Cumbria
Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, Ravenglass
The railway was originally built in 1875 as a standard gauge line, for the transport of iron ore from the mines at Boot. It was converted to 15 ins. (38.1 cm) narrow gauge in 1915, and now carries tourists, using steam and diesel locomotives and saloon and open carriages from Ravenglass to Dalegarth. The engines are scale models of the railway engines of the past.
The line runs up Miterdale before slipping into Eskdale. It wriggles round granite walls, under bridges, over becks, and passes through meadows and beneath banks of thorn, rowan, fern and bracken. At Boot there is an old restored water mill alongside Whillan Beck, and hidden down a quiet lane by the River Esk is the delightful church of St. Catherine.
Near to the entrance to Muncaster Castle, at MR. 101 968, there is the start of an attractive upland walk with extensive views, over Muncaster Fell to Irton Road Station, 4 miles (6.4 km). For an added attraction, there is the return to Ravenglass on La'al Ratty.