Whillanside
Description
General Introduction
Whillanside is a house full of character with dark wooden beams, wonky walls and an original cast iron fireplace at its heart.
Situated by picturesque waterfalls in the hamlet of Boot which nestles in the Eskdale valley, Whillanside is an ideal retreat for walkers and visitors looking to get away from it all, but who also like a good pub nearby!
Whillanside is a wonderful starting point for hundreds of walks, either on the fells or along the banks of the River Esk, which flows from Scafell at the top of the valley down to the estuary at Ravenglass, an old fishing village complete with a ruined Roman bath-house. The river has natural pools for swimming and is a popular place for canoeing and for fishing. In the Eskdale valley is an 18 hole golf course and private salmon fishing river. The famous Ravenglass & Eskdale Miniature Railway runs along the valley, its steam trains leisurely making the seven mile journey down to the sea.
There are five pubs in the valley – the Boot Inn is almost opposite the cottage, whilst the The Brook House Inn is a five minute walk away. All welcome children and serve real ales and a wide choice of good food. Eskdale village shop, Eskdale Stores, sells a comprehensive range of goods, including groceries, fresh fruit and vegetables, food to go, alcohol and newspapers. The Post Office at Boot also sells a variety of goods including home-made sandwiches. A public payphone is located 30 yards away, and there is some reception in Eskdale for mobile phones on the Orange network.
Photos
Photos
Things To Do
Things To Do
Whillanside: The Surrounding Area
Although most famous for its walking opportunities, the Lakes offer a wide variety of leisure activities. Close to Whillanside (5 mins walk) is the small gauge railway The La'al Ratty which runs regular steam engine services to the old Roman port of Ravenglass.
There are also many fishing rivers, streams, and lakes. Day passes can be purchased from local ambling associations where needed - click here for further details. There is also free fishing at Burnmoor Tarn or day tickets can be purchased for the River Irt or the River Esk (01229 467211), or Devoke Water on Birker Moor (01229 717237).
Beaches
St.Bees is a delightful beach with breathtaking views toward the Isle of Man from St Bees Head. St. Bees is the start of the coast to coast walk and only heritage coastline between Wales and Scotland with an RSBP bird reserve.
Golf
Golf Courses in Cumbria provides a list of courses. Within a few miles of the cottage are:
- Eskdale Golf Club (10 mins drive from Eskdale Village)
- Cockermouth Golf Club (45 minutes from Eskdale)
- St.Bees Golf Course (30 minutes from Eskdale)
- Seascale Golf Course (15 minutes from Eskdale)
- Windermere Golf Course (50 minutes from Eskdale)
- Workington Golf Course (50 minutes from Eskdale)
Eskdale Events
- Eskdale Art Exhibition- held on the Whit Bank Holiday weekend in May at the Primary School in Eskdale Green.
- Boot Beer Festival - held around 9 June (www.bootbeer.co.uk)
- Eskdale Fete, Held annually at the Outward Bound Centre, Eskdale Green, August Bank Holiday - please visit eskdale.info for further details.
- Eskdale Show - the last Saturday in September in the field by the George IV pub.
WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE
- Scafell Pike - England's highest mountain
- Wastwater - England's deepest lake
- Hundreds of riverside, valley and mountain walks and climbs
- Ravenglass & Eskdale Miniature Railway:www.ravenglass-railway.co.uk
- Muncaster Castle, with its azaleas, rhododendrons and Owl Sanctuary:
www.muncaster.co.uk& www.owls.org - Hardknott Roman Fort & Ravenglass Roman Bath House
- Eskdale Corn Mill - still working with its waterwheel
- Ravenglass fishing village
- Fold End Art Gallery
- Fishing on river or stocked pool
- Stanley Ghyll waterfall
- 5 pubs in the valley - please visit www.brookhouseinn.co.uk or www.bootinn.co.uk for the two of the nearest pubs to Gillbank.
Within one hour's drive are most of the Lake District's attractions, including:
- Boating on Derwentwater, Coniston and Windermere
- Windermere, with its Steamboat Museum, marina, water skiing and sailing
- Horse riding and pony trekking
- Dozens of historical houses and castles open to the public
- Wordsworth's birthplace and his homes, Dove Cottage and Rydal Mount
www.wordsworth.org.uk - Brantwood, home to John Ruskin: www.brantwood.org.uk
- Golf courses
- Cumbria's coast with sandy beaches
- The 'Theatre by the Lakeside' at Keswick: www.theatrebythelake.com
- The Lakeland Sheep and Wool Centre:
www.sheep-woolcentre.co.uk - Shopping at Ambleside and Kendal
- Steamboat Gondola on Coniston
- South Lakeland Wild Animal Park: www.wildanimalpark.co.uk
