Within the village there is a shop that sells most items (food, drink, alcoholic beverages, newspapers, outdoor stuff), public telephone & 2 Inns (which serve excellent food). The nearby village of Gosforth provides a more comprehensive range, including gift shops.

Supermarkets can be found in Egremont or Whitehaven. The nearest petrol garage is at Holmrook (4 miles west), which also sells provisions & newspapers, etc. A further 3 Inns can be found Eastward along the Eskdale valley. The ‘L’aal Ratty’ (a narrow gauge steam railway) stops at 2 stations in the village - ‘Irton Road’ & ‘The Green’ which is just down the lane past the ‘Orchards’.

THINGS TO DO & SEE 

To the East, over Hardnott & Wrynose Passes (England’s steepest mountain road), through beautiful Little Langdale, lie the tourist attractions of Ambleside, Coniston, Grasmere & Windermere. Six miles north is Wastwater, England’s deepest ‘lake’, & Wasdale, probably the most dramatic ‘valley’ in all of Lakeland. A little further north brings you to Ennerdale valley. South over Birker fell is the unspoiled Dunnerdale Valley & Coniston Fells.

There are lots of easy walks in Eskdale. Riverside & waterfall paths, nature & forest trails, through fields or over low fells the choice is endless. For the more adventurous, the surrounding fells provide routes that are quite breathtaking (both scenic & in effort)! Climbers will revel in Scafell’s mighty rocks. Wasdale Head, the birthplace of climbing, is only 20 mins by car. You can use the ‘L’aal Ratty’ to extend your range of walks & visits. Pony trekking can be arranged at Kinniside - 14 miles away. There are golf courses at Seascale, St Bees, Workington & Eskdale and plenty of places to go fishing.

For naturalists there are bird reserves at Drigg, St. Bees & Hodbarrow. Nature reserve at Eskmeals. Owl centre at Muncaster. Ancient oak woodlands & a rich variety of wildlife habitats from the seashore to mountain top.

Historians & Archaeologists can discover Roman remains at Hardnott Fort & Ravenglass bath house. Ancient crosses & stone circles. Restored corn mills At Muncaster & Boot, Castles at Muncaster & Egremont. The steam railway enthusiast will find the ‘L’aal Ratty’ with it's 7 miles of line, 12 locomotives & railway museum quite hard to beat.

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