A fine mid-week day gave Loes and I the opportunity to venture
west, to walk the coast at Ravenglass.
We took a stroll along the Cumbrian Coast Way, then turned
inland and visited Newtown Knott.
Muncaster Castle followed (where we ate lunch) before returning
for a stroll through Ravenglass Village and back to the car.
Crossing the Cold Fell mountain road, heading
for the main coast road just south of Sellafield.
Normally there's just sheep up here, but today
there seem to be Highland Cattle as well . . . but this one
only seems to have one horn.
The farmer will have to give him a bell soon
" in case the other horn doesn't work !!"
There's a big car park in the Village but it's
a quiet day, so roadside parking outside the Village Hall will
do for us.
It is a fantastic morning . . . beautiful sunshine
and calm winds.
It's high tide about now so the estuary is full
of water and the boats are swinging freely at their moorings.
We set off through the top of the village and
soon found the bridge
that allowed us to cross both the main West
Coast rail line and the Ravenglass Narrow gauge track bed.
On the right is the terminus of La'al Ratty,
but there are tracks this side which allow the staff to move
rolling stock around and into the sheds.
The path behind the village soon leads us to
an old ruined building . . . and they don't get much older than
this one.
It is the remains of a Roman Bath House
and is apparently one of the tallest, free-standing
roman buildings left in the UK.
Ravenglass was an important Roman site, having
a large fort and harbour
at the southern extremity of Hadrian's Wall
and its defence system.
The Bath House was an integral part of the Roman
Fort and the fields around would have been the site of the Vicus,
a Roman Village.
You can still make out the level ground and
some of the ditches that cross the site of the fort.
- - - o o o - - -
We continue on past a house called "Walls"
and turn right under Walls Bridge which carries the main line
railway overhead.
This brought us out on the shoreline of the
River Esk.
The England Coast Path and Cumbria Coast Way
follows the line of the shore north and south from here.
The tide has turned and the water is slowly
ebbing away to the sea.
The reflections of the blue sky in the water
is beautiful.
Across the way is the Eskmeals Dunes Nature
Reserve, difficult to get to so has become a haven for wildlife
and birds.
The coast path and ourselves part company here.
The sign says the path is tidal and it appears
that you have to wade the river to continue on south.
Maybe there's a way across via the railway bridge
for when the tide is high or the river is in spate.
The shadow is one cast by the railway bridge
that we used to cross back under the main line.
Ahead is the River Esk marshland, the peaks
of Yoadcastle and Stainton Pike form a backdrop to the scene.
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Our path
follows close to a bank and is reasonably dry. |
Where it ventures away
from it the reeds grow taller. |
The path is marked as the Cumbrian Coastal Way
and offers a dry river crossing at Muncaster Bridge a couple
of miles upstream
for those not wanting to attempt the lower crossing.
- - - o o o - - -
Kindly there are several seating benches along the
route,
suitable for a walker to rest or as a base for birdwatching.
They make a great dining platform for birds
when they have a tasty crab to enjoy.
All that's left of their lunch is the shell.
- - - o o o - - -
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We fancy a diversion to visit Newton Knott,
marked as a 'beacon' on the O.S. map.
To reach it however we have to find the gate
in the Muncaster Estate Wall and then climb up through the woods.
It's marked as a footpath but finding the point
we leave the marsh was more difficult than we thought.
In the end a gate appeared, just around a corner,
which led us to a forest track and then a side turning climbed
up towards the Knott.
Time to walk through the middle of the sheep
. . . but it is a marked footpath so all is well.
We'll head for that gate.
The rocks on the summit of the Knott did actually
have an old look out tower or beacon at the top.
The structure has seen better days and it would
be a great project to rebuild the fallen stone
and re-instate the tower as a landmark . . .
anyone fancy a quick course in dry stone walling ?
From the top of the stones the view was superb.
Looking down we see the Eskmeals Railway Bridge
below us, but looking round we see the whole of our route so
far.
The wider view from Newtown Knott.
Looking down on Newtown House and Ravenglass
. . . but it's time to be moving on.
The map showed a track below us to Muncaster,
or a public footpath a field away across the high ground.
The footpath climbs the field up towards Dovecott
Woods, out of sight beyond the bracken slope.
A quad bike tracks head off towards Muncaster
Home Farm in the distance . . . we'll pass it later in the walk.
The dogs are still trying to work out how kissing
gates work . . . fortunately.
Loes leads on as I stop for a photo of a well-matured
footpath sign.
Down through the woods . . . and we end
up in the grounds of Muncaster castle.
We've brough refreshments for the walk . . .
but the menu in the Courthouse Cafe looks inviting.
. . . and it does not fail to reach the high
standards promised.
A Tuna and Cheese Melt with a lovely salad .
. . a pictured this time before I started eating !
[ Loes enjoyed her lunch too but didn't take
a photo.]
- - - - o o o - - -
Afterwards we had a short walk around the grounds
to view the outside of the castle.
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Wooden stocks,
with different size holes for adult or children ? |
It was quiet because
everyone was across the way watching the bird display. |
Last time I was here the Bird Display and Heron
Feeding took place much closer to the Castle lawn.
[ Check the link at the end to see the bird
display from a few years back.]
Another new addition since my last visit . .
. The Eco Barn with a giant Bug House end wall.
We headed off up the drive towards the main
entrance.
On the way up the driveway we passed some lovely
wood sculptures and carvings in the woods on either side.
The Main Entrance is a modern round house.
Rather than cross the road to the main car park,
we turned left and headed on the side footpath and track, back
towards Ravenglass.
Heading down through Decoy Woods.
The map shows Decoy Pond set back on the right
. . . presumably where the Estate used to shoot wildfowl using
decoy ducks on the water.
This pond on the left on the way down was delightful
too but difficult to photograph.
"I think this is where we came in"
The track brought us back down to Walls House
and the Roman Bath House.
Not much has changed in the three hours that
has passed since we crossed this bridge
but we did note several main line trains passing
during that time.
The afternoon is still young . . . so we extend
our walk by strolling down the Main Street of the village.
It is said that the fishermen lived in the smaller
houses on the right, closer to the sea
and the agricultural workers and merchant classes
lived in the bigger houses on the left side, closer to the fields
and farms.
A substantial flood gate marks the end of the
road . . . as the street tumbles out onto the beach.
Here an information plaque informs and entertains.
We learnt that 'The Bay Horse' was one of the
old Inns of the village.
Pennington House tells of greater wealth . .
. as befits the Pennington Family that owns Muncaster Castle.
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An old petrol
pump was presumably once outside a garage. |
A modern 'protest' attempts
to jog peoples sensitivities. |
The items on display, including numerous cigarette
lighters, vapes, fishing gear and toys which have all been cleared
from the adjacent foreshore.
Back up Main Street now and through the road
narrows at the Pennington Arms . . . note the family connection
once more.
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- - - o o o - - -
We however pass on tipping our hat to nobility
in favour of a pint at 'The Inn at Ravenglass'.
Surprisingly the main beer on sale
is not local but derives from
The Loch Lomond Brewery we passed a few weeks back.
Apparently the owner has strong Scottish connections
and the beer was certainly tasty
this fine afternoon.
- - - o o o - - -
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Sadly can't stay for more refreshments, for obvious reasons
. . . and it's time to be heading home anyway.
In the four hours of the walk the tide as ebbed and now the
channel is dry.
The boats are aground but the view is still impressive.
Technical note: Pictures taken
with my iPhone 11pro mobile phone camera.
Resized in Photoshop, and built
up on a Dreamweaver web builder.
This site best viewed with
. . . wellies or a rowing boat to reach your moorings.
Go to Home Page .
. . © RmH . . . Email
me here
Previous
walk -
2nd Oct 2023 - Lingholm
and Local
A
previous time up here -
5th June 2014 - Muncaster
Castle with Gareth
Next
walk -
13th Oct 2023 - Buttermere
Round The Lake
The tide's now out but the Loweswatercam
Calendars are still in stock . . .
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Now
is your chance to have your favourite
web site pictures
hanging
on your wall all year round
and
to support a good cause.
- - - o o o - - -
" We've
done it again.
We've brought you twelve months of Loweswater
pictures,
Lakeland scenes and your favourite mountain dogs."
Yes
. . . The
2024 Loweswatercam Calendar is
now on sale
- - - o o o - - -
Click
here or on the photos
for
full details of how to buy your copy.
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