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River Esk (Ravenglass)

The River Esk, sometimes called the Cumbrian Esk, is a river in Cumbria, England. It flows for approximately 25 km (15.5 miles) from its source in the Scafells range of mountains to its estuary at Ravenglass. The valley it flows through is known as Eskdale. It is one of two Rivers Esk in Cumbria, and not to be confused with the Border Esk which flows into Cumbria from Scotland. In his book The Origins Of English Place Names, P. H. Reaney says that the river's name is derived from the Brythonic word *Iska ("abounding in fish") and cognate with the modern Welsh word Pysg ("fishes"). This derivation applies to many similarly named rivers throughout Britain including the Axe, Exe and Usk, the names evolving local distinctions over the centuries. The Esk is, in part, paralleled by the narrow-gauge Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway and as a consequence the railway has named one of its steam locomotives after the river.

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River Mite

The River Mite is a river in the county of Cumbria in northern England. The valley through which the river Mite runs is called Miterdale. The name Mite is thought to be of British origin and related to a root such as 'meigh': to urinate or dribble, possibly a wry reflection of the relatively minor nature of the Mite. The Mite rises on Tongue Moor, immediately below the peak of Illgill Head to the north west, at an altitude of around 550 metres (1,800 ft). After coalescing into a stream, the upper Mite runs over the waterfalls of Miterdale Head and descends into the narrow but steep-sided upper Miterdale valley. It then flows to the south west, past the Bakerstead outdoor pursuit centre. It flows to the north of both the village of Eskdale Green and Muncaster Fell, before reaching Muncaster Mill, just after which the river becomes tidal. Finally, the River Mite meets the River Esk and River Irt at the estuarine confluence of the three, near the ancient village of Ravenglass on the Cumbrian coast. Between Eskdale Green and Ravenglass, the Mite runs parallel to the narrow-gauge Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, and one of their steam locomotives is named after the river. Upper Miterdale formed one of the archetypes upon which Arthur Ransome based the valley of Swallowdale in the eponymous volume of Swallows and Amazons series of stories.
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1.5 km

Eskmeals Viaduct

Eskmeals Viaduct is a railway bridge spanning the River Esk near Ravenglass in Cumbria, England. Although the line opened in 1850, the current viaduct dates from 1868 and has stone piers. The previous viaduct was made entirely of timber and it caught fire two weeks before the line opened, being partially destroyed. The modern viaduct carries the Cumbrian Coast Line and has been renovated at least three times; first in the 1920s, and twice in the 2020s.
1.5 km

Eskmeals railway station

Eskmeals is a former railway station in the Eskmeals area of the Cumbrian coast, England. It was located on the Cumbrian Coast Line, south of Ravenglass and near to the estuary of the River Esk. It was situated at the southern end of Eskmeals Viaduct. It served a scattered farming community.
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1.9 km

National Cycle Route 72

National Route 72 of the National Cycle Network, in Northern England is also called "Hadrian's Cycleway". It starts at Kendal and makes its way around the Cumbrian coast via Barrow-in-Furness and Whitehaven to Silloth, and then across the country through Carlisle via Newcastle upon Tyne to Tynemouth at the northern shore or to South Shields at the Tyne's south shore, where the cycleway ends at Arbeia Roman Fort. Much of its route is very close to Hadrian's Wall. Kendal to Barrow in Furness is mapped on the Walney To Wear map. Ravenglass to Tynemouth is open and mapped on the Hadrian's Cycleway map, though some sections between Ravenglass and Silloth are using interim routes.