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Our tour of South West Cumbria starts at
Ravenglass is the
coastal terminus of a narrow gauge Steam Railway which follows the river Esk
up the valley to Boot. The seven mile track was originally
opened in 1875 to carry ore to the coast and now brings tourists to view the
watermill at Boot and a short walk to Dalegarth falls. |
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Whitehaven is now
the main port, but in the past the natural harbour at Ravenglass was of prime importance to the Romans
who transported supplies to the north England interior via Eskdale. They built a
garrison fortress at the head of the valley on Hardknott Pass to protect the
shipments, latterly ore mining kept the port busy into the twentieth century.
Driving north through Holmrook to Gosforth where
the largest Norse cross in Britain stands in the churchyard, depicting
Christian victory over Pagan beliefs. A few miles further up the coast
BNFL's Powers Station at Sellafield has a
Visitors Centre
explains the Pro's & Con's on Nuclear Power
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From Gosforth our Journey turns east through Nether Wasdale to
Wast Water, where the scree slopes from the fell tops fall nearly 2,000 feet
into the lake. The road by the lake is a dead end stopping at Wasdale Head,
overlooked by Napes Needle on the face of Great Gable popular with rock climbers
and Scafell Pike, Britain's highest peak.
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Cycle as far as you can in
Eskdale with a One Way Return Ticket
in your pocket with the Steam to get you home.
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Returning to Nether Wasdale we pass
Wasdale Hall, taking the road south to Eskdale Green turning up Eskdale to Boot
& Dalegarth which is the terminus of the Ravenglass Railway.
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The Eskdale Mill at Boot is one of the oldest in Britain, the
wheels are driven by the Beck which started its journey only a short distance
away on the side of Scafell the highest point in Britain. The original machinery
is still in operation grinding Oatmeal daily and open for visitors in the summer
months.
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At the head of Eskdale we rise over Hardknott Pass
over which the Romans
transported supplies from the port of Ravenglass to the interior northern of
England interior, they built a garrison fortress on Hardknott Pass to
protect the shipments en route from Ravenglass.
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Once over Hardknott at Cockley Beck in
the plateau before rising over Wrynose Pass we turn south to Birks Bridge and
Dunnerdale Forest an ideal location for picnics and walks to view points on
Harter Fell and Castle How.
Our journey continues down Dunnerdale
through Seathwaite to Ulpha where we turn north over the fells dropping back
into Eskdale, before we cross the river to Eskdale Green turn left and follow
the river to
Muncaster.
The Castle has a few tales to tell, having
remained in the Pennington family for over 500 years due to Henry VI. He gave
the then Sir John Pennington a glass bowl for aiding him after being defeated at
the Battle of Towton in 1461, prophesying good fortune for the family as long as
it remained unbroken.
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A local Jester, a Tom Skelton who often wore a frock
would sit under a tree by the river Esk, guiding the less generous traveller
to their death crossing the estuary. He later made a pack with his master to
kill any suitor of his daughter, he cut off a locals head to prove
compliance. His evil antics gained him a reputation as Tom the Fool, hence
tomfoolery entered the dictionary and the English Language. |
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A few miles further completes our journey back on the
coast at Ravenglass a visit to Walls Castle and the Roman Bath Houses would end
our day peacefully were they still in operation. Alias Glanoventa Fort fort fell
into disrepair long before contraband being smuggled in from Ireland via the
Isle of Mann became the main trade of the area in the 1,700's
Photos and Maps are to follow
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