Eskdale TRail
The Eskdale Trail
This 14 km route makes for a fun day out for the whole family to explore this scenic valley in the Western Lake District.
Difficulty
Easy
Duration
4 hours
Distance
12.53km / 7.79miles
Exploring the Eskdale Trail
The Eskdale Trail is a fun day out for the whole family to explore this western valley. You can catch the La’al Ratty from Ravenglass to Dalegarth and follow the new metal fingerposts that are unique to the Eskdale Trail.
There is a specific trail pack available from stations that can be purchased (or information downloaded free) and they include paper and crayons that can be used to collect brass rubbings that are on each of the 22 fingerposts.
If cycling is your thing, head up with your bike on a converted carriage on the Ravenglass and Eskdale railway. Then ride from the foot of the Scafell range via riverside pastures, meadows and historic oak woods of the Eskdale Valley down to Ravenglass on the Irish Sea.
Download the Eskdale Trail Map and Guide (PDF).
14km or 8.5 miles.
The train ride from Ravenglass to Dalegarth takes 40 minutes. For cyclists, the ‘pedal down’ is not likely to take more than about 2 hours, depending on how many stop-offs you take. For walkers it is approximately 4-5 hours station to station.
Eskdale trail is a mixture of country lanes, stony and earthy tracks and grass fields. After rain, it can be wet and muddy in places. There are a number of gates to go through. The gradient is gradually downwards apart from the challenging climb up Chapel Hill – rapid descent if you’re on a bicycle after you reach the summit and fairly easy pedalling most of the way.
The new fingerposts and gate latches are designed and fabricated by local artist Chris Brammal and his team. They help give Eskdale its special tone of voice that fits in with the recent viewing platform at Stanley Ghyll.
- Look out for red squirrels, roe deer and buzzards
- Fascinating exhibition and information centre at St Bega’s Church in Eskdale Green
- Historic Ravenglass village has a Roman Bath House, tearoom, gift shop, craft centre, pub, hotel and post office
- Stanley Ghyll falls and the viewing platform that looks directly over the gorge.
- Eskdale Mill near Dalegarth is a watermill dating back to 1578 and now open for visitors to discover
Details
Start Point
Ravenglass railway station, CA18 1SW
Boot station, CA19 1TF
Facilities
Public toilets, pubs and cafes in Ravenglass and at Dalegarth/Boot.
Getting there
Ravenglass is on the national rail network with regular trains run by Northern Trains 7 days a week. Trains run directly to Ravenglass on the scenic Cumbrian Coast Line from Carlisle, Workington, Whitehaven and Barrow and all stops between and connections to further afield.
Once in Ravenglass, you can catch the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway to Dalegarth, then cycle back. These narrow gauge steam trains take you on a scenic journey up the beautiful valley of Eskdale, and an experience not to be missed!
