Best Wild Swim Spots in Ravenglass

Ravenglass is a coastal town making the sea the most obvious choice for a swim! If you prefer more enclosed wild swims, there are a number of little spots dotted about nearby…

• Tongue Pot, Upper Eskdale 

For a higher up swim spot, catch the train from Ravenglass to Dalegarth and hike to Upper Eskdale. Your walk is rewarded with the stunning Tongue Pot; a long, emerald pool beneath a crystal clear waterfall pouring from a cleft of the mountain stream and overlooked by a quaint packhorse bridge. A pebble beach shelves down on one side of the pool, providing access to the water. The water is enclosed with sheer rock walls making this a popular place for rock jumping. If you don’t want to hike from the train station, a 20-minute drive from Ravenglass will take you to parking at Hardknott pass. Tongue Pot can reached via a 2-mile walk from here. 

• Blea Tarn 

A popular route on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, a small, 3 mile hike from Beckfoot station will take you to Blea Tarn. The steep hike is rewarded with a remote swim surrounded by a skyline of mountains, with the calm water reflecting the fells beautifully. There is a good water entry point on the south side of the tarn. Due to the height of the tarn, be aware that the water will be cold and exposed to the elements.