Make Tracks For The Countryside!

Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway - Muncaster Mill -
Muncaster Castle - Ravenglass.

Start: Muncaster Mill

Finish: Ravenglass Station

Distance: Approximately 2 miles, allow at least an hour

Grade: On footpaths and tracks, some steep sections but mostly fairly easy.

Places to Visit: Muncaster Mill, Muncaster Castle (House, Gardens and Owl Centre), Walls Castle Roman bath house, Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway and railway museum. Telephone Whitehaven Tourist Information Centre - 01946 695678.

This walk starts with a trip on the Ravenglass and Eskdale narrow gauge steam railway as far as the first station, Muncaster Mill, although if you have time it is worth enjoying the full return journey into the Lake District valley of Eskdale before or after the walk. For train times on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway phone 01229 717171. From Muncaster Mill station walk between the buildings of Muncaster Mill, a working, water-powered corn mill, open to the public. Follow the public bridleway sign along the track then follow the wooden signs to the Castle, onto a path that leads uphill through woodlands. Carry straight on through a dry valley, formed by meltwater at the end of the last ice age. Go out through the gate then left along the farm track at the edge of the field out to the main road. Go left to follow the pavement beside the road for about 100 yards then turn right at the footpath, church and garden centre sign. Follow this track as in winds past the historic church and between the buildings. You should set aside a couple of hours to visit Muncaster Castle, dating from the 13th century, with its beautiful gardens and owl centre, headquarters of the World Owl Trust. Please note that if you wish to leave the public footpath you should buy a ticket! Where you come to a T junction turn right for about 10 yards then left along the edge of the fence by the pond following the yellow arrows and signs. Go straight ahead aiming for the wooden public footpath post that directs you along a gravel path leading steadily upwards through woods until you reach a gate through the high stone wall. Go straight on across the field ahead following the yellow posts, with superb views over the Ravenglass Estuary. The path will eventually drop down to a gate into the wood where you follow the path down through the trees to another gate out onto a track. Turn right along the track, straight on at the next junction and then bear right at the junction by the house called Walls. You will soon reach Walls Castle, the well preserved remains of a Roman bath house. Ravenglass was the site of an important Roman Fort, part of the defence system that stretched down the coast from Hadrian?s Wall. Continue along the track then take the footpath to your left under the railway to the beach. Turn right and follow the shore with superb views over the estuary to the sand dunes. Go up the road into the pretty village of Ravenglass then take the public footpath signed to the right, and keep straight on past the car park to reach Ravenglass station.




	Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway - Muncaster Mill - Muncaster Castle - Ravenglass.
	Start: Muncaster Mill Finish: Ravenglass Station Distance: Approximately 2 miles, allow at least an hour Grade: On footpaths and tracks, some steep sections but mostly fairly easy. Places to Visit: Muncaster Mill, Muncaster Castle (House, Gardens and Owl Centre), Walls Castle Roman bath house, Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway and railway museum. Telephone Whitehaven Tourist Information Centre - 01946 695678.

		This walk starts with a trip on the Ravenglass and Eskdale narrow gauge steam railway as far as the first station, Muncaster Mill, although if you have time it is worth enjoying the full return journey into the Lake District valley of Eskdale before or after the walk. For train times on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway phone 01229 717171. From Muncaster Mill station walk between the buildings of Muncaster Mill, a working, water-powered corn mill, open to the public. Follow the public bridleway sign along the track then follow the wooden signs to the Castle, onto a path that leads uphill through woodlands. Carry straight on through a dry valley, formed by meltwater at the end of the last ice age. Go out through the gate then left along the farm track at the edge of the field out to the main road. Go left to follow the pavement beside the road for about 100 yards then turn right at the footpath, church and garden centre sign. Follow this track as in winds past the historic church and between the buildings. You should set aside a couple of hours to visit Muncaster Castle, dating from the 13th century, with its beautiful gardens and owl centre, headquarters of the World Owl Trust. Please note that if you wish to leave the public footpath you should buy a ticket! Where you come to a T junction turn right for about 10 yards then left along the edge of the fence by the pond following the yellow arrows and signs. Go straight ahead aiming for the wooden public footpath post that directs you along a gravel path leading steadily upwards through woods until you reach a gate through the high stone wall. Go straight on across the field ahead following the yellow posts, with superb views over the Ravenglass Estuary. The path will eventually drop down to a gate into the wood where you follow the path down through the trees to another gate out onto a track. Turn right along the track, straight on at the next junction and then bear right at the junction by the house called Walls. You will soon reach Walls Castle, the well preserved remains of a Roman bath house. Ravenglass was the site of an important Roman Fort, part of the defence system that stretched down the coast from Hadrian?s Wall. Continue along the track then take the footpath to your left under the railway to the beach. Turn right and follow the shore with superb views over the estuary to the sand dunes. Go up the road into the pretty village of Ravenglass then take the public footpath signed to the right, and keep straight on past the car park to reach Ravenglass station.