natural wonder
Ennerdale Water
The most remote Lake District lake, with no public road along it, at the heart of the Wild Ennerdale rewilding project.
14 km · about 25 min drive
EuropeUnited KingdomEngland
Whitehaven
England, United Kingdom · Europe
About Whitehaven
Whitehaven works well as a base: 10 minutes from Cleator Moor, 14km from Ennerdale Water.
Whitehaven is in England, United Kingdom, with about 23,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Cleator Moor, about 5 km away.
Whitehaven is a town and civil parish in the Cumberland district of Cumbria, England. It is a port on the north-west coast, and lies 4 miles (6 km) outside the Lake District National Park. It is 35 miles (56 km) south-west of Carlisle. The parish also includes the small village of Sandwith. At the 2021 census theRead more
parish had a population of 24,040 and the Whitehaven built up area had a population of 22,945.
The town's growth was largely due to the exploitation of the extensive coal measures by the Lowther family, driving a growing export of coal through the harbour from the 17th century onwards. It was also a major port for trading with the American colonies, and was, after London, the second busiest port of England by tonnage from 1750 to 1772. This prosperity led to the creation of a Georgian planned town in the 18th century which has left an architectural legacy of over 170 listed buildings.
Whitehaven was the site of a major chemical industry after World War II, but both that and the coal industry have disappeared, and today the major industry is the nearby Sellafield nuclear complex, which is the largest local employer of labour and has a significant administrative base in the town. Whitehaven includes a number of former villages, estates and suburbs, such as Mirehouse, Woodhouse, Kells and Hensingham, and is served by the Cumbrian Coast railway line and the A595 road.
Where to Stay in Whitehaven
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Filter presets
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Whitehaven.
Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Whitehaven.
Loading map...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Whitehaven?
Within an hour or so of Whitehaven: Ennerdale Water (14 km), Loweswater (15 km), Scale Force (17 km), Crummock Water (18 km).
Are there any good drives near Whitehaven?
The nearest famous roads are Newlands Pass (Newlands Hause), Honister Pass and Whinlatter Pass (B5292).
Where is Whitehaven?
Whitehaven is in England, United Kingdom, about 5 km from Cleator Moor.
Road trip
Drive to Whitehaven
Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.
Start planningWhat's nearby?
Swipe through places to go
Places within a drive of Whitehaven. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.
Explore now
Quick Information
- Population
- 22,945
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- England
- Timezone
- Europe/London
- Coordinates
- 54.5490, -3.5841
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United Kingdom
112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.
Full driving guide for United KingdomTags
Worth the detour from Whitehaven
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
natural wonder
Loweswater
The smallest and most tranquil of the western lakes, uniquely draining inland towards Crummock Water rather than out to sea.
15 km · about 30 min drive
waterfall
Scale Force
The Lake District's highest waterfall at 52m, hidden in a mossy ravine above Crummock Water.
17 km · about 20 min drive
natural wonder
Crummock Water
Buttermere's larger neighbour, with Scale Force - the Lake District's highest waterfall - hidden in a ravine on its western shore.
18 km · about 20 min drive
natural wonder
Buttermere
Tranquil lake surrounded by dramatic fells including Haystacks and Fleetwith Pike, offering one of the finest circular walks in the Lake District.
20 km · about 25 min drive
famous road
Newlands Pass (Newlands Hause)
A single-track climb from Braithwaite to Buttermere over 333m, with a roadside waterfall at the summit and views down to Crummock Water.
21 km · about 25 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Wastwater
England's deepest lake, ringed by towering screes, voted Britain's favourite view and reached by a single dramatic dead-end road.
22 km · about 25 min drive
mountain pass
Newlands Pass
A quiet, narrow pass through Newlands Valley with the Moss Force waterfall tumbling beside the road.
22 km · about 25 min drive
Driving roads near Whitehaven
9 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 60km.
- 21 kmNewlands Pass (Newlands Hause)A single-track climb from Braithwaite to Buttermere over 333m, with a roadside waterfall at the summit and views down to Crummock Water.
- 22 kmWastwaterEngland's deepest lake, ringed by towering screes, voted Britain's favourite view and reached by a single dramatic dead-end road.
- 22 kmNewlands PassA quiet, narrow pass through Newlands Valley with the Moss Force waterfall tumbling beside the road.
- 24 kmHonister PassA steep, single-track pass linking Borrowdale and Buttermere with hairpins, a slate mine and exhilarating gradients.
- 25 kmHonister Pass (B5289)A 1-in-4 slate-quarry road between Borrowdale and Buttermere, narrow and steep with superb views over Honister Crag.
- 25 kmWhinlatter Pass (B5292)The forested pass between Braithwaite and Lorton, England's only true mountain forest road, gentler than its Lakeland neighbours.
Driving in United Kingdom
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.73/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
April to October
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Whitehaven.
Plan a trip around Whitehaven
Your trip starts here
Plan a road trip from Whitehaven.
Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.