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Cockermouth and the Western Lake District lies in the county of Cumbria on the western edge of England’s prettiest National Park – the Lake District. Cockermouth sits on the confluence of two rivers - the Cocker, flowing out of Crummock Water, and the Derwent, flowing out of Bassenthwaite Lake.

Cockermouth (pop. ~ 6 000) is a quaint traditional market town, and doesn’t attract the large number of tourists like the busier centres of Keswick and Ambleside. There is a pleasant selection of shops, pubs and interesting courtyards to explore, which are almost hidden through alleyways from the main street of the town.

Cockermouth is best known as the birthplace of poet William Wordsworth; he was born in 1770, and lived here until the death of his mother in 1778. Wordsworth’s house now belongs to the National Trust and is open to the public.

Whether you are looking to buy for your primary residential property, a holiday home or as an investment income, you can be assured that you are buying in one of the most attractive and sought-after places in the UK.

Cockermouth lies in the Western Lake District, and is easily accessible by car and public transport. The nearest main line rail station is at Penrith (34 miles; 40 minutes away). Cockermouth is 26 miles south-west of Carlisle, 17 miles west of Keswick and approx. 2 ½ hours north of Manchester. For more detailed information regarding travel in the region, please go to the travel section.

The Postcode in the area is CA13

Cockermouth caters well for both the residents of the town and visitors. The town has an excellent range of shops, cafes, pubs and hotels. The town is also popular with antique hunters, as there are a number of antique shops to explore. The following are some of the towns other facilities:

A major supermarket
Leisure Centre including swimming pool, gym and climbing wall
Theatre/cinema
Library
an 18 hole golf course (nearby)
Tourist Information office
A local brewery (offering tours) and two small local museums
Two art galleries
Cottage Hospital
3 Primary schools
Secondary school (~1300 pupils in 2003)
A selection of late night bars
A selection of eateries including a Chinese, Italian and an Indian restaurant. A number of hotels offer a range of ‘traditional’ menus

The nearby town of Keswick (20 mins. away) offers a different selection of amenities, geared more towards the outdoor visitors to the area (outdoor shops, activity centres etc). The City of Carlisle (45 mins) offers a wider range of shops (the majority of high street names) and other facilities that are not found in Cockermouth.

The town itself is pleasant place to visit and a relaxing place to live. Market day is Monday. For Cockermouth’s amenities, see above Facilities and Amenities.

Situated just outside the Lake District National Park, Cockermouth is ideally situated for those who love the outdoors. The most popular activities in the Lake District include walking, fell running, cycling, rock climbing, sailing, fishing and paragliding.

The surrounding countryside is a pleasure to explore – from the nearby foothills of the Lake District hills to the East to the contrasting quiet riverside walks and farmland to the west. The coast is only a stones throw away, which is steeped in history; Whitehaven (40 mins away) is a fascinating town. It was the first post-medieval town in Britain to have been planned and still retains its orderly 18th century elegance. It is the start of the famous C2C cycle-route, which finishes over the Pennines on the North Sea coast.