The Lake District National Park Authority has completed works to improve the 8.5-mile Eskdale Trail, which runs from Dalegarth to Ravenglass thanks to an overall package of around £2 million of funding.
The Eskdale Trail improvements are part of the Connecting Cumbria’s Hidden Coast programme, which is led by Cumberland Council and funded with £1.15 million from Sellafield Ltd and more than £1 million from the government's Coastal Communities Fund. Partner organisations such as Community Rail Cumbria, Eskdale Railway and Muncaster Castle have also supported this project.
The Eskdale Trail is made up of mixture of country lanes, stony and earth tracks, and grass fields. These improvement works will attract cyclists and walkers in the valley connecting them with the La’al Ratty to make it more accessible as a fun way to explore Eskdale and will hopefully attract families.
These Eskdale improvements promote sustainable travel by train with Northern West Coast line and Eskdale’s La’al Ratty to access this hidden valley in the Western Lake District.
To celebrate the reopening of this fantastic Trail, school children from Bransty Primary School in Whitehaven today attended a special event where they walked some of the Trail and had a ride on the nearby La’al Ratty.
Lake District National Park, Area Ranger, Adam Phillips said: “We’re delighted that we’ve been able to upgrade the much-loved Eskdale Trail. The work carried out was a collaborative effort with local artist Chris Brammall designing and fabricating the new finger posts and gate latches that give the Trail its distinct image and our Field Rangers who installed them as well as improving the surfaces. We hope this will be enjoyed by all.”
Councillor Anne Quilter, Cumberland’s Portfolio Holder for Vibrant and Healthy Places, said:
“It’s wonderful that we’ve been able to make this beautiful valley accessible to more people.
“This work is part of a wider programme to attract visitors to our amazing coast, and to improve life for those who live here. It includes events, a new café, maps, footpaths and public art. Cumberland’s coastal area is a hidden gem and we want to celebrate it and raise its profile.”
Councillor Linda Jones Bulman, one of Cumberland Council’s representatives with the Lake District National Park Authority, said:
“It’s wonderful that we’ve been able to make this beautiful valley accessible to more people, and it’s a great example of partnership working between the national park and the council.
“This work is part of a wider programme to attract visitors to our amazing coast, and to improve life for those who live here. It includes events, a new café, maps, footpaths and public art. Cumberland’s coastal area is a hidden."
Brantsy Primary School class teacher, Miss Charlotte Mullen said: “We were delighted to be asked to be part of the re-opening ceremony and our pupils have been very excited about the special role they have had in marking this occasion.”
Other stakeholders and interested parties attended the event including Sellafield, Muncaster Castle, Eskdale Railway, Eskdale Mill and Lake District National Park Authority members.
Lake District National Park Ranger Adam Phillips with year two pupils Matilda and Zac from Brantsy Primary School and Linda Jones-Bulman who is a Lake District National Park Authority Member and Cumberland Council Councillor.
