Attractions and Places To See around Hayton And Mealo - Top 20

Millers Bridge, also known as Harris Bridge, is a steel pedestrian bridge over the River Derwent in Cockermouth, Cumbria, connecting the northern and southern parts of the city. The original structure was destroyed by severe flooding in 2009, and the bridge was rebuilt in 2010 with modified foundations to address changes in the riverbank caused by erosion. The reopening by HRH The Princess Royal underscored the importance of this connection to the local community. As a functional infrastructure, the bridge not only provides pedestrian access but also views of the surrounding landscape.

Wordsworth House rises majestically on Main Street in Cockermouth, a charming town on the edge of the Lake District. Built around 1745, the house reflects the understated grandeur of Georgian architecture: a perfectly symmetrical façade of sand-colored bricks, tall rectangular windows with classically framed woodwork, and an ornate yet understated doorway that evokes the sense of order and proportion characteristic of this period. The poet William Wordsmouth was born here in 1770.

🏛️ Holmcultram Abbey, located in Abbeytown, is a former Cistercian abbey founded in 1150 by monks from Melrose Abbey in Scotland. The abbey grew to be one of the wealthiest and most influential religious institutions in Northwest England, thanks in part to its expertise in land reclamation, wool production, and salt mining. In the 13th and 14th centuries, it was repeatedly plundered by Scottish raids, including a major attack by Robert the Bruce in 1319. It was dissolved in 1538 during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, but the church remained as a parish church. Built of red sandstone, possibly from Scotland or St Bees, it retains medieval features such as carved arches and an impressive west entrance. Tearoom in the adjacent Abbey Cottages.

Isel Bridge, located near Setmurthy in the northern Lake District, is an elegant Grade II-listed bridge that spans the River Derwent. Built in 1812 to replace an older bridge dating from 1691, it consists of three segmental arches and two piers of calciferous and pink sandstone, with a solid parapet and saddleback covering. The bridge is situated in a conservation area and is a popular passage for walkers and cyclists, including as part of the Allerdale Ramble and routes to Watch Hill and Setmurthy Common. Its location offers beautiful views of the surrounding hills and valleys, and it's a peaceful place to stop when touring the western Lake District.

Millers Bridge, as it is known in Cockermouth (official maps refer to it as Harris Bridge), was reopened in 2010 by HRH the Princess Royal after it had suffered severe damage in the 2009 floods and a section of it collapsed into the River Derwent. Part of the steel bridge had to be rebuilt to fit the new shape of the river banks, which were heavily eroded during the floods and have now been fortified.

This is the only road bridge crossing the River Derwent in Cockermouth. This bridge, known as Gote Bridge and built in 1822 carries the A5086 between Cockermouth and Papcastle. It survived the three recent floods in The town. There is also one footbridge just 200m upstream.

William Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy were both born in this house (1770 & 1771 respectively) and lived here until 1783 when their father died. The house is now maintained by the National Trust though it narrowly avoided being demolished in the 1960s and replaced by a bus depot before the residents of Cockermouth objected. Only the desk in their father’s office is the family’s original 18th century furniture but the front part of the house has genuine 18th century furniture. The garden is superbly maintained by volunteers in a style appropriate for the time.

Founded in 1150 by the Cistercian Monks of Melrose Abbey, Holme Cultram Abbey was once much larger than the building that is left today. In fact, it was once bigger than Carlisle Cathedral itself. However, following the dissolution of the monasteries in 1538 the monks departed. Today the building survives as the parish church for Abbeytown.