START

FINISH

N

One Km

One Mile

1

3

65

4

2DriggDrigg

Maudsyke

Drigg Holme

HolmeBridge

HallCarleton

SaltcoatsCrossingSaltcoatsCrossing

LowSaltcoats

Ravenglass

Glannoventa(Roman Fort)

Walls Bridge

Mitebank Marsh

Ravenglass &

Esk

dale Railway

Ravenglass &

Esk

dale Railway

Rive

r Mite

Roman BathHouse

WallsNewtown Newtown

Knott

BeaconPlantation

Brighouse

MuncasterMill

CarletonHall

A595

A595

Roman BathHouse

WallsNewtown Newtown

Knott

BeaconPlantation

Brighouse

MuncasterMill

CarletonHall

A595

A595

River Esk

River Irt

Church Stile

N

One km

One Mile

START/FINISH

New Mill

CalderBridge

CalderHall

Wellington

Gosforth

Seascale

SeascaleHall

A595

A595

B5344

Scargreen

Ponsonby Fell

Scalderskew

Rive

r Ble

ng

BL

EN

GD

AL

E

Fleming Hall

Ponsonby

CalderBridge

CalderHall

Wellington

Gosforth

Seascale

SeascaleHall

A595

A595

B5344

Scargreen

Ponsonby Fell

Scalderskew

Rive

r Ble

ng

BL

EN

GD

AL

E

Fleming Hall

golfcourse

Church HouseFarm

1

2

5

4

3

START

N

One Km

One Mile

1

2

4

3

FINISH

i

P

St BeesHead

South Head

Saltom Bay

Whitehaven

NorthHead

FleswickBay

KellsKells

St Bees

St BeesLighthouse

Tomlin

Rottington

Sandwith

GutterFoot

The Beacon

Hannah Moor

B534

5

HighWalton

St Bees

St BeesLighthouse

Tomlin

Rottington

Sandwith

GutterFoot

The Beacon

Hannah Moor

B534

5

HighWalton

Tarnflatt Hall

St Bees to WhitehavenMade up of two headlands split by the secretive cove of Fleswick Bay, St Bees Head is a fascinating stretch of coast. It is believed that during Roman times a signal beacon was based on the highest point. It is also rumoured that smugglers used Fleswick Bay as a staging post.

Wainwright’s famous Coast-to-Coast walk starts at St Bees and the first part of this walk from St Bees Railway Station to Whitehaven shares part of the route.

Start: St Bees Station (GR NX 970 119)

Finish: Whitehaven Station (GR NX 977 174)

Distance: 12.25km (7.6 miles)

Time: 5 - 6 hours

Height gain: 374m

Maps: OS Landranger 89, OS Outdoor Leisure 303

1. Out of the railway station turn right then immediately left and follow the road to St Bees lifeboat station and car parks. From the promenade join the Cumbria Coastal Way and follow it to cross the footbridge over Rottington Beck. The path climbs above the cliffs to South Head.

Continue on the path and follow it down to Fleswick Bay.

2. Cross the small stream and continue following the Cumbria Coastal Way as it climbs along the cliff top path to North Head.

3. Beyond North Head the cliffs swing north east and the path follows them along an undulating course until it descends at Saltom Bay.

4. Continue to follow the Cumbria Coastal Path past South Beach to Whitehaven Harbour. Walk around the harbour past The Beacon and the marina to Lowther Street. Turn right into Lowther Street and follow it through town to Flatt Walks, which in turn is followed around to Station Road. Turn right onto Station Road and follow it to Whitehaven Railway Station.

Drigg to RavenglassThree rivers, the Irt, the Mite and the Esk converge and enter the sea at Ravenglass forming a complex natural harbour.

The Romans made good use of the sheltered deep water, developing the area as an important base. The remains of the fort and bathhouse are still visible and make a fascinating focal point for a walk that explores this intricate stretch of coastline.

Start: Drigg Station (GR SD 063 988)

Finish: Ravenglass Station (GR SD 085 964)

Distance: 10.5km (6.5 miles)

Time: 4 hours

Height gain: 125m

Maps: OS Landranger 96, OS Explorer OL 6

1. Turn left out of Drigg Station and follow the village road to the B5344. Turn right and follow the B5344 for 550m to a bridleway on the right (Cumbria Coastal Way).

2. Follow the bridleway past fields to the banks of the River Irt at Drigg Holme. Cross the river via Holme Bridge. Turn immediately right and follow the path to a road. Turn right and follow the road for 350m to a fork. Take the left branch and follow the rough lane to join another road.

