This sleepy village near the Lakes with a beach that…

This sleepy village near the Lakes with a beach that stretches for miles

With miles of windswept sandy beaches and views of the majestic Lake District fells, the Cumbrian coastline is where you’ll find some of the UK’s more wild and rugged seaside locations. These beaches are a world away from traditional resorts and appeal to those who want to escape the crowds this summer.

A stone’s throw away from the Lake District is Haverigg, a sleepy fishing village situated on the Duddon Estuary. With a population of less than 2,000 people, it’s a quiet place with a few cafes and pubs dotted around.

At the edge of the village pastel-coloured houses line Haverigg pool, a small river which flows through the village, creating that quintessential coastal feel. Fishing boats of various sizes are moored up along the bank as the river gives way to the sea.

Here lies Haverigg’s best-kept secret: its vast beach which stretches along the coast for around three miles. The beach is lined with grass-topped sand dunes and, depending on how rough the sea is, you may find it covered in pebbles or simply golden sand.

A river flows through the village and it's lined with pastel-coloured houses (Jonathan Billinger / geograph.org.uk)

This spacious beach is a popular spot with dog walkers and horses are even exercised here. At low tide, dozens of small pools teeming with wildlife are revealed in the sand, which children will love to investigate.

Due to the nature of the beach there are mudflats which can be avoided, and the tide can come in quickly, so if in doubt stick to the shoreline. But even when the tide is in you can still enjoy a long coastal walk on the shore.

Haverigg is a sleepy fishing village just a stone's throw away from the Lake District (Andy Deacon / geograph.org.uk)

There's a car park, café and children’s play area at the edge of the beach in Haverigg, so plenty to keep kids occupied. On windy days the beach’s impressive size means it's a great place to fly a kite.

Thanks to its location Haverigg is also a haven for birds. To the east of the village is the RSPB Hodbarrow Nature reserve, home to a variety of birds including redshanks, great crested grebes, and oystercatchers.

At low tide pools are revealed in the sand which are full of sea creatures (Andy Deacon / geograph.org.uk)

The reserve is formed of a coastal lagoon on the site of an old iron mine, protected from the ocean with a sea wall. There’s a path along the wall providing stunning views of both the reserve and the sea, and even a quaint red and white lighthouse halfway along.

There's plenty to see and do nearby; Haverigg is six miles from Black Combe, a 600m high fell which offers panoramic views, as far as the Isle of Man and even as far as North Wales and Scotland. The nearest lake - Coniston Water - is just under an hours’ drive away.

Haverigg is around two and a half hours’ drive from Manchester. The nearest train station is at the village of Millom.

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