Sights in Muncaster

Muncaster lies in north-west England, in the county of Cumbria, about 66 kilometres south-west of Carlisle. The place consists of a few houses clustered around Muncaster Castle and the nearby St Michael’s Church. The area stretches from the coast at Ravenglass inland along the River Esk. To the north it borders Drigg and Carleton, to the east Irton with Santon and Eskdale.

The name Muncaster comes from an old term meaning “Mula’s/Muli’s Roman camp,” possibly referring to the nearby Roman fort of Glannoventa at Ravenglass. In the Middle Ages a small settlement grew up around a castle whose oldest parts date from the 13th century. St Michael’s Church was rebuilt in the 16th century. The castle stands on a hill above the Esk and once controlled a ford that was later replaced by a bridge. The railway line from Whitehaven to Ravenglass has run through the area since 1849, linking the region to the national rail network.

Today Muncaster is best known for its castle and the extensive grounds that extend to the slopes of Muncaster Fell. The historic Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, a narrow-gauge heritage line, connects the village with the quarries in Eskdale. Several listed buildings can be found in the village, and the whole area lies within the Lake District National Park.