3. Turn right and follow the road to carefully cross the railway at Saltcoats Crossing. Continue along the road, ignoring the turning on the right, until it reaches the foreshore at Low Salt Coats. Follow the Cumbria Coastal Path by the embankment to cross the footbridge beside the railway viaduct. Head through the car park to Ravenglass station.

4. Cross the footbridge at the end of the platform and follow the path beside the playground. At the junction turn right and follow the track to the Roman Bath House. Soon after the bathhouse the path splits. Take the left fork to another junction in front of the grand house at Newton. Take the left branch. The track skirts the lower slopes of Newton Knott (muddy) and is followed to a gate on the right.

5. Go through the gate and follow the vague grass path down the hill into the trees. Follow the path sharp left and then take the right branch and follow it to the foreshore of the River Esk.

6. Turn right and follow the Cumbria Coastal Way to pass under the railway line. Head back to Ravenglass tracing a route along the foreshore parallel with the railway.

Ponsonby Fell Given clear conditions Ponsonby Fell’s elevation and isolation from the clutter of surrounding peaks make it an outstanding viewpoint with wide ranging views including a revealing perspective of Scafell Pike and Scafell. This walk is best suited to those with prior experience.

Start/finish: Seascale Station (GR NY 036 010)

Distance: 22.5km (14 miles)

Time: 7 hours

Height gain: 510m

Maps: OS Landranger 89, OS Explorer OL 6

1. Turn left then immediately left again. Follow the lane to a fork; take the right branch past the school to the golf links. Take the bridleway that climbs past the greens and then skirts How Farm to a road. Turn left and follow the road a short distance to a junction. Turn right and follow the road past Seascale Hall to another junction at Calder. Carry on straight ahead and join the bridleway, past Calder Hall to join a road at Church House Farm. Follow the road to the A595, turn right and carefully follow it for 400m to a road on the left.

2. Join the road and follow it to a bend at Scargreen. Go around the bend and then turn left onto a bridleway. Follow the bridleway as it climbs steadily north east to a wall corner below the open fell of Ponsonby Fell.

3. Go through the gate and climb to the rounded grassy summit. To descend head down to join a track at Scalderskew Beck.

4. The track is then followed as it works its way down through the trees of Blengdale Forest. The track roughly follows the course of the River Bleng all the way to the road at Wellington. Join the road and follow it into Gosforth. At the centre of the village take the right fork and follow the road to the A595. Cross the A595 and turn left a short distance to the start of a bridleway (lane).

5. Follow the bridleway past Fleming Hall to the road at Seascale Hall. Turn left and retrace the route from earlier in the day.

PN

One km

One Mile

One km

One Mile

PN

One km

One Mile

One km

One Mile

1

2

3

Hooker Crag

Chapel Hill

Muncaster Fell

Irton RoadStation

Hollowstones

EskdaleGreen

Silver Knott

MuncasterHead

River Esk

MuncasterMill

Ravenglass

Roman BathHouse

Roman Fort

MuncasterCastle

Raven CragA595

Fell

Lane

Newton

Foresthow

Ross’sCampHooker Crag

Chapel Hill

Muncaster Fell

Hollowstones

EskdaleGreen

Silver Knott

MuncasterHead

River Esk

MuncasterMill

Ravenglass

Roman BathHouse

Roman Fort

MuncasterCastle

Raven CragA595

Fell

Lane

Newton

Foresthow

Ross’sCamp

Irton RoadStation

Walks from the railway in the Western Lake District

Muncaster FellAt the mouth of Eskdale, where it runs down to the sea, the little ridge of Muncaster Fell splits the valley in two and separates the River Esk and the River Mite.

The old Roman road from Ravenglass crosses this ridge and heads into the heart of the Lake District. Following it makes an interesting walk with lots to see including the pleasant grounds and woods of Muncaster Castle and long-range views from the crest of the ridge.

Adjacent to the main line railway station at Ravenglass is the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway. This narrow gauge steam railway is a superb way to link the start and finish of a walk that explores the remains of the old Roman Bath House then breaks out on to the airy crest of Muncaster Fell.

Start: Ravenglass Station (GR SD 085 964)

Finish: Irton Road Station (GR SD 137 999)

Distance: 9.2 km (5.7 miles)

Time: 5 - 6 hours

Height gain: 374m

Maps: OS Landranger 89 & 96, OS Outdoor Leisure 6, Harveys’ Superwalker Western Lakeland (part coverage)

1. At the turntable end of the Eskdale and Ravenglass Railway platform, take the path that skirts around the end of a playground and follow it up to a junction. Turn right and follow the track to the Roman Bath House. Soon after the bathhouse the path splits. Take the left fork (Cumbria Coastal Path) and follow it to another junction and turn left again.

Follow the track up through Decoy Woods and the field to the Muncaster Castle Information Centre. A path leads to the A595. Turn right and follow it for 300m to a bend.

2. At the bend turn left onto Fell Lane and follow it up hill to pass Muncaster Tarn (amongst the trees). Ignore the bridleway to the right and continue straight ahead to Hooker Crag. The path passes the bottom of this little peak but a quick diversion is worth it for the views. Regain the path and continue to a wall corner. Pass through the gap and follow the path as it works its way down past the flanks of Silver Knott to a junction with a bridleway.

3. Turn left onto the bridleway and follow it past Foresthow and Hollowstones to Irton Road Station to catch a return train to Ravenglass on the narrow gauge railway.

Before setting off on any of these walks please make sure you have plotted the route using the appropriate map and compass.

Useful informationgetting there by trainThe scenic Cumbria Coastal Line runs between Barrow-in-Furness and Carlisle with stops at several stations along the coast including Silecroft, Drigg and Ravenglass, the starting points of these walks. Timetables are available from www.northernrail.org Remember, there are no trains on Sundays!

The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway runs between the delightful coastal village of Ravenglass, and Dalegarth Station at the foot of some of Cumbria’s most stunning mountains. The narrow gauge railway first opened in 1875 to ferry iron ore from Boot to Ravenglass but is now a popular tourist attraction running steam trains along the 7 mile line. www.ravenglass-railway.co.uk

The Cumbrian Coast Day Ranger ticket provides the freedom to explore the Cumbrian coast by train. The ticket is valid for one day’s travel, hopping on and off as required, so enjoy a totally car-free day! The Cumbria Round Robin ticket is valid for a circular journey in any direction between Barrow-in-Furness, Whitehaven, Carlisle, Penrith and Lancaster on any one day. The Lakes Day Ranger ticket allows flexible exploration of the Lakes by train, boat and bus. The ticket is valid for one day’s travel on selected trains and Stagecoach buses within the Lake District. The Ranger ticket also entitles the holder to discounted cruises on the Keswick Launch, Coniston Launch or Ullswater Steamers, and savings on the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway and Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway - the ideal way to save money and enjoy a car-free day. www.northernrail.org/offers/dayrangers

accommodation and tourist informationVisit www.golakes.co.uk/stay to search for local accommodation. For tourist information enquiries contact Broughton Information Centre (Tel: 01229 716115) or Whitehaven Information Centre (Tel: 01946 598914). Further information about the area can be found by visiting www.western-lakedistrict.co.uk

weather The weather in the Lake District can change quickly, particularly on the fells where clear morning skies can rapidly give way to rain, sleet or even snow on the summits, so be prepared! Changes in weather can dramatically alter the difficulty of a route so please consider this. Call 0844 846 2444 or visit www.lake-district.gov.uk/weatherline to check the forecast.

practical informationAppropriate clothing can make all the difference. It is important to be warm, comfortable, and dry when out exploring so carry the appropriate kit and plenty of layers.

A rucksack should hold everything needed and be carried comfortably. Have extra layers, a hat and gloves, enough food and drink, and a first aid kit. A compass, map and the knowledge to use them can prove invaluable.

Mobile phone reception isn’t always good. Leave route details and expected finish time with a buddy, if delayed please let them know. This will prevent mountain rescue, a team of volunteers, being called out unnecessarily.

If mountain rescue are needed, get a message to the police (999) as soon as possible and keep the injured or exhausted people safe and warm until help arrives.

Walks from the railway in the Western Lake District Welcome to the Adventure Capital - the Lake District, Cumbria. Famous for its stunning landscapes of lakes, fells and coast this is the country’s biggest adventure playground.

The second leaflet in this series contains walks from railway stations along the beautiful stretch of coastline between St Bees and Ravenglass.

These four routes vary in length and difficulty so everyone from the novice rambler to the seasoned explorer can get out and explore the best of the Adventure Capital.

pedal or paddle, hike or climb, conquer your competitive spirit or just get out there and enjoy

for more information, visit www.golakes.co.uk/adventure

supported by

Whitehaven Harbour

on foot

on wheels

on ropeson course

on water

where to get on in the adventure capital

Looking towards St Bees Head

western lake districtwalks from the railway

The walksThese walking routes are a wonderful way to explore the Western Lake District’s coastline.

Leave the car behind and enjoy a quiet journey by train along the scenic Cumbrian Coast Line with beautiful views out to sea.

MuncasterDrigg

Foxfield

Seathwaite

Bootle

Walk start locations

promoting effective, welcoming communitiessouth tourismcopeland

on foot