Based in Maryport now for a few days we drive south to Workington station where we take the train to Harrington. The station is immaculate with some well tended plantings, and the information boards tell us that during the Industrial Revolution the town was a centre of a thriving iron and steel industry. “A World Leader in Rail Technology” to boot.
The train from Ravenglass takes us one stop up the line to Drigg – it will be a very short walk today as we are planning to drive north to Maryport later this afternoon.
An information board near the station tells us that Drigg may have got its name from the Old Norse word “drege”, used to describe the dragging of Viking longships up onto the beaches nearby. Once on shore these invading hordes would steal horses to plunder villages inland. Place names indicate that they did however settle well in the area – it was not all rape and pillage.
From Drigg we head north east along a minor road before turning off right onto a footpath which will take us across the meandering River Irt, by way of an ancient packhorse bridge – Holme Bridge on the map.
We stand and contemplate for a while……..
On the other side of the stone bridge we go though the gate and up a steep incline through a patch of woodland which peters out all too soon.
From here it’s a walk along the edges of fields, onto a minor road which takes us down to the Esk estuary (again) and along the King Charles England Coast Path. We walk along the edge of an area of mud and sand called Saltcoats. Turning a corner we are surprised to see Ravenglass in the distance – that was quick!
As we get closer to the village I notice that we have a narrow ribbon of water to cross – the word “ford” leaps out at me and I start to worry that we may have to do a bit of wading again. But no I am relieved to see a solid pedestrian bridge running next to the railway line which takes us safely over to the village green.
I am about to cross the road which will takes us back to our car when a piece of public art catches my eye. Finished in 2013 it is the work of Maggy Howarth, a mosaic artist, and depicts a stylized Roman merchant ship – a reference to the history of Ravenglass in the 2nd century when it functioned as a Roman naval base.
And so we are reunited with our car – goodbye to the Esk for now.
Distance: 4 miles
Leaving the car at Bootle Station we take the train to Silecroft – it takes seven minutes.
At Silecroft I suddenly realise we have no water and the map is not showing anywhere to buy some for the duration of our walk. Looking round we spy what looks like a gift shop on the platform – it is closed but there are two women outside the door having a morning chat. Presenting my case, one of the women smiles and tells us to wait while she scuttles off into a back room and comes back with two bottles of water – she will not take any money and waves us on our way, what a nice way to start the day.
Continue readingEditors note: Word Press has stopped supporting Google maps on emails so if you want to see the map you have to click on “Read on blog”
We arrive in Ravenglass from Yorkshire late afternoon – just enough time for a hop, skip and a jump to investigate the water levels in the estuary, and join two dots left hanging by a high tide. It is a perfect afternoon, not too hot – a small boat sits high and dry on the mud and sand.
We follow a vague path along the bank, until the undergrowth thickens up and we have to watch where we put our feet, hopping over small streams trying to avoid soggy ground.
As we approach the bridge the going gets easier……………….but we are reminded.
And soon we’re standing on the bank of the river Esk looking across to where we had to turn back last time. It is now between low and high tide and a couple of sandbanks can be seen. Should we try now or leave it til low tide tomorrow when we’ll have plastic sandals and more time? We dither and turn back.
To be continued……………..
Distance: 2 miles
Crossing the Esk 4.7.26
A few days later we drive back to the far bank of the estuary armed with plastic sandals – a red flag is flying to indicate shooting nearby on the Eskmels firing range. A car is parked close to where we intend to enter the water so I approach the driver to explain what we are going to do. He seems totally disinterested in a couple of mad punters planning to walk across the river and back again. as long as we don’t turn left and wander into the range. It is bang on low tide……
Deep breath…………
The first section is very muddy and my sandals are immediately sucked down a couple of inches. I nearly lose them and decide I’m better off without them.
Fortunately the mud soon turns into sand and then small pebbles and the mud on the far bank is a little firmer. And this is as deep as it gets.
Having accomplished our task we turn round and wade back across the river – the driver in the red car blanks us – he should really be grateful for a bit of light entertainment on this grey morning.
Back in our car we drive back to Ravenglass for a celebratory second breakfast – ok it’s not crossing the Rubicon but I am so happy to not have to think about it anymore.
Distance: 100 yards
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 🎺🥁
Out of the back of Millom Station we head south on the coast path through an area that shows signs of previous industry. (no photograph, don’t know why). In its heyday, Millom Ironworks was one of the largest in the world, but was forced to close in 1968 after a failure to attract investment for new steel making processes. Since its demise, efforts have been made to transform the pits and slag heaps into a local nature reserve which opened in 2002 .
Continue readingThis morning in Broughton I discover that the delightful parade of shops in the main street are all owned by the same person – the butcher, the baker, no candlestick maker, but a wonderful greengrocers, wicker baskets overflowing with fresh fruit and vegetables. We stock up…..
Leaving the car outside the pub, we stock up on what look like fabulous sandwiches in the small bakery and start walking out of the village.
Out of the station at Askam we walk through the dull streets of the village to a path leading out to the coast – there’s been a lot of rain recently so a small deviation is necessary.
Back in 2017 we spent a night in a hotel at St. Bees, on our way up to Gretna Green to get married. This is not our van but it seemed appropriate at the time. Today we are setting out from the same hotel to drive to Drigg – a village some 13 miles down the coast – and then walk back.
Joining the Dots 