Drigg

Drigg makes a peaceful, low-key base for exploring the west Cumbrian coast, with accommodation concentrated in the surrounding villages rather than in Drigg itself. Ravenglass, a short walk away along the estuary, has small guesthouses and inns with views over the harbour, while Seascale and the villages up the Eskdale valley offer a further scattering of B&Bs and traditional pubs with rooms. Staying in this pocket of coast puts you within easy reach of the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, Muncaster Castle and the quieter western approaches to Scafell Pike, without the queues and premium prices of the central Lake District. It suits visitors who want walking, wildlife and steam trains over nightlife, and who don't mind a short drive or train ride for a wider choice of restaurants.

Drigg itself is tiny, but it sits right at the edge of some of Cumbria's best-kept secrets, with Ravenglass and the Eskdale valley a short walk or drive away.

• Drigg Dunes and Gullery — Cumbria's largest dune system and a Site of Special Scientific Interest, home to natterjack toads, great crested newts, adders and swathes of sea holly, sea lavender and pyramidal orchids. Footpaths run out from the village towards the shore.
• Ravenglass — the only coastal village within the Lake District National Park, a short walk south along the shore or estuary path, with a working harbour, Roman bath house remains and views over the Esk, Mite and Irt estuaries.
• Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway — the narrow-gauge steam line, nicknamed "La'al Ratty", runs seven miles inland from Ravenglass up the Eskdale valley towards Boot and the foot of Scafell, one of the most scenic short rail trips in the Lake District.
• Muncaster Castle — a centuries-old castle and gardens near Ravenglass, with owl centre, woodland walks and views towards the fells.
• Eskdale and the western fells — the valley served by the railway gives quiet access to Scafell Pike, Bowfell and the Hardknott Pass, well away from the busier eastern approaches to the Lakes.
• Sellafield Visitor Experience — a short drive up the coast, an unusual but genuinely informative stop covering the site's history and the science of the nuclear industry that has shaped this coastline.

The Victoria Hotel, a former coaching inn built soon after the railway reached Drigg in 1849, has been serving travellers since 1885 and remains the village's long-standing pub. The old station building itself has found a second life as a café and craft shop. For more choice, Ravenglass and the villages up the Eskdale valley have a small spread of pubs and cafés serving walkers off the fells and passengers from the steam railway.

Drigg's big draw for campers is its setting: the village backs directly onto Cumbria's largest dune system, a Site of Special Scientific Interest that gives a genuinely wild, big-sky feel rare on this part of the coast. As with the rest of England, wild camping is not legal here without the landowner's permission, so pitch at one of the established sites along this stretch of coast rather than on the dunes or reserve land, which is protected for its natterjack toads, ground-nesting birds and rare wildflowers. Several campsites and touring caravan parks are dotted between Drigg, Seascale and Ravenglass, making the most of the flat coastal ground, sea views and easy access to the beach.

Late spring through summer is the best window, when the dunes are at their most colourful with sea holly, thrift and orchids, evenings stay light for walks along the shore, and the toads and seabird colonies are most active — though this also means keeping to marked paths and campsite grounds rather than wandering the reserve itself. The coast here catches the full force of Irish Sea weather, so a well-pegged tent or a campervan is a safer bet than an exposed pitch, and shoulder-season stays can be blustery. For a softer landing, a handful of glamping pods and static caravans in the area offer heating and proper beds while keeping the same dune-backed, away-from-it-all setting, useful if the forecast turns or you simply want a warm base after a day on the Eskdale fells.