WITH summer finally here and the weather starting to heat up many of us will want to head to the beach. 

The West Coast of Cumbria has an abundance of towns and villages with stunning areas of coastline. 

Whilst many are tourist hotspots in the summer, other calm and quieter places are well worth visiting. 

Here at Newsquest, we've created a list of the best beaches and coastal towns to visit this summer. 

St Bees 

This stunning seaside village is just a ten-minute drive from Whitehaven. 

The beach stretches from South Head to Seamill Lane, and it is made up of a shingle bank and golden sands. 

The sand here is exposed at most states of tide except for a couple of hours on either side of high tide.

There is an RSPB nature reserve on Saint Bees Head which is home to a range of seabirds. 

Allonby 

The five-mile stretch of beach at Allonby is again made of a sandy area and shingles. 

From the beach, there are views across the Solway Estuary and towards the Lake District and Scottish Fells.

On clear days it is sometimes possible to see the Isle of Man in the distance.

Silloth

Silloth was once a Victorian seaside resort and many attractive buildings from the era remain. 

The docks are over 150 years old. From the coastline, the fells of Southern Scotland can be seen across the water. 

Along with the harbour there is The Green which is used to host a variety of events throughout the year. 

Ravenglass

This tiny coastal village is only a short distance from the Lakeland fells of Wasdale and Eskdale, meaning that it is within the Lake District National Park. 

The tourist attractions of Muncaster Castle and The La'al Ratty are also nearby making this a great place to visit. 

Fleswick 

This hidden gem is just a one-mile walk from St Bees Head along the cliff tops. 

It is a stretch of coastline that is the only designated Heritage Coast in Cumbria.