Irton

Hotels in and around Irton are few, reflecting the size of the village, but the wider Eskdale and Ravenglass area offers a good spread of small hotels, coaching inns and guesthouses suited to walkers, railway enthusiasts and those touring the western Lake District. Irton Hall, set at the foot of the fells between Wasdale and Eskdale, has long been associated with accommodation in the immediate area, while nearby Ravenglass and Boot have inns geared towards travellers on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway. Expect a more traditional, low-key style of hospitality here than in the busier central Lakes towns such as Windermere or Ambleside; many properties are converted farmhouses or historic buildings rather than purpose-built hotels.

Booking ahead is worthwhile in summer, when the railway and the fells draw steady numbers of visitors, and rooms in the smaller inns can fill quickly. Staying near Irton gives easy access to both the coast at Ravenglass and the higher fells around Eskdale and Wasdale, making it a practical base for exploring this quieter side of the National Park without the crowds found further east.

Irton itself is tiny, but it sits at the centre of some of the most rewarding sights in western Lakeland.

• Irton Cross, St Paul's Church — a 9th-century Anglo-Saxon cross, around 10 feet tall and carved from a single piece of red sandstone, standing in the churchyard of the Victorian parish church.
• Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway — the narrow-gauge steam railway (known locally as "La'al Ratty") runs seven miles from the coast at Ravenglass up to Dalegarth near Boot, with Irton Road station serving the village itself.
• Muncaster Castle — a historic castle and gardens near Ravenglass, with owl centre, extensive grounds and views back towards the fells, a short drive from Irton.
• Irton Pike — a modest fell above the village offering views over the Eskdale valley and out towards the coast, a good option for a shorter walk than the higher peaks further inland.
• Ravenglass village and harbour — the only coastal village within the Lake District National Park, at the point where the rivers Irt, Mite and Esk meet the sea.
• Wasdale and Wast Water — England's deepest lake and the approach to Scafell Pike, England's highest mountain, a scenic drive away to the north.

For food and drink, the Eskdale valley is the nearest hub, with the Brook House Inn at Boot a long-standing favourite among railway passengers and walkers, known for its real ales and hearty menu. Ravenglass has pubs and cafes serving the coastal end of the line, including options overlooking the estuary. Options directly in Irton itself are limited, so most visitors head the short distance to Boot or Ravenglass for a meal.

The fells above Irton and the wider Eskdale valley offer some genuinely wild-feeling country, but wild camping without the landowner's permission remains illegal in England, including here in Cumbria — unlike Dartmoor, there is no general right to pitch a tent on the open fell. Visitors wanting to camp should use one of the established campsites in the area, several of which sit within the Eskdale valley and around Ravenglass, offering pitches within walking distance of the fells and the narrow-gauge railway.

The terrain around Irton is a mix of low-lying farmland near the River Irt and steeper fell ground rising towards Irton Pike and the wider Eskdale fells, with Scafell Pike and Wasdale within reach for more serious hill walking. Ground can be wet underfoot for much of the year, and this western side of the Lake District catches a good deal of rainfall off the Irish Sea, so a well-pitched, weatherproof tent and decent waterproofs are worth the investment whatever the forecast promises.

Late spring to early autumn is the most comfortable window for camping here, with longer daylight hours for exploring and a better chance of settled weather, though conditions can still turn quickly at altitude. Midges can be a nuisance on still summer evenings near the becks and woodland. For those who prefer a roof over their head without giving up the outdoor feel, glamping options such as pods, yurts and safari tents have become more common across Cumbria in recent years, offering a warmer alternative during the cooler shoulder seasons while keeping campers close to the fells and the coast.