Eskdale is one of Cumbria's most delightful valleys, full of interest and beauty, with little hamlets dotting along it, and with great rocky crags crowning lovely wooded slopes. The valley has a network of old routed, some of which are tarmac,but most are unspoilt, together with pony tracks. One of these leads over the bridge at Boot, up and over Burnmoor, and down to Wasdale.
Bordering on Eskdale is Birker Force, a fine waterfall to see after heavy rains, along with Dalegarth Force, one of the country's gems, a waterfall leaping over sixty feet into a wooded ravine. Not far away is Devoke Water, the small lake a mile long and half as wide, high up in the fells nearly 800 feet above the sea. It is famous for its trout.
The churchyard here was not consecrated for burials until 1901. Over this (aptly named) Corpse road, the coffins from Wasdale were carried to St Catherine's... Locals here still talk of the day that a pack-horse took fright and disappeared into the mist with the body of one Thomas Porter strapped to its back. St Catherine's Church is down by the river in an idyllic setting. It is typical of a small dale church, built like a barn and largely 17th century. The monks from Furness Abbey, which owned much of Eskdale, built the original chapel here long before this church was built.
Note the Holy Well in a small plateau above the path, along with the tombstones ofTommy Dobson and Willy Porter, huntsmen of the Eskdale and Ennerdale pack, and of great local renown.
The village of Eskdale Green was changed considerably around a hundred years ago, when the Rea family bought Gate House Farm, and developed the Gate House Estate. These days the centre of the village is the post office cum shop, the owner of which is a cousin to the maker of Woodall's Cumberland Sausage.
The pub here 'The King George'..was at one time named the 'King of Prussia', but had its name changed at the outbreak of World War I.
'La'al Ratty', the steam train from the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, makes a loop around the village, but has stations on either side.
Above Eskdale Green is 'Miterdale' where a ruined farmhouse is haunted by the ghost of a gypsy,known as 'Beckside Boggle' gurglings can still be heard on moonlight nights!
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