West Cumbria is undoubtably a wonderful part of the country to live. 

It is home to wonderful parts of the Lake District like Buttermere and Ennerdale and also has its own hidden gems like the stunning Solway coastline. 

There are also many other reasons why this district is great including being the birthplace of famous historical figures and producing world renowned goods. 

Here's our list of the top 5 things that make west Cumbria great. 

William Wordsworth:

World famous poet and writer William Wordsworth, notable for Daffodils and other timeless works, was born in the west Cumbrian town of Cockermouth. His sister, Dorothy Wordsworth, was born a year later and she to became a well known poet and diarist. 

Johnathon Swift:

The writer of the timeless classic Gulliver's Travels lived for a time in Whitehaven during his childhood. He was taken by his wet nurse from Ireland to Whitehaven, her hometown, at the age of one. The house he lived in still stands to this day and overlooks Whitehaven harbour next to the famous Candlestick. 

Jefferson's Rum:

Having been around for over 200 years this drink is certainly one thing Whitehaven is famous for. The rum is now sold out of The Rum Story which tells the story of the Jefferson family who sold wine, rum and other spirits out of a shop on the very same premises. Jefferson's Rum certainly has a special place in west Cumbrian's hearts. 

Whitehaven harbour:

Now the marina, the harbourside boasts a vast history of pirates, war and sailing. Infamously John Paul Jones invaded the town along with the US Navy and it was once one of the three largest ports in England along with Liverpool and London. Nowadays it is just a quiet place to have a walk or grab a bite to eat. 

Rum butter:

This is a very popular conserve enjoyed by many people in our part of the world. As legend has it pirates were stranded on the west Cumbrian coast with nothing to eat but sugar, rum and water. They then mixed them all together and rum butter was born.