Visitor information

YOUR VISIT

Open schedule

April-October – Sunday-Thursday, 10.30am-4.30pm

November-March – selected days only 11am-3.30pm (27th-31st Dec and February half-term)

Planning your visit

Due to our small internal spaces, we operate staggered visits for up to 10 people with approximately 10 minute intervals. Groups of more than 10 persons (or more than 2 family groups) will be able to take up 2 consecutive slots to maintain quality visits for all.

Schools, community and group bookings are welcome. Please do contact our reception to arrange for groups of over 10 persons. Discounts are available for large groups.

During the busy summer period, it is advised that you book online BELOW to secure your preferred time slot. During the quieter winter months reservations aren’t needed, although you may have a short wait if there are others before you. Phone reservations are possible all year round.

The latter part of your visit will be spent outside in the grounds and gardens. There are a variety of atmospheric spaces for you to enjoy a picnic, relax in the natural setting, appreciate the cascades and even play with our interactives. Let’s hope the weather is favourable for you!

Gift Aided admissions

If you are a UK tax payer, please consider participating in our Gift Aid scheme. This is a massive boost to us as a small heritage charity. A small extra donation on your admission fee means that we can make a subsequent claim to HMRC and further increase our core income.

Accessibility & welfare

If you have mobility issues you may find it challenging to get around. This is due to the historic setting of the site, granite bedrock and steep steps within and outside the mill. The ground-floor exhibition room contains a virtual tour for our disabled visitors. We are able to provide alternative routes for those with walking aids and have provided handrails, where possible. Please do contact manager@eskdalemill.co.uk if you wish to discuss further.

There is a disabled toilet and baby changing facilites.

Parking

Please note there is no car park at the mill or in Boot village. We are situated across a narrow packhorse bridge which was built with horses and people in mind, but not cars!

• You can use car parking facilities at Dalegarth station, which is only a scenic 10 minutes walk away.
• There is also a free car park at Trough House Bridge to the south of Boot, which is a 20 minute walk away. To find us from the Trough House Bridge car park, retrace your steps north along the road. Cross over the River Esk and turn right at the T-junction. Follow the road east past Dalegarth Station on your left. Follow the signs to the mill and at the next crossroads, turn left at the Brook House Inn. Keep going and we are just past The Boot Inn and over the packhorse bridge.

If you choose to use a car, please plan your route carefully using a road map. Don’t rely on your SatNav directions which will suggest routes over the Wrynose and Hardknott Passes from Ambleside. These are very difficult even in good conditions. Equally scenic, but less terrifying routes can be found via Ulpha and Birker Fell (from the South) or Gosforth and Holmrook (from the North). Roads over the fells may be closed too, so please make sure you check local travel updates.

Please take extra care driving on the narrow roads within the valley!

OUR VISITOR CHARTER:

• We endeavour to ensure your safety at all times whilst visiting our complex.
• We apply limits on numbers of people visiting each small space at any one time.
• We have adapted all areas to encourage a one-way flow throughout the internal spaces.
• We keep our gates, doors and windows open for your convenience to ensure good ventilation.
• Our team is trained to incorporate these measures into our operations.
• All hard surfaces are cleaned regularly.
• We have installed hand sanitiser stations at appropriate points in the mill.

We ask that:

• You co-operate with our safety measures and respect each other’s space.
• You don’t visit if you display any of the COVID-19 symptoms.
• You use our signage to guide you around our one-way system.
• You use the hand sanitisers provided to help protect yourself, our teams and the local residents.
• You don’t touch our shop items unless you intend to buy something.
• You take your litter away with you.
• You follow the Countryside Code whilst visiting the area.

View our Terms & Conditions 

See our Privacy Policy

Countryside Code can be viewed here countryside-code-poster.pdf