The Eskdale Valley in West Lakeland is a beautiful and tranquil base for exploring this area of The Lake District. It's location ensures there is far less traffic than most areas of The Lake District, particularly the main tourist areas. The valley starts at Hardknott Pass (the steepest pass in England) and runs down to the coast at Ravenglass.

For those looking to spend some time here the valley provides a range of accommodation options from bed and breakfast to self catering and camping. The King George can provide the first two options and there is a large campsite approximately 300m away.

Once here there are a number of attractions that can be reached within the valley without using the car. Indeed many visitors say they only get back in the car when they are leaving:

 

Walking & Cycling
The Eskdale Valley provides a vast choice of walks to suit all ages and fitness levels. The valley floor itself is predominantly flat - a mixture of open fields, woods and pathways offer a multitude of walks for families with youngsters and those prefering a leisurely stroll. From The King George you can reach the village of Boot, St Catherines Church and Stanley Ghyll Force by following the River Esk upstream.

For those seeking more of a challenge the same places can be reached by climbing up onto Eskdale Fell via the Outward Bound centre or Fisherground farm, passing Blea Tarn and then descending into Boot. Serious hikers can forgo the car journey to Wasdale and set off across Sca Fell to climb Scafell Pike (England's highest mountain).

 

The Eskdale Trail is a 14km route from Dalegarth Visitor Centre (just outside Boot) to Ravenglass via Muncaster Fell and Castle. It can be walked or cycled and cycles can be hired by the day or half day at Dalegarth. If you wish to visit Muncaster Castle then please note there is an entrance fee. There is a return route through the woods which line the Ravenglass & Eskdale railway or you can simply take the train (24hrs notice required for cycles).

Dalegarth Visitor Centre has other suggested cycling routes but other options would be by road to Santon Bridge, taking a right just before the bridge towards Wast Water and 'Britains Best View'. Or take a left at the T junction at The King George and head towards Ulpha Fell and Devoke Water.

And for the budding Tour De France riders why not try an ascent of Hardknott Pass, stopping off at Hardknott Roman Fort if the going gets a bit too much.

 

Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway

This narrow gauge railway, known as La'al Ratty, runs from Dalegarth Visitor Centre, just outside Boot, to the seaside village of Ravenglass. Kids of all ages will love a ride on this train. As Ravenglass is also a main line station it is actually easier for visitors by train to reach Eskdale than many places in The Lake District.

The railway has a number of stops along the way, including Fisherground campsite and the village of Eskdale Green before entering the woods at the foot of Muncaster Fell. It then follows the Esk tidal estuary before reaching Ravenglass.

Ravenglass offers coastal walks, a Roman bath house boasting the tallest Roman remains in Britain and a woodland walk to Muncaster Castle.

 

Muncaster Castle
Muncaster Castle sits on the main A595 coast road and can be reached by car, train, bike or even on foot from Eskdale. The castle is said to sit on Roman foundations dating as far back as 79AD and is still lived in by the same family that took possession around 1208.

The castle has extensive gardens and woodland walks containing many rare plants and trees and one of the largest collections of rhododendrons in Europe. Next to the castle is the World Owl Centre containing around 40 species of owl. Visitors have a chance to 'meet' the owls up close on the castle lawns at 2.30pm each day and perhaps see them flying. You can also watch feeding of the wild herons at 4.30pm.

The castle has a cafe and gift shop and can easily fill a day out.

 

Stanley Ghyll Force
Stanley Ghyll Force is a 60ft waterfall situated in a narrow ravine on the southern side of the Eskdale valley. The waterfall can be reached from the King George via the woodland walk that follows the River Esk upstream. Alternatively you can park at Dalegarth Visitor Centre and walk from there.

The walk through the ravine provides spectacular scenery as you criss-cross the stream using a number of wooden bridges, all the while the sides of the ravine becoming higher and higher. Stanley Ghyll Force sits at the very top of the track but you will pass a number of smaller waterfalls on the way.

For those wanting a view from the top you can take the track that doubles back from the main track just before one of the bridges. This takes you up to a small rock plateau with verticle drops to the ravine floor. This plateau is dangerous and not suitable for children.

 

Hardknott Roman Fort
Hardknott Roman fort was built in the 2nd century AD and is situated part way up Hardknott Pass on the Eskdale side. It can be reached from a small carparking area on the road running up the pass.

The fort is one of the best preserved Roman remains in the Lake District providing an insight to the layout of Roman forts of the time. Hardknott fort will have had bath-houses, granaries, commanders quarters and been 'home' to around 500 cavalry protecting the route from Ambleside to Ravenglass.

This is an ideal stop off if you are venturing over Hardknott and Wrynose Passes to spend the day in some of the better know Lakeland towns such as Hawkshead, Ambleside and Windermere which are a short drive from the other side off the passes.