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Lake
Wast Water
England's deepest lake, in the U-shaped Wasdale valley, with the Screes plunging into its southern shore.
A mini guide to
Wasdale & Eskdale
England's deepest lake and highest mountain, and a little railway through Eskdale
Photos
1 / 9Welcome to the area
England's deepest lake and highest mountain, and a little railway through Eskdale
Wasdale is a valley in the west of the National Park. Wast Water, England's deepest lake, lies in a U-shaped valley bottom, with the Screes plunging into it and Scafell Pike, England's highest mountain, above. Wasdale Head, at the north-eastern end of the lake, has a pub, a few houses and the tiny church of St Olaf, and Nether Wasdale to the west has two pubs, a campsite and a café.
Eskdale, the next valley south, has villages including Boot and Santon Bridge, several pubs and a few shops. The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, a 15-inch gauge heritage line, runs about seven miles from Ravenglass to Dalegarth, near Boot. Ravenglass is the only coastal village in the National Park, with Muncaster Castle and a Roman bath house nearby, and Hardknott Roman Fort overlooks the pass between Eskdale and the Duddon valley.
Highlights
Start here
If you only have a few hours, these are good places to begin.
Mountain
Scafell Pike
England's highest mountain at 978 metres, part of the Scafell massif above Wast Water.
Mountain
Great Gable
Pyramid-shaped mountain at the head of Wasdale; the view over Wast Water to it is the basis of the National Park's logo.
Church
St Olaf's Church
Tiny church at Wasdale Head, at the north-eastern end of Wast Water.
Heritage railway
Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway
Fifteen-inch gauge heritage railway of about seven miles from Ravenglass to Dalegarth, near Boot.
Directions Website Report a problem with Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway
Castle
Muncaster Castle
Grade I listed castle overlooking the River Esk about a mile east of Ravenglass.
Find your way
On the map
The map shows Wasdale & Eskdale and the streets around it. The Getting there page lists nearby stops and stations.
Insider tips
Before you go
1
Plan for single-track roads
The National Park Authority says the road to Wasdale Head is narrow and single-track and parking is very limited, and recommends the Wasdale Explorer where it runs.
2
Scafell Pike needs a plan
The Authority tells walkers to arrive with a plan and the right kit. Check its walkers checklist and the weather forecast before you set out.
3
Walk from Dalegarth
The Authority describes a River Esk loop from the railway stations as an easy walk of roughly 2.5 hours, and a walk from Dalegarth to Stanley Ghyll waterfall, which has a new viewing platform.
4
Stile-free routes
The Authority lists easy-access Miles without Stiles routes at Dalegarth in Eskdale and at Walls Drive in Ravenglass.
Tips from the Britlens editors
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Open the mini guide →Photo credits
- Wasdale & Eskdale (area photo): John260660, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Wast Water: James Johnstone from Ecclefechan, Scotland, CC BY 2.0, source
- Scafell Pike: Thorneh at English Wikipedia, Public domain, source
- Great Gable: Anthony Foster, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- St Olaf's Church: Brian Deegan, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway: Peter Trimming, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Muncaster Castle: LilyPadFrog, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Ravenglass Roman Bath House: Carole Raddato from FRANKFURT, Germany, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Hardknott Roman Fort: Markas1370, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Hardknott Pass: Mick Knapton at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Stanley Ghyll Force: Peter Trimming, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Eskdale Mill: David Trochos, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- St Catherine's Church: Dougsim, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Burnmoor Tarn: Ray Holderness, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Irton Cross: Dougsim, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Gosforth Cross: David Gearing, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Windermere & Bowness: Anthony Foster, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Ambleside & Grasmere: Bill Boaden, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Keswick & Derwentwater: Antiquary, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Ullswater & Pooley Bridge: Steve Daniels, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Coniston & Hawkshead: Martin Jeffries, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits
Keep exploring the Lake District