Miles Without Stiles 19: Dalegarth to St Catherine's Church, Eskdale
Details
Route type: For all. This short walk links the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway to Boot, with a resting place by the River Esk OS Explorer Map OL6
Distance: 2 km or 1.2 miles
Start point: Dalegarth station - grid ref. NY 173007
Turning point: St. Catherine’s Church - grid ref. NY 176002
Facilities: None on route, but car parking, toilets and café at Dalegarth station, plus pubs in Boot
Getting there: Train: Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway can accommodate wheelchair users. Details on www.ravenglass-railway.co.uk (opens in new window). Car: turn right into Dunnerdale before Duddon Bridge and follow signs for Eskdale Green over Birker Fell. From the coast, take the A595 north from Ravenglass and turn right on a minor road signposted Santon Bridge and Eskdale. Dalegarth station is 10 km up the valley
Conditions update
Some routes have suffered water damage after the floods of November 2009, with sections washed away or affected by flood debris. We are checking all routes. In the meantime be prepared that present surface conditions may not be as good as originally described. Please report any damage you encounter to David Robinson at david.robinson@lakedistrict.gov.uk or 01768 871409.
Route
Leave Dalegarth station and turn left up the tarmac road to Boot. Take care as this can be busy in summer and at weekends. After 250 metres, you reach the Brookhouse Inn and a left turn to the picture postcard village of Boot. Set in the most spectacular location, it nestles close to the foot of Hardknott Pass and is surrounded by the craggy heights of Harter Fell and Eskdale Fell.
At the crossroads, turn right down a stone surface track. This is level, but can be muddy and potholed in places. Go through three gates and after just over 0.5 km you reach the River Esk and St. Catherine’s Church. There is a bench here to rest and take in the wooded, riverside setting.
St. Catherine’s dates back to the 12th century. The setting is magnificent, with a backdrop of Scafell Pike. The octagonal font has, among its decorations, ancient marigold designs found on Roman pagan altars and early Christian tombstones.
Map
