby Ennerdale, towards the Lake District, then passing on to the North Pennines area.
Another famous attraction is the Ravenglass to Eskdale Railway, known locally as La’al Ratty, this steam train service runs the 7 mile line to take in wonderful views. The line was originally used to take hematite iron ore from the mines around Boot in the Eskdale Valley to Ravenglass and was the first narrow gauge railway in England that was used to provide a public passenger service.
Schools
The area is well provisioned for families as there are many infant and junior schools in the area and a good choice of secondary schools, such as St Benedict’s Catholic High School, West Lakes Academy, and The Whitehaven Academy. Along the coast from Whitehaven is the village of St Bees which has a wonderful beach and is home to one of the country’s premier private schools.
Property Market
The Highlands and Hillcrest areas are particularly popular with families due to the proximity to amenities and schools. Throughout Whitehaven, there are lots of opportunities where investors can strengthen their rental portfolio, as due to the relative affordability of local property, this market provides excellent yields.
Workington
The Town
Workington is a historic market town located at the mouth of the River Derwent on the Solway Coast, and yet so close to the Northern Lake District for a real taste of the best of both worlds. You can spend time at the seaside or for the walkers among us, a short drive takes you to the beautiful, yet challenging, Lakeland Fells.
History
Some parts of Workington date back to Roman times and our fascinating history can be explored by a visit to the Senhouse Roman Museum just a stone’s throw away along the coast in Maryport.
Workington’s industrial heritage was reliant on iron and steel manufacture, and coal mining which has since gone into decline. However, the town is immensely proud of its industrial heritage and there are echoes of this past dotted about this bustling town. There is also a splendid 14-acre town centre park called Vulcan’s Park which has family fun days during the warmer months and a cenotaph honouring our fallen soldiers.
Attractions
Sitting in the heart of the town centre is Curwen Hall, formerly a grand manor house elevated above the River Derwent with its wooded grounds. Previously owned by the Curwen family and now a much visited ruin, Curwen Hall gave refuge to a fleeing Mary Queen of Scots as she escaped from Scotland.
Amenities
Workington is the main shopping centre for the West Cumbria area with a variety of local independent and major high street retailers, there are lots of eateries, bars, pubs and two busy theatres offering a diverse choice of music and drama.
Events
Workington has an annual tradition every Easter of an “Uppies and Downies” match. This is a mediaeval version of football but has a distinct similarity to rugby. Depending on where you live in Workington, you are either an ‘Uppie’ or a ‘Downie’. The game is played with a small leather ball which has to be hailed (thrown into the air) three times at the opposition’s goal. There is no pitch and the game is pure rough and tumble, it is played over several nights and each team can have around a thousand players.
Transport
Workington is a bustling industrial town with convenient transport links to the Lake District towns and to the City of Carlisle.
Education
There is plenty of choice for primary schools and two major secondary schools in the town centre, St Joseph’s RC High School and Workington Academy. As Workington is part of the Energy Coast, we are proud to have the Energy Coast University Technical College in the town specialising in the trades required in the local area.
Surrounding Areas
Workington is steeped in history and there are some fascinating period properties on the edge of the town centre. The local village of Seaton which is one of the largest villages in England, has its own primary schools and local amenities which makes it very popular with families and couples. Ashfield and Stainburn are popular suburbs of Workington due to the handy local primary schools and short walking distance into town. Further east are the villages of Great Clifton, Little Clifton, and Bridgefoot. Heading west takes you to the coastal village of Harrington with its own harbour and seaside, adjacent to here is High Harrington with lots of family friendly residential areas and a little further still lies Distington and the more rural village of Gilgarran.
Maryport
The Town
Maryport is a modern town known for its maritime connections and its picturesque harbour and promenade, offering views over the Solway Firth and across to Scotland. This pleasant town sits just outside of the Lake District, surrounding you with stunning displays of the great outdoors.
History
The town was created as a result of the coal mining trade in the early 18th century thanks to the patronage of Humphrey Senhouse. Named after his wife, Maryport expanded quickly with the investment into cobbled Fleming Square and elegant Georgian architecture. Naturally, as the town has a port, the maritime and trade industries have always been present. Maryport first started as a fishing village before Senhouse invested, it then relied on the shipbuilding industry moving into the 20th century.
Local Life
As well as the harbour, the town has much to offer in terms of local life. In the town centre, you will find a range of independent shops, cafes, BnBs and pubs. If you want to celebrate local artists, then head down to B Baker Art where you can find the work of local artist Barry Baker showcased.
The Lake District Coast Aquarium is located in Maryport offering a glimpse at the native species that can be found off the Shores of Allerdale. A great day out for the whole family, it also has an adventure playground and mini-golf course.
Transport
Maryport has its own train station on the Northern Rail Carlisle -Barrow line. You’ll be able to reach Carlisle in just over 40minutes, Workington in around 10 minutes and Whitehaven in just over 30 minutes.
The town also has great bus links to nearby towns including buses to Thornhill via Workington and direct buses to Cockermouth. If you’d prefer to take the bus route to Carlisle, there is also a service that can get you there.
By car, the Lake District National Park is just 45miles away, taking approximately an hour to get to the heart of it via the A66. Keswick is only 21 miles away and takes around 30mins by car to get there if you take the A594 and then the A66.
Surrounding Areas
With brilliant transport links it’s easy to get to surrounding areas from Maryport. Workington is one of the closest neighbouring towns just 5 miles Northeast. Cockermouth is approximately 6miles from the town and Whitehaven around 12 miles away.
The edge of the Lake District is just up the road with only a short car journey to the exciting town of Keswick, opening the doors for you to explore the rest of the beautiful district at your leisure.
