Top Picks
Guides
What’s on
Where to go
See all

Ravenglass & Eskdale Steam Railway

Sarah Gaffney-Lang, Families Editor
Courtesy of Ravenglass & Eskdale Steam Railway

Calling steam train enthusiasts big and small!

In picturesque West Cumbria, the historic Ravenglass & Eskdale railway is ready to transport you back in time.
Departing at Ravenglass – the only coastal village located in two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the route covers seven miles, with seven stops and takes 40 minutes each way – covering a vast landscape with estuaries, open countryside and England’s highest mountains as a spectacular backdrop from some 210ft above sea level.

A ride on the La’al Ratty was one of Alfred Wainwright’s favourites trips and immortalised in his walks from to ‘Britain’s Favourite View’ – Wastwater which is a short walk away.

Travellers can choose from the open top upper carriage or the cosier half-covered option depending on the weather. Both provide stunning views for the not-to-be-missed photo opportunities at Irton Road (on the outward leg) and Murthwaite Crushing Plant (on the return).

The main season runs from March until October (there are special heritage train rides organised annually during the winter months including over Christmas and into the New Year).

A ride in the Ravenglass & Eskdale railway carriage with your little ones is not to be missed.

Ravenglass and Eskdale RailwayRavenglassCA18 1SW View map
Telephone: 01229717171 Visit Now

Opening Hours

  • Monday9:00am - 5:00pm
  • Tuesday9:00am - 5:00pm
  • Thursday9:00am - 5:00pm
  • Friday9:00am - 5:00pm
  • Saturday9:00am - 5:00pm
  • Sunday9:00am - 5:00pm

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

What's on near Ravenglass & Eskdale Steam Railway

See all events

Where to go near Ravenglass & Eskdale Steam Railway

Cumbria
Museum
Muncaster Castle

The Muncaster Castle estate takes in a haunted castle, bluebell woods, Hawk and Owl Centre and more.

Cumbria
Wastwater

Wastwater is the deepest lake in England at 258 feet and one of the most dramatic spots in the country to swim.

Cumbria
Gallery
Florence Arts Centre

Florence Mine has been transformed into a centre for cultural activity, offering workshops, gallery space, cinema and music venue.

TheBeacon, courtesy of venue
Cumbria
Museum
The Beacon

The Beacon in Whitehaven provides a well-used museum service for local families and visitors, drawing on rich collections – fine and decorative arts, social history, archaeology and natural sciences.

Cumbria
Gallery
Lowes Court Gallery

Lowes Court Gallery in Egremont aims to showcase the quality of traditional and contemporary Cumbrian craft, led by a membership of artists.

Cumbria
Museum
The Ruskin Museum

The Ruskin Museum tells the story of Coniston in Cumbria – a place of copper mines and slate quarries, Swallows & Amazons country where Beatrix Potter owned farms and Stone Age fell walkers once dwelled.

LawsonParkFarm, courtesy of venue
Cumbria
Bed & Breakfast
Lawson Park Farm Cottage

Award-winning self-catering holiday accommodation that is not only beautiful but also supports the pioneering work of Grizedale Arts.

Brantwood, image courtesy of venue
Cumbria
Museum
Brantwood

The Lake District home of the radical social and cultural thinker, John Ruskin.

Cumbria
Gallery
Grizedale Arts

Grizedale Arts continues to explore the role of art in society from its award winning eco-base near Coniston.

See all places

Cumbria District Guides

York Castle Museum
Things to do in Kendal

Kendal is a key destination in the Lake District, packed with fantastic places to visit as well as a wide range of high-quality restaurants, bars and pubs.
Carlisle and Keswick, Cumbria

Our guide to things to do in Carlisle, a city framed by its famous castle, and the ‘honeypot’ town of Keswick in Cumbria.

Cockermouth and West Cumbria

Our guide to West Cumbria, with its independent, industrial streak, and Wordsworth’s birthplace, Cockermouth.
Things to do in Eden Valley, Cumbria

Our guide to the best things to do in the beautiful Eden Valley in Cumbria, which stretches from Sedbergh to Penrith.
Kendal and Sedbergh, Cumbria

Packed with fantastic places to visit and a wide range of high-quality restaurants, bars and pubs, there’s loads to do in Kendal and Sedbergh.
Things to do in Penrith
Things to do in Penrith and the Surrounding Area

With the picturesque Lake District to the west and the sweeping ridge of the Pennines to the east, Penrith is a stunning cultural destination.
Allan Bank, Grasmere, image courtesy of Visit Cumbria
South Lakes, Cumbria

No trip to Cumbria is complete without a visit to the South Lakes, Coniston and Grizedale among them. Here’s our guide.

Culture Guides

Sextile
Music in the North

Electronic music features heavily in our latest round-up of gig highlights across Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool.

Laura Ellen Bacon, Into Being, 2025. Photo © India Hobson, courtesy Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Exhibitions in the North

Willow weaving, textile collages, digital arts and ecology - all this and more in our exhibition top picks this month

A woman sits in a car with hands holding the steering wheel.
Cinema in the North

Vintage Alfred Hitchcock and a family friendly film festival are amongst our highlights this May.

Image by Jonathan Schofield.
Tours and Activities in the North

We've got many a good time in store this month as we round up the best walking tours, cultural classes and makers markets in the land.

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

Dynamic dance, party-performance, high-energy stand-up and a site-specific show set in a pub. All this and more in our newest theatre guide.

Okechukwu Nzelu
Literature Events in the North

If it's inspiring, inclusive events and avant-garde, experimental afternoons you're after, look no further than live literature this spring – we've got you covered.