one day in UK carlisle / st bees area before UK coast to coast trek

[mh]

hi all,

i'll have one day in carlisle / st bees area before starting on my coast to coast trek
does anyone have any suggestions on where i should stay?

i have to take the train the next day to st bees so somewhere with train service from london
heathrow is required. i was looking at carlisle and whitehaven. i was also thinking somewhere in the lake district like keswick but there does not seem to be (easy?) train service there

i was thinking something low key like renting a bike a just puttering around whatever the local area is. but i'm not dead set on that.

if you have any ideas let me know.

thanks