The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway

The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway (“Ratty” of Ravenglass) runs on its narrow gauge track from Ravenglass on the West Cumbria coast up to Dalegarth in the Scafell foothills, and is one of the Lake District’s most popular attractions. Built in the 19th century to carry iron ore, and later granite, nowadays it carries tourists to admire the scenery of the Lakeland mountains.

Lake District “Ratty” – The Ravenglass Railway

August 10, 2011

“Ratty” is not here an animal character from a children’s book but the name popularly given to a railway – The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway – and this year (2011) is the fiftieth anniversary of its being saved from permanent closure. Below is an article, slightly updated, which was originally written in early 2009 for [...]

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Muncaster – Overnight at a Lake District Castle

January 28, 2009

Over the past thirty years of driving up to Whitehaven, I’ve often looked across the valley to Muncaster Castle on the hillside above the River Esk not far from Ravenglass. Last week, though, I had reason to stop there. On my way north in the morning, and looking for somewhere to spend the night before [...]

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