Ravenglass in the western Lake District has been named by The Guardian as one of Britain’s top ten coastal gems.

The paper said: ‘The Lake District is mobbed at this time of year but fewer visitors make it to the wilder shores of the village of Ravenglass, located where three rivers (the Esk, Mite and Irt) combine to meet the Irish Sea’.

 The paper recommended lapping ‘up the luxury at the Pennington hotel, a former coaching inn with stunning views over the estuary, whose restaurant sources vegetables, fruits and herbs from nearby Muncaster Castle’s historic kitchen gardens’.

The pretty coastal village is handily placed for access to historic Muncaster Castle as well as the stunning Wasdale valley, home to England’s highest mountain, deepest lake and Britain’s best view.

The ever popular narrow gauge Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, known affectionately as the La’al Ratty, runs from Ravenglass through the picturesque Eskdale Valley and close to the foot of Scafell Pike.

Peter Frost-Pennington, whose family own Muncaster Castle and the Pennington says: “Ravenglass really is a hidden gem, so it’s nice that The Guardian picked it as one of Britain’s finest coastal hideaways.

“Millions of people come over to the Lake District but most of them never make it over to this corner of the Lakes.  Very few people realise that the Lake District actually extends to the sea here. 

“People can still indulge in the finest scenery the Lake District has to offer - the idyllic valleys, lakes and dramatic mountains - with the added bonus of coastal views too.”

Muncaster Castle is located just outside Ravenglass and apart from the historic Castle also features glorious gardens, the World Owl Centre, a children’s maze and special events for children.

Nearly every day throughout August visitors are being treated to a feast of tomfoolery at Muncaster, which was home to the great Tom Fool more than 400 years ago, with music, magic, juggling, acrobatics and comedy for all ages.

In October the Castle will celebrate Halloween Week with a range of activities for children and a chance to see the Castle after dark.

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