We have run out of time, so as our accommodation tonight is in Ravenglass, we decide on a shortish walk from Bootle to Ravenglass – yes you’re right, the title is different, but all will be revealed later. We have also hopped over a couple of dots which will be completed on our next trip in July.

The small green dashes are where we need to walk next time – along King Charles III England Coast Path 🎺🥁

After parking the car we spend a bit of time reading about the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway – a charming 15 inch gauge steam train that will take you on a 7 mile round trip over the estuary and through the hills. The station master tries out his patter on us but we are not for turning.- things to do, places to go.

Here is a publicity photograph that may tempt you more than mine………..

Anyway, out of the station at Bootle we head down a minor road in the direction of the coast where we turn right onto the coast path. There then follows a pretty tedious two mile walk which runs inland to avoid the Eskmeals Shooting Range – military installations to our left, a couple of cannons on show.

Eventually we reach the River Esk, where a ford is mentioned on the map. Now I have a couple of recollections involving fords, one a pretty harmless one, which I regularly whizzed through driving back from Norwich to our home in the Norfolk countryside. The other ford story that could have ended in disaster, was when our satvnav assured us it was ok to drive through an enormous puddle of water (marked ford) which may or may not have been a danger to our old car. It was the day of our Gretna Green marriage, it was dark, cold and raining and we were trying to get to the hotel we had booked in the Lake District. No signal on the phone. The car crept slowly forwards and halfway across the headlights started to dim – I searched my memory for a suitable prayer …….-

Anyway we made it, but we are not so lucky this time – I should have checked the tides.

The bridleway is pointing us in the direction of a lake and the road that we could have chosen to walk up to the next bridge is impassable, without getting very cold and wet.

Searching around for an alternative Damian jumps over a gate and investigates the possibility of trespassing on the railway viaduct – I am not keen. On his return he manages to damage his knee getting back over the gate, which rules out walking back the way we have come, along the road.

What to do?

Well, we do have a guardian angel after all, who appears in a Range Rover and answers the call of my outstretched thumb. She was on her way to Ravenglass for a children’s party but had to turn back due to all the flooding. I sit in the back and have fun with her 3 year old daughter while Damian discusses the environment with her mother.

Soon we are reunited with our car and out of curiosity we drive to see what the damage is on the other side of the bridge………. I’m happy we turned back.

After a snack and a drink in the hotel we take a walk around the village – several houses have their beachcombing booty on display. Most of it is plastic – no idea how wide an area is covered, but it is an impressive collection.

Next time we come we will have checked the tides and packed plastic sandals to get across the river.

Distance: 3 miles