Cumbria facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Cumbria is a beautiful county in the north-west of England. It's famous for its amazing natural beauty, especially the Lake District, which is a national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, you'll find Scafell Pike, England's highest mountain, and Windermere, its longest and largest lake.

Cumbria shares borders with Scotland to the north, other English counties like Northumberland and Lancashire, and the Irish Sea to the west. The biggest city in Cumbria is Carlisle.

The county is mostly countryside, with lots of hills and mountains. It covers a large area, making it the third largest ceremonial county in England. About 500,000 people live here. Besides Carlisle, other important towns include Barrow-in-Furness, Kendal, and Whitehaven.

Cumbria was created in 1974, bringing together parts of older counties like Cumberland, Westmorland, and parts of Lancashire and Yorkshire. Today, it's managed by two main local councils: Westmorland and Furness and Cumberland.

The area has a long history, with signs of people living here since ancient times. Hadrian's Wall, a famous Roman wall, runs through the north of the county. Vikings also had a presence here a long time ago.

What's in a Name?

The names Cumbria and Cumberland both mean "land of the Cumbrians." This name comes from how the people living here long ago described themselves. They used a word similar to 'Cum-ri', which means "fellow countrymen." You can still see this word in the Welsh name for Wales, which is Cymru.

The name Cumberland was first written down in AD 945. It referred to a kingdom that might have stretched from Loch Lomond in Scotland all the way to Leeds in England!

A Look Back in Time

The Castlerigg stone circle is very old, built by some of the first people in Cumbria.

Cumbria was formed in April 1974. Before that, it was made up of different areas: Cumberland, Westmorland, parts of Lancashire (like the Furness area), and a small bit of Yorkshire.

Thousands of years ago, during the Neolithic period (the New Stone Age), this area was important for making stone axes. These axes have been found all over Great Britain! People also built stone circles and henges here, and Cumbria still has many of these ancient monuments.

The Roman Empire didn't conquer this region at first, but they did later. They built many forts, and the most famous is Hadrian's Wall. This wall, a World Heritage Site, goes through northern Cumbria.

After the Romans left around AD 410, the people in Cumbria spoke a language called Cumbric. They were probably descendants of tribes like the Brigantes. The names Cumbria and Cumberland come from their own word for "compatriots."

For a long time, Cumbria was a borderland between England and Scotland. There were many wars and conflicts until England and Scotland became one kingdom in 1603.

During the Industrial Revolution, towns like Workington, Millom, and Barrow-in-Furness became important for making iron and steel. Barrow also became a big shipbuilding centre. However, much of Cumbria remained rural.

In the early 1800s, famous writers and artists, like William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge, known as the Lake Poets, lived in the Lake District. They were inspired by its beautiful lakes and mountains. Later, the children's author Beatrix Potter also lived and wrote here. She bought a lot of land and left it to the National Trust, which helped create the Lake District National Park in 1951. This park is now the largest national park in England and is a huge part of Cumbria's identity and economy.

The historic counties that make up Cumbria.

Boundary of Cumbria

Historic Cumberland Historic Westmorland Historic Lancashire West Riding of Yorkshire

From 1974 to 2023, Cumbria was run by the Cumbria County Council. But in 2023, this council was replaced by two new councils: Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council.

Geography and Landscape

A map showing the hills and valleys of Cumbria.

Cumbria is England's most north-westerly ceremonial county. It's mostly mountainous, with large high areas in the south-west and east. The south-west is home to the Lake District, a national park and World Heritage Site. Here you'll find Scafell Pike, England's highest mountain (978 metres or 3,209 feet), and Windermere, its longest and largest lake.

Along the eastern border are the Border Moors and North Pennines. In the south-east, you'll find the Orton Fells, Howgill Fells, and part of the Yorkshire Dales, which are all within the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

The Vale of Eden, a valley following the River Eden, runs from south-east to north-west. It widens into the Solway Plain near Carlisle. Cumbria also has a long coastline to the west. In the north-west, it borders the Solway Firth, a special natural area. To the south are the Cartmel and Furness peninsulas. East of these, you'll find part of Arnside and Silverdale, another beautiful natural area.

Where Cumbria Begins and Ends

The very north of Cumbria is near Deadwater, Northumberland, and the very south is at South Walney. The most eastern point is near Kirkby Stephen, and the most western is St Bees Head. The county's borders follow the Irish Sea in the west and the Pennines in the east. To the north, Cumbria borders Scotland.

High Cup Nick, a stunning view in the North Pennines.

Cumbria's Economy

BAE Systems Submarine Solutions in Barrow-in-Furness is a major employer.

Many big companies and organisations are based in Cumbria. For example, BAE Systems in Barrow-in-Furness employs about 12,000 people, building submarines. The Sellafield nuclear site also employs 10,000 people.

Tourism: A Big Draw

The entrance to Whinlatter Forest Park.

Sizergh Castle.

Muncaster Castle.

The biggest industry in Cumbria is tourism. The Lake District National Park alone gets around 15.8 million visitors every year! Even though so many people visit, fewer than 50,000 people live permanently in the Lake District.

Over 36,000 people in Cumbria work in tourism, bringing in £1.1 billion to the county's economy each year. Visitors come from all over the UK, Europe, North America, and even Japan.

Here are some of the most visited places in Cumbria:

Windermere Lake Cruises
Rheged (a visitor centre near Penrith)
Ullswater Steamers
Whinlatter Forest Park
Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery in Carlisle
Grizedale Forest Park
Carlisle Cathedral
Brockhole Lake District Visitor Centre
Hill Top (Beatrix Potter's home)
Sizergh Castle
Cumberland Pencil Museum in Keswick
Muncaster Castle
Dock Museum in Barrow-in-Furness
The Beacon in Whitehaven
Holker Hall
Carlisle Castle
Beatrix Potter Gallery
Lake District Wildlife Park
The Homes of Football
Cartmel Priory

How Cumbria is Governed

Local Government

Cumbria is now governed by two main councils: Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council. Cumberland Council looks after the north and west of Cumbria, while Westmorland and Furness Council covers the south and east. These councils started on 1 April 2023.

National Government

Cumbria has six areas, each with a Member of Parliament (MP) who represents them in the UK Parliament. These areas are: Barrow and Furness, Carlisle, Copeland, Penrith and the Border, Westmorland and Lonsdale, and Workington.

Learning in Cumbria

The University of Cumbria's Fusehill Campus in Carlisle.

Cumbria has a system of schools for all ages. There are 42 state secondary schools and 10 independent schools. Many of the more rural secondary schools have sixth forms (for students aged 16-18).

For further education, there are colleges like:

Carlisle College
Furness College (which includes Barrow Sixth Form College)
Kendal College
Lakes College

The University of Cumbria is the county's only university, established in 2007. It has campuses across Cumbria, as well as in Lancaster and London.

Getting Around Cumbria

Roads

The M6 motorway and West Coast Main Line near Grayrigg Forest.

The M6 is the only motorway that goes through Cumbria, connecting places like Kendal and Penrith. Further north, it becomes the A74(M) at the Scottish border.

Other important main roads include:

The A6, which goes from Luton to Carlisle, passing through Kendal and Penrith.
The A66, connecting Workington to Middlesbrough, via Keswick.
The A69, from Carlisle to Newcastle upon Tyne.
The A590, from the M6 to Barrow-in-Furness.
The A591, a scenic route through the Lake District, connecting Kendal, Windermere, Ambleside, Grasmere, and Keswick.
The A595, running along the west coast from Carlisle to Dalton-in-Furness.

Several bus companies operate services in Cumbria, with Stagecoach North West being the largest.

Airports

Cumbria has two airports: Carlisle Lake District and Barrow/Walney Island. Both have plans to expand and offer more flights in the future. For international flights, people in south Cumbria often use airports like Manchester or Liverpool John Lennon. In north Cumbria, Newcastle or Glasgow airports are closer.

Ports

Barrow-in-Furness is a major shipbuilding centre. The Port of Barrow and the Port of Silloth are operated by Associated British Ports. There are no ferry services from Cumbria's coast.

Trains

The busiest train stations in Cumbria are Carlisle, Barrow-in-Furness, Penrith, and Oxenholme Lake District. The West Coast Main Line, a major railway, runs through Cumbria, often next to the M6 motorway. The Cumbrian Coast Line connects Barrow-in-Furness to Carlisle, serving the west of the county. Other lines include the Windermere Branch Line and parts of the Settle-Carlisle Railway.

People of Cumbria

Carlisle is Cumbria's largest settlement and its only city. The largest town, Barrow-in-Furness, is slightly smaller. Most of Cumbria's population lives in rural areas. It has one of the lowest population densities among English counties, with only five towns having more than 20,000 people.

Cumbria is also one of the most ethnically similar counties in the UK, with most of the population being White British. However, larger towns have a more diverse mix of people.

Towns and Villages

Sports and Activities

Running and Orienteering

Fell running, which is running over hills and mountains, is very popular in Cumbria. There are many competitions throughout the year. Cumbria also has active orienteering clubs, where people use maps and compasses to find their way through the countryside.

Football and Rugby

Workington is home to a traditional ball game called Uppies and Downies. It's a bit like an old form of football, with players from different parts of the town trying to get the ball to their goal.

Brunton Park, the home of Carlisle United.

In modern football, Barrow and Carlisle United are the professional teams in Cumbria. Carlisle United has fans from all over the county. Workington (known as "the reds") is a well-supported non-league team.

Craven Park, home of Barrow Raiders.

Rugby union is popular in the north and east of Cumbria, with teams like Kendal RUFC and Carlisle RUFC. Rugby league is very popular in south and West Cumbria. Teams like Barrow, Whitehaven, and Workington play in national leagues.

Other Sports

Cumbria County Cricket Club plays in national cricket competitions. There's also an amateur baseball team, the Cartmel Valley Lions.

Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling is a very old and special tradition in the county. It's similar to Scottish Backhold wrestling. This wrestling, along with other local traditions, is celebrated at the Grasmere Sports and Show every August. Some people think this wrestling style came from Viking invaders, while others believe it's from an even older Celtic tradition.

Cumbria is also a place where many famous Formula One drivers, like Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, started their racing careers in karting at the Lakeland Circuit in Rowrah.

Delicious Cumbrian Food

Cumbria is known for its food, with many top-rated restaurants. Traditional Cumbrian food has been influenced by spices and molasses that were brought into Whitehaven long ago. The Cumberland sausage, which has a special protected status, is a famous example. Other local foods include Herdwick mutton and salt-marsh lamb from the Cartmel Peninsula.

How Language Changed in Cumbria

Cumbria has a unique history when it comes to language.

Celtic Influence: Long ago, people in Cumbria spoke a Celtic language called Cumbric. While no full sentences survive, you can still hear its influence in the special way people count sheep in some parts of Cumbria and Yorkshire, using words like "yan, tyan, tethera" (one, two, three).
Viking Influence: When Vikings settled here, especially from Norway, their language (Old Norse) mixed with Old English. This gave us many words still used today, like 'fell' (a hill), 'lug' (ear), 'loup' (jump), and 'aye' (yes).
Norman Influence: After the Norman Conquest in 1066, French influenced English, but this was less strong in the north of England, including Cumbria, which kept more of its older language features.

Media in Cumbria

Cumbria has several local newspapers. The News and Star covers news from Carlisle and northern Cumbria, while the North-West Evening Mail focuses on Barrow-in-Furness and the South Lakes. Weekly newspapers include the Cumberland and Westmorland Herald and The Westmorland Gazette. There's also an independent online news publication called The Herdwick News.

For TV, Cumbria is split between two regions: BBC North East and Cumbria and ITV Border in the north, and BBC North West and ITV Granada in the south. BBC Radio Cumbria is the only radio station that covers the whole county.

Cumbria also hosts popular festivals like Kendal Calling and Kendal Mountain Festival.