What is St. Bees famous for? 

St Bees is a popular holiday destination with history going back as far as 850 AD. The coastal village was made easily accessible to tourists due to the development of the railway with St Bees Station opening in 1849 and remaining in use today. Tourists are drawn to the town due to its connections with religion, The Lake District, Wainwright, historic buildings and stunning coastline…

  • Saint Bega

Saint Bega was reputedly a saint and Irish princess of the Early Middle Ages who fled across the Irish Sea and landed at St Bees to avoid an enforced marriage to a Viking chieftan and is the saint in which St Bees name is derived from. The name St Bees originates from the words ‘Kirkeby Becock’ which means ‘the Church town of Bega’ which was used in the 12th century. A beautiful stained glass window in St Bees priory represents the arrival of St Bega. Legend claims that St.Bega built her priory after the Lord Egremont said she could own any land which was covered by snow on Midsummers Day; that day it was said to have snowed on St Bees Head and she went on to build her church and dedicate her life to religion. The priory was home to a famous relic; an ancient arm-ring or bracelet inscribed with a cross and believed to have once belonged to Bega and was associated with a number of miracles. Unfortunately, the priory is said to have lost the arm ring in a Scottish raid some time in the early 1300’s.

  • St Bees Priory

St Bees priory is the one the areas oldest historical churches dating back to pre-Norman times and is a grade I listed building. The priory has been restored over the years with the most interesting feature being the superb Norman arches doming over the west door of the church, believing to have survived from as early as 1150. The church holds a number of old relics including a 12th century stoup and piscina alongside the pre-Conquest Beowulf Stone outside the priory, representing St. Michael killing a dragon. The building is still in use today as the parish church of St.Bees. 

  • St Bees Man

St Bees made headlines in 1981 when the extremely well preserved body of a medieval man was discovered during an archaeological dig of the west end of the priory. The body was found in a wooden coffin wrapped in shrouds and was thought to be around 600 years old. Despite the corpses age, the mans nails, skin and stomach contents were found to be in near perfect condition, with an autopsy discovering he likely died from wound caused by a blow to the torso. The identity of the man is thought to be Anthony de Lucy, an English nobleman and castle warden who was likely killed fighting for the Teutonic Knights in the Northern Crusade against the Lithuanians in around 1368. There is an extensive history display in the priory today in, which the shrouds are exhibited. 

  • Wainwrights Coast to Coast 

Wainwrights Coast to Coast route attracts hundreds of visitors to St.Bees each year as hikers tackle the 182-mile route from St.Bees to Robin Hoods Bay. Alfred Wainwright devised the long distance trail in 1973 in his book ‘A Coast to Coast Walk.’ The author splits the route up in 12 stages and takes around two weeks to complete. The start of the route at St Bees Seacote beach is marked with a stone pillar presenting a stainless steel banner and a plaque of the route with history and information text. The official starting point at St. Bees Head is known as the Wainwright Wall. The author recommended the tradition of dipping your feet in the Irish Sea at St Bees and then in the North Sea at Robin Hoods Bay. 

  • RSPB Nature Reserve 

St. Bees Head is home to a protected RSPB Nature Reserve, with the coastal cliffs providing a home for thousands of seabirds including kittiwakes, fulmars, guillemots, razorbills, cormorants, puffins, shags and herring gulls. St. Bees Head is particularly famous for its bird population due the cliffs being the only place in England where black guillemots breed. St Bees Head boasts the largest colony of cliff-nesting seabirds in Northwest England. Other interesting birds that regularly breed here include the tawny owl, sparrow hawk, peregrine and the raven. Grab your binoculars and head to one of the cliffs observation stations to see what you can spot! 

  • St Bees School and Golf Course
    For a relaxed day away from the crowds, why not try a round of golf with a view on the picturesque cliff tops? The golf club was founded in 1929 and is now owned by the historic St Bees School, however is open to everyone. As well as the golf course being historic, the school itself is an interesting part of the village and is over 439 years old being home the oldest swimming pool in the UK. Many of the school buildings date back to the late 16th century and are listed buildings.