Beth and I had a great day out at the Western Lake District. At the end of the week we decided this was our favourite part of the Lake District. We spent a great deal of time driving this day and had a great drive on a single track road in St. Bees but more on that some other day. We had a rail adventure in Ravenglass.
Ravenglass is a small coastal village and is the only coastal town within the Lake District National Park. Located at the estuary of three rivers: the Esk, Mite and Irt, Ravenglass dates back to the second century, when it was an important naval base for the Romans named Glannaventa. It occupied the most southerly point of Hadrian's Wall.
Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway is a 15 inch narrow gauge heritage railway. 
The 7 mile long line runs from Ravenglass to Dalegarth Station near Boot in the valley of Eskdale. Built to a gauge of 3 feet the railway opened in 1875, its purpose was to ferry iron ore from workings near Boot to the coast at Ravenglass. The first passengers were carried in 1876. The line finally closed in 1913. The line is affectionately known locally as La'al Ratty, Cumbrian dialect for "little narrow way". Intermediate stations and halts are located at Muncaster Mill, Miteside, Murthwaite, Irton Road, Eskdale Green, Fisherground and Beckfoot. The railway is owned by a private company and is supported by a Preservation Society.
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