Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway

Affectionately known as La’al Ratty amongst locals, the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway gives you the opportunity to explore some of the Lake District’s most idyllic countryside.

With a collection of four steam locomotives the railway runs between the seaside village of Ravenglass and Dalegarth Station serving the tiny hamlet of Boot.

This minimum gauge railway was originally built in 1875 to transport mined ore from Boot to Ravenglass and onto the connecting line to Barrow-In-Furness with passengers later allowed to ride.

In the 1960’s, a preservation group was formed and the railway has been a tourist attraction since, attracting around 120,000 people each year.

Things To See

Thought to have been a favourite of William Wordsworth, the journey takes around 40-minutes stopping at various points on the way including Fisherground, a large and popular family friendly campsite in the Eskdale Valley.

There are a number of excellent walking trails that are accessible from the various stations on the route, all of which were compiled by notable writer and lover of the fells, Alfred Wainwright, with booklets detailing the routes available from the railway’s gift shops.

At Ravenglass, the railway’s starting point, you will find a delightful seaside village with pubs, as well as a café, gift shop, and children’s play area at the station itself. Ravenglass also has a stunning coastline dotted with sailboats.

At the other end of the railway at Boot, the Dalegarth Station also has a café, gift shop, and play area, whilst Boot itself has a couple of pubs that are local favourites offering locally brewed ale and tasty food.

Useful Information

The rail carriages themselves are a mixture of closed and open carriages, and even in July it can be quite cold when sat on one of the open carriages, so make sure you take warm clothing as seats are issued on a first come, first served basis.

Tickets

Tickets can be booked in advance and this is recommended for the peak season. There are also a number of special events throughout the year including a Santa Express where children are invited to meet Santa at his grotto at Dalegarth Station.

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