I have organised and booked a 3 peaks tour in August with my 10 year old daughter. The intention is not to ascend the peaks but to visit the areas and enjoy their beauty. We are staying in Ravenglass for 3 nights so have 2 days to explore Eskdale. We are on foot and arriving by train. Considering I'm a novice hillwalker (altho we both enjoy long walks and cycling) anybody have suggestions for routes that might give us great scenery. Scafell Pike is hardly an option, but are there any other lower peaks that might be safe for us and within a day's walk from the Ratty?
One walk that we used to do from Ravenglass was first to Walls Castle (Roman bath house) and then to Home Farm near Muncaster Castle. From there a short walk up the road to take Fell Lane up onto Muncaster Fell. Follow the path along the ridge and when it descends if the daughter as had enough go left to Eskdale Green and the station or carriny on past Muncaster Head to Forge Bridge for a delightful riverside walk along the River Esk to the La'al Ratty terminus at Dalegarth.
You've got a great area to go at there, Jay, and the train will give you plenty of options. You say 'novice hillwalker' but are you ok with a map and compass? If so then, especially with favourable weather, there are numerous low and mid level routes, and they tend to give great views of the bigger hills....
Dave's suggestion is certainly a good one. The whole of the lower Esk from Forge House right up to Brotherilkeld is delightful, whether walked in its own right or used in part to help form a circuit.
I can't really judge exactly what your daughter is capable of, but a great circuit would be to go from Eskdale Green onto Irton Fell, then over Whin Rigg and Illgill Head (the "Wastwater Screes" fells), descending to Burnmoor Tarn, then back to Boot and Dalegarth via Whillan Beck. The fells are reasonably high but the ground is pretty straightforward. If that looks too strenuous then you could get to Burnmoor Tarn via Miterdale instead.
Or from Dalegarth, head south-east to Crook Crag and Green Crag, great knobbly, rocky, little fells with fantastic views to the big Lakeland tops. Some of the ground can be a bit boggy and wet, but they'll also be very quiet in comparison to most places.
Or the whole area on the north side of Eskdale above Dalegarth is just great 'wandering' territory - you don't need to have a summit as an objective. Try for example just linking together the little tarns up there - Siney, Blea, Eel, Stony - descending for a return along the river. Lots of twists and turns, and different views emerging around every corner!
Dave and Matt, thank you both for your replies. There are a good few names there for me to find on the map tonight and I like the suggestions, esp. the idea that we could be flexible with the route - children (and their parents!) are fickle so I don't want to be stuck on a fixed route. We've already got ourselves kitted with decent boots and clothing and intend to spend the next few weekends practising in our local area with a map and compass. I want to be prepared for many options. The idea of just "wandering" at least for one of the days sounds like a great idea so I'm glad you think that's an option.
For my daughter, because we are going to the Lake District she must see a lake, of course!, but because we are also a (big) stone's throw from Scafell do you know a good vantage point to see Scafell Pike from the north side of Eskdale, esp. within the areas you mentioned (e.g. the little tarns, the Wastwater fells) or even in the southeast. Since we are doing Ben Nevis and Snowdon I know my daughter would love (weather permitting) at least to catch a glimpse of Scafell Pike.
I suspect that from most of the north side of Eskdale your view of Scafell Pike will be blocked by the mass of Scafell. Weather permitting, you'll get a view of the Pike from the vicinity of Green Crag (I know for sure because I have photos from Easter, taken from the broad col between Green Crag and Harter Fell). That's only at about 350m and you could get up there as part of a mostly-valley walk from Dalegarth.
The other possibility might be to head up into upper Eskdale from Brotherilkeld, towards Throstle Garth, Scar Lathing and Great Moss, but I just can't remember for sure at what point you get a decent view of the Pike.... you do get some fantastic swimming pools in the river Esk though!
Well, after a few hours looking over the OS map and Google Earth I've now got a much better idea of the terrain. Following your suggestions, my rough plan might be to head to Harter Fell on the first day and catch a sight of the Pike and scenery below. On the second day we could try the route from Eskdale Green over the Wastwater Screes for a view of the lake. Both these routes seem to allow short enough escapes back to the railway if we need to. And I see there's a leaflet called "Walks from the Ratty" that cover both these routes, so I'll see if I can get it. I was originally planning to use the Ratty back and forth on both days but if we're up to it I might skip the train going out or back to give us more flexibility with the time - I like the idea of setting out early over Muncaster Fell or returning over it from Eskdale Green and see the sun setting out to sea. Maybe I'm being a little optimistic!
Walking the coffin route to from Boot to Wasdale Head and back can be good fun, all low level but has a tarn, lake, ice cream and beer at both ends! Nice view up to Scafell Pike and Scafelll on one side most of the way. Might be fun to stay over in Wasdale Head one night too, makes it feel like a real adventure for a kid whe you go somewhere and stay there the night after arriving on foot.
Some thing to think about ~ most places to the north of Eskdale - Burnmoor,Quagrigg Moss-as the name implies.can be very,very boggy if there has been any significant rain.
Jamie: I had originally planned Wasdale Head but transport links to Ravenglass were much easier and I'm all booked now. It was quite a task to organise the three peaks by train.
Sodoff: Does that bogginess include the Fells over Wastwater? If there has been rain are we able to approach and get up the fells?
Depends what fells you want to do.On the north side of Wastwater it is normally fairly dry,top end i.e Sty Head,Lingmell Gill are normally ok,Lingmell Gill itself can be a bit of a torrent at times.Best view of a " proper " mountain,I think,is from the bottom of Wasdale looking up the valley with Great Gable glaring back at you.To get a sight of Scafell Pike from Eskdale,Hard Knott or Harter Fell are good.Cannot remember if it is visible from Muncaster Fell but can recomend the walk that you propose-the sunsets can be fantastic.Illgill Head from Eskdale Green is ok,you miss half the bog between Irton Pike and Whin Rigg by going up the forestry track-navigation can be a tad difficult because the trees resrict vision and paths not shown on the map head off at all angles,take a bearing and stick to it till you come out the other side,Simples.All sorts of views from Illgill except the Pike as I rember.Was up there a month ago,memory ain'nt that good no more !
Well last weekend my daughter tired after 3k in the local conservation area. I'm hoping the baking sun and tedious surroundings were the excuse as we'll struggle to get far from the rail in Eskdale! Anyway we'll be getting some more "training" beforehand.
Sodoff, thanks for the bog advice. I honestly hadn't given too much thought to this issue, assuming the threat was mainly from above. I'll certainly be taking note.
Dave, thanks so much for the your photos. They are invaluable. Loved your Slight Side walk too. I had intended this originally, until I'd properly measured the distances. It seems we're in for some spectacular scenery almost anywhere we go.
Might be fun to stay over in Wasdale Head one night too, makes it feel like a real adventure for a kid whe you go somewhere and stay there the night after arriving on foot.
