The Admiral’s Home, Whitehaven

The West Cumbrian town of Whitehaven is situated on the coast between the sparkling sea and the Lakeland Fells. It was one of the first ‘planned’ towns in England and today can boast almost 250 Listed Georgian buildings and some beautiful parks and gardens. Today the town’s harbour is a designated conservation area and visitors can learn about the town’s history at the excellent Beacon Heritage Centre. The surrounding coastline has much to offer, not least its old smugglers villages, such as Ravenglass, and the red sandstone cliffs of pretty St Bees – now the start of Wainwright’s famous “Coast to Coast” Walk. Meanwhile inland you can enjoy the tranquillity of the Western lakes: Ennerdale, Loweswater, Crummock, Buttermere and Wastwater. Ennerdale is perhaps the most peaceful of all the lakes, with no public roads running along its National Trust owned shoreline.