Eskdale, Cumbria

:"For articles about other places named Eskdale, see Eskdale (disambiguation)."

Eskdale is a valley in the western Lake District National Park in Cumbria, England. The River Esk flows through the valley to its estuary at Ravenglass. The valley is notable in being one of few major valleys in the Lake District not to have its own lake, although several tarns are perched above the valley sides.

Along with other western valleys of the Lake District, Eskdale is notably quieter during the high summer season than the more accessible eastern areas. Nevertheless, one of the Lake District's most popular tourist attractions, the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, runs through the valley.

The main access to the valley is from the western end; however, there is also a steep pass with a motor road leading out of the valley to the east over Hardknott Pass, as well as a road with beautiful views leading southwards over Birker Fell to the village of Ulpha in the Duddon Valley.

Alfred Wainwright in his guide "Walks from Ratty" describes Eskdale as "One of the loveliest of Lakeland's valleys, descends from the highest and wildest mountains in the district to the Sands of Ravenglass in a swift transition from bleak and craggy ridges to verdant woodlands and pastures watered by a charming river." Upper Eskdale is a remote wilderness surrounded by Sca Fell, Scafell Pike, Ill Crag, Esk Pike, Bow Fell and Crinkle Crags; the Woolpack walk takes in this classic horseshoe.

It should be noted that the former Eskdale ward of north eastern Cumberland was named after the River Esk in the Scottish Borders, whereas this valley was located in the ward of Allerdale Above Derwent or Copeland.

External links

* [http://www.eskdale.info/ Eskdale website]