Family fun awaits at iconic narrow gauge railway

Lake District visitor attraction, the iconic Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, has an action-packed Family Fun Weekend taking place throughout the August Bank Holiday (August 25-27), with free activities, competitions and photo opportunities crammed into the exciting three-day event.

Each day features a feast of entertainment, including circus skills, owls and a ‘Win A Keeper Day’ competition from the World Owl Trust, as well as arts and crafts activities with the RSPB, face painting and tattoos. All will take place at Dalegarth Station, in the shadow of England’s highest mountains.

A Discovery Trail has a prize of a Wigwam Holiday at award winning Woodclose Park in Kirkby Lonsdale up for grabs, while there is also the chance to win a dream ride on the footplate of one of the engines.

Heritage engine, Synolda, celebrating her 100th birthday in 2012, will be on the turntable at Ravenglass and available for photo opportunities. This lovely engine was rescued from Belle Vue Zoo in 1978 and lovingly restored. She is a little too fragile for every day appearances, so this is a rare chance to be pictured with her.

Ravenglass and Eskdale’s watervole mascot, La’al Ratty, will be joined by visiting mascot friends, while local radio station, Bay Radio, will take their mascot to their Bay Radio roadshow broadcasting from Ravenglass Station on August 25.

All of this additional activity is offered free of charge to those travelling to Dalegarth from Ravenglass Station, on the Lake District’s coast. Return tickets cost £33.50 for a family of four, including a free line guide, the new discovery trail and scratch cards. Adult return tickets cost £12.60 and children’s tickets are priced at £6.30. Under 5s travel for free and discounts are available to those purchasing online at ravenglass-railway.co.uk.

Trains run all day on the idyllic seven-mile journey, often considered England’s most scenic narrow gauge railway trip, and places do not have to be pre-booked. Travelling across coastal estuary, through hidden Miterdale, past imposing Muncaster Fell and into stunning Eskdale really is a treat, so don’t miss out on the fun and all the added value on offer over this August Bank Holiday weekend!