22/06/2026
Eskdale, Slight Side and Scafell
19 – 21 June 2026
There seemed to be a weather window and Chris booked a train journey to Ravensglass and I held back to consider doing the Watershed Walk, from Silecroft northwards. In the end I joined Chris on the journey, via Lancaster, to Ravenglass, going along new sections of railway, to me, along the south of the county passing through Grange, Ulverston and Barrow. An American chap got on at Barrow and had just flown from Thailand to Manchester and was heading to Seascale - he had never been to England before and was a keen golfer and looking to a three-week trip in England and Scotland savouring the golf courses.
Leaving the “big trains” we had lunch next to the “la-al trains” then set off along the Eskdale Trail and up into the Eskdale Valley. This is a well signed route eventually, we think, going to Dalegarth Station. Skirting by Muncaster Castle and Muncaster Fell we went by the Eskdale Golf Course. This was a 9 Course and now an 18 Course. Just afterwards a friend phoned about something else and he is a keen golfer and commented that Eskdale Golf Course is known as the Augusta of Cumbria golf courses !! Hope that got through to our American friend we saw earlier !
It started to rain but we were sheltered in part by the trees along the trail, which works its way up the valley. We were staying at the Youth Hostel and after some welcome refreshment at the Woolpack Inn we are arrived at the Hostel, just after its opening time at 5.00pm.
There was an interesting mix of folk staying there with two ladies looking to run in the Park Run at Haverigg Prison, tomorrow; a group of guys in the British Army, from Nepal, who had just been around the North Coast 500 on motorbikes and two other guys who had hired a Morgan car, from the works in Malvern, and were enjoying themselves - though they do not recommend taking a Morgan over Hard Knott Pass, due to the pot holes.
We had various options for the Saturday and decided to go over Slight Side and Scafell, then down to Wasdale and stay at the FRCC hut at Brackenclose. The path up Slight Side gradually gains height and also the view gets better and better till eventually looking into the Upper Eskdale valley and the very busy summit of Scafell Pike as well as others summits.
A must for all who climb Scafell is to go up the summit of Symonds Knott - this overlooks Deep Ghyll and gives a fine view north to Great Gable and Borrowdal, It is also a 3000-footer but is off the radar of most who go by that way.
Downwards from here we heard the call of a ring ousel. The path is quite pleasant, though a little steep in places and is used by BG runners as a descent off Scafell.
Eventually we gained the hut and we were pleased to seen Humphrey there preparing a communal meal for his Clitheroe Club mates - to which we were invited (that sorted the evening meal out) - thanks Humph. I got some refreshments (liquid and ice lollies) at the NT campsite shop.
Sunday was a real scorcher but I felt I had had enough and also looking to return to Tophet Wall on Wednesday. Chris went back over Styhead Pass and I caught the Wasdale Explorer bus, at 9.05, which went all the way to Ravenglass. This has been a welcome change to the timetable from last year, when the bus just started at the beginning of the day at Ravenglass and finished there in the evening.
A little further along the road we picked up two ladies, who had been up Scafell Pike, from Borrowdale, but had come down to Wasdale by mistake, and were making their way back (and not paying for the £150 taxi) to Borrowdale. They got the train from Ravenglass to Corkickle, in Whitehaven, and were met by friends there. They were raising money for a charity “No Cold for the Old” and based in Stoke on Trent and so far had raised £9000.
I go the train from Ravenglass, with the bus from Corkickle to Whitehaven station due to the tunnel repairs there then back to Penrith, via Carlisle.
Great circular tour of the Lakes !
