Muncaster Castle, Gardens and Owl Centre is a genuine ancient Haunted castle, The Pennington Family still live there, but they open the castle up to the public, so you can tour the castle and learn about its fascinating and at-times, gruesome history and maybe meet one of its many ghosts. There are wonderful Himalayan Gardens, which are particularly stunning in the spring, when the hundreds of Rhododendrons are in flower, and the whole place it an absolute riot of colour. In the gardens there is a bird of prey centre, where there are owls everywhere that you look and if you time it right you can see a demonstration and see the splendour of a bird on the wing.
Based in the Eskdale Valley at the heart of the Western Lake District with easy access to Wastwater and Scafell Pike, we really could not be better place to provide a wide range of outdoor activities.
They provide outdoor activities for individuals, couples, families, groups, schools, colleges, stag and hen parties as well as business solutions and events for organisations. They tailor Their outdoor activities to meet your needs, whether you are looking to rent kayaks or paddleboards, go ghyll scrambling or cycling, they have it all.
Why not take a trip from Ravenglass, the only coastal village in the Lake District National Park, across the estuary, through the hills, past seven request stops with a 1:55 gradient at times, en route to a final destination some seven miles up the line to Dalegarth for Boot Station. The journey itself was one of Wainwright’s favourites, crossing seven miles of spectacular scenery to the foot of England’s highest mountains, the Scafell Range (3,209ft) at their peak.
At the other end there is something for everyone, with plenty of trails and walks to explore in this beautiful corner of the Lake District National Park with ‘Britain’s Favourite View’, Wastwater, just around the corner.
Ideally just across the valley is situated the Eskdale golf club which is accepting of all levels of golfers. If you are keen on doing a tour of more than just the one golf course you are in luck. There are loads of golf clubs scattered around the the west coast of the lake district with a great range of environments and qualities to be found across them all.
Not to be confused with the Border Esk above Carlisle this lovely, crystal clear, river has its origins on the slopes of Scafell and flows through Eskdale to join the sea at Ravenglass. The river will be forever associated with Hugh Falkus whose classic book on sea trout fishing was largely written on its banks.
These days the Esk is still an excellent fishery offering the chance of some very good sea trout fishing and a fair number of salmon. It is not a sizeable river and can be difficult to fish in low water conditions. Regular spates are needed to bring the fish but in most years sea trout can be expected from June onward with perhaps an occasional grilse turning up - although it is normally well into August before any substantial run of salmon takes place. The peak of the salmon fishing is during September and October.
Road cyclists and mountain bikers are spoilt for choice in the Lake District National Park. There are a range of country lanes, permitted cycleways and bridleways to suit all experience levels, and you can be sure of fantastic views along the way!
If you are looking for mountain biking routes, Whinlatter Forest and Grizedale Forest are criss-crossed with routes. These are suitable for beginners through to more challenging mountain bike routes for those with more experience. Mountain biking in the Lake District gives great routes in a small place, letting you get the most out of your visit
Though Eskdale does not play host to one of the Lake district's iconic lakes it does have a good few waters and tarns around its proximity. It doesn't take long to drive to most of the stunning lakes that fan out from the central peaks of the national park.
The closest to the East is Coniston followed by the most iconic of the lot Windamere.
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To the north first you come to Wastwater one valley over and another couple of valleys up you will find Buttermere and Loweswater.
When your think of the Lake district its hard not to contour up images of walking in stunning countryside with stunning vistas. There is simply too much to talk about even with the local walks on this simple summery page so head over to the walking page to get a good idea of some of the great walks around the property and also for some of the national parks most iconic routes take a look here.
From gentle scrambles to challenging rock climbs, climbing activities on offer in the Lake District and Cumbria are wide and varied, suitable for any level of experience. Famous as the birthplace of modern rock climbing, it is the perfect place to begin your climbing career. You can view our rock climbing providers here.
Swimming
The river Esk has some great swimming pools, and there are good places to have a picnic or a barbecue by the river in the Summer and do a spot of swimming, or just dip your feet in and watch the fish lying lazily on the river bottom.
A popular place to swim is at Forge Bridge - take the Birkby road towards Boot, turn left at the junction at the bottom of Ulpha fell and the bridge is about half a mile further on before you reach the King George IV pub.
Another good spot is at the Bridge below Stanley Gyll whee jumping from the bridge is a popular challenge. Turn right at the King George IV pub adn take the turnign on the right after the Vicarage as you approach Boot. The bridge is a few hundred yards along this sideroad.
The dubs on the Upper Esk are also popular and can be accessed on foot from Brotherikeld. Park at the bottom of Hardnott pass and walk several kilometers up the Esk valley to reach these pools.
There are also excellent pools and picnic areas in the Duddon valley. Turn right at the end of the Birkby road over Ulpha fell to reach this valley.
There are a large selection of catering companies in the lakes with imaginative menus, stylish dishes that cater for all, from private parties to corporate events in the South Lake District area.
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Their The Lakes Catering Company ethos is to be as flexible as possible and to provide you with the highest quality food to suit your individual needs, making any occasion special.
Photography
Eskdale is a stunning location where the beauty of wildlife meets the vastness of the night sky, making it a perfect spot for astrophotography enthusiasts. The serene landscapes are home to diverse flora and fauna, providing a rich backdrop for capturing the wonders of nature. As night falls, the clear skies reveal a breathtaking display of stars, planets, and the Milkyway, inviting photographers to explore the cosmos. Whether you're capturing the delicate movements of local wildlife or the grandeur of the universe, Eskdale offers an unforgettable experience for nature and photography lovers alike.