Lake District

River Esk: Steam, ride and ramble walk

A river walk and train ride with spectacular scenery of the Eskdale valley | © National Trust Images / Paul Harris

This classic river walk along the River Esk, with its intimate scenery of crags, woods, fields and the river itself, provides the perfect excuse to leave the car behind and travel along one of Cumbria's favourite and most memorable steam railways.

Near to

Eskdale and Duddon Valley

Start point

Dalegarth Station (nr Boot) pay and display car park, grid ref: NY173007

Trail information

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Difficulty*

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 3.5 (km: 5.6)

Duration2 hours 30 mins

Dog friendly**

*There is some uneven ground but this is resticted to a small area. Paths can gather water and be muddy after showers. For further information visit the section marked Terrain.
**Please follow local and seasonal guidance. For more information visit the section marked Facilties.

Address
Dalegarth Railway Station, Boot, Holmrook, Copeland CA19 1TG. grid ref: NY173007
Directions via Google Maps
By train
Ravenglass (RAV) mainline station is 8 miles (12.8km) away and is located next to the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway. This heritage narrow gauge railway travels up the scenic Eskdale to Dalegarth station.
By road
From the North at M6 junction 40 take the A66 to Keswick and Whitehaven. Continue past Whitehaven and turn off to Gosforth. Folow the signs to Eskdale and Boot.
From the South at junction 36 follow the A590 to Newbybridge and take the A5902 to Whitehaven and Workington. Continue up the coast and turn off at Gosforth. In Gosforth, take the road to Santon Bridge and Eskdale until you come to a T-junction. Head left towards Boot.
Total stages: 10
Total stages: 10
Start point
Dalegarth Station (nr Boot) pay and display car park, grid ref: NY173007
Stage 1
Leave the station and turn left along the road towards Boot. At the crossroads next to the pub turn right and head south down the track.
Stage 2
After passing through Esk View Farm and the farm buildings you can see linear stone walls that are remains of the railway line for the quarries.
Stage 3
The track passes St Catherine's Church and the stepping stones across the River Esk. From the church, follow the river upstream along a pitched surface.
Stage 4
Continue along the path until you reach a gate. At this point there are two paths that are close together and run parallel. A well-defined lower path thatcrosses the Esk, and an upper path that is not well-defined and can easily be mistaken for a grass strip. Take the lower path to the old railway bridge.
Stage 5
At the bridge you can see Gill Force Waterfall in the Esk. From here, go back along the path until you reach the point where the path splits. Take the path leading to the right heading up a slight gradient following the river upstream. Follow along this path through various gates and thin woody areas until you reach a small humpback bridge locally known as Doctor's Bridge.
Stage 6
Cross the Esk at Doctor's Bridge and follow the river downstream, heading away from Penny Hill Farm. At Low Birker Farm follow the bridleway through the property and continue along a well-defined walled track. This track eventually leads to a small footbridge over a ford and through a gate.
Stage 7
Continue through the gate and towards Gill Force along a path through open ground lined by gorse and bracken. Follow the earthen path through a wood until you get to a gate exiting the woodland. Continue out of the wood till you reach corner in a dry-stone wall where the path bends to the left across a ford. Continue along the track until you reach a gate and enter a plantation.
Stage 8
Through the gate you drop into a plantation and cross the beck with a ford and footbridge. At this point you can visit Stanley Force Waterfall or continue on the route.
Stage 9
Head towards the gate, exit the plantation and follow the bridleway cross the field. Upon exiting the field turn right on to the track and follow towards the B road. On your way you pass an alternative car park and bridge.
Stage 10
At the road junction, turn right by the old school and war memorial, and head towards the station and the car park.
End point
Dalegarth Station (nr Boot) pay and display car park, grid ref: NY173007
Trail map
Map route for steam, ride and ramble walk on the River Esk | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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