The historic Eskdale Mill in the village of Boot will be open to the public this October half-term.
Thanks to ongoing funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Eskdale Mill has been open since August for two days a week. Measures are in place to ensure Covid-safe visits, including a new reception area, one-way flows, an online booking system and, of course, regular sanitising. As a result, the mill has received “Good to Go” recognition from Visit England.
The mill and surrounding buildings are Grade 2* listed, so the adaptations have had to be sensitively carried out to ensure that the fabric of the buildings weren’t altered. This has created a challenge for the team but has meant that the changes are in-keeping with the quirky environment of this 16th century building.
Eskdale Mill & Heritage Trust has pledged to the ‘Kids in Museums’ manifesto making the mill a family friendly visitor centre promising quality time and fun activities for all to do. The newly installed exhibition features working milling machinery driven by two restored water wheels, interactive displays and relaxing woodland grounds surrounded by the cascades of the Whillan beck.
Eskdale Mill now offers staggered visitor entry via an online booking system. To ensure your preferred time, make sure you pre-book before arriving and check www.eskdalemill.co.uk/visit for availability. The mill will be open five days per week from 19th to 30th October, from Sunday to Thursday, between 10.30am and 4.30pm. In November, it will move to winter opening hours.
Eskdale Mill is only a 10-minute walk away from Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway’s Dalegarth station, so many visitors make a day of it and travel through to the Eskdale valley using the steam train. As well as the visitor centre at the mill, there’s a variety of walks and popular pubs within Boot village that serve meals.
Their Mill Manager, Kate Hughes commented “We offer consistent excellent visitor experience for people of all interests and ages. Come and discover the unique gems on your doorstep and support Copeland’s local businesses during this challenging time. We can help you to escape the ‘grind’ and spend memorable time with all the family”
For bookings and more information, contact Kate Hughes on 019467 23335 or email [email protected] or book online at www.eskdalemill.co.uk/visit
