RAVENGLASS CHARTER FAIR
Frequently asked questions
Where is Ravenglass?
On the coast of West Cumbria, just