I don’t think anyone can beat our 'arriving by train’ option, which more and more guests are choosing to use!
Guests can come on the incredibly scenic mainline West Cumbria Coastal route across Morecambe Bay, past Black Combe mountain with stunning views of the Irish Sea to Ravenglass which is 15 to 20 minutes from our cottages. Some guests pick up a taxi there, however most simply cross from the mainline platform to the narrow gauge Ravenglass and Eskdale steam train ‘Laal Ratty' for an even more scenic trip up to Boot in Eskdale. If refreshments are needed there is the Ratty Arms between the two platforms - the mainline and the steam train. There is also an excellent cafe by the platform of Laal Ratty.
An incredibly scenic 35 to 40 minute trip up through the delights of Eskdale can be enjoyed in a heated enclosed carriage or in the summer in the sunshine outside on an open air carriage. The open air option is there all year round for hardy visitors. The station for Boot is Dalegarth which has a fantastic turntable for the engines to turn around on as well as another fine cafe and gift shop. From there it is a level 400 metre walk to Bridge End Farm Cottages and if we know which steam train guests are arriving on we will generally offer to collect guests. It is however a very simply stroll to the cottages and most of our visitors choose this option. Guests often have suitcases with wheels or back packs so take this final few minutes walk in their stride.
Here are the links to these scenic railway lines. All are stunning and to arrive by a miniature steam train on a narrow gauge railway is the icing on the cake and a glorious introduction to beautiful Eskdale.