We decided to aim for Ravenglass and visit the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway. The last time we went was about 20 years ago so it was definitely time for another visit.
An early start meant we caught the train from Gretna to Carlisle and had time to buy a cup of coffee before boarding the train for the next part of the journey.
Concrete Bob came into the station right on time and we boarded and found seats on the correct side of the train to see the views and take photographs. (Could have done with slightly cleaner windows - but couldn't do anything about that!)
We passed through many stations on the journey...
Dalston is the home of Rose Castle - the site of the home of the bishops of Carlisle,
Wigton is a medieval market town,
and Aspatria has been a settlement for 3000 years, lying on the route of a busy roman road.
As we passed Maryport (which is the southernmost town on the Solway Firth) we began to look out across the Irish sea.
The flooding in Cockermouth in 2009 resulted in water rushing towards Workington, subsequently destroying vital bridges there.
Harrington and Parton both have stunning views, from where we could see footpaths along the coast.Perhaps a place to get off the train another day?
We soon came to the unusually-named Corkickle, a suburb of Whitehaven. A class of children got on the train here, telling us very proudly they were going to St Bees!
St Bees is named after St. Bega, said to be an Irish princess who landed here after sailing across the Irish sea to avoid an enforced marriage. On the site of an earlier church there is now the 12th Century Priory Church of St Mary and St Bega. The church was a Benedictine Priory until its dissolution by Henry VIII.
Fleswick Bay is about a one mile walk along the cliff top north between St Bees and St Bees Head. This is the first part of the Coast to Coast walk - the only stretch of Heritage Coast in Cumbria.
Another prospective visit?
BNFL'S Sellafield Nuclear Site is just along the coast now. It was the the site of the world's first commercial nuclear power station, Calder Hall. The Sellafield Reprocessing Plant is also here - a site where spent fuel from nuclear reactors is converted into re-useable uranium, plutonium and highly radioactive fission products that will have to be safely stored for thousands ofyears.
Then we reach Ravenglass ...
The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway is a heritage railway running for 7 miles from Ravenglass to Dalegarth Station near Boot. It is affectionately known as..
The railway is just next to the main line so it is very easy to find! On entering the yard you pass the engine shed - where work was being done on other engines and carriages. As we sit waiting for the train you can admire the station itself.
... and then a train arrives!
The engine moves off and manpower turns it round on the turntable.
We see another train arrive in the station while we are sat on our train waiting for the off.
... and then we are off ! Only as we go down the track do we realise that we are being pulled, not by the diesel that was turned around, but by a steam engine!
The scenery on this sunny day is stunning.
At one point we meet another steam engine going in the opposite direction.
The railway travels through 7 request stops with a 1:40 gradient at times until we reach the end of the line.
Another turntable allows them to turn the engine, and lets us see, for the first time, the engine that has pulled our carriages.
Lunch in the cafe precedes our return trip to Ravenglass.
A really enjoyable ride on the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway on a beautiful sunny day. An ice-cream while we wait for the main line train to take us back to Carlisle is just what is needed!
The tide has gone out by the time we travel back along the coastal tracks so some of the views looked very different to this morning!
The rides back to Carlisle, and then to Gretna, were just as enjoyable as they were this morning. We were feeling rather weary but pleased to have had such an enjoyable day.
