Allonby Bay Camping

Jump on your bike and in half an hour you can be strolling around the shops, eateries and harbour sights of Maryport, a local coastal town where there's also an aquarium by the harbour. Carry on in the same direction to visit the historic port of Whitehaven (35 minutes), home to a rum museum, an independent cinema and lots of architectural heritage. Although you may be tempted to just stick to the Solway Coast, it's also worth heading inland to explore the Lake District National Park. The nearest lake, Bassenthwaite, is about half an hour away and looks particularly scenic when viewed from the vantage points of the traditional manor at Mirehouse and Gardens (35 minutes) or from atop the lofty heights of Skiddaw (45 minutes to the trailhead). Elsewhere in the area, you might like to step in the footsteps of the Romans at Bowness-on-Solway (40 minutes), the westernmost edge of the Hadrian's Wall Path, or explore the southern coast and hills with a nostalgic ride on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway (an hour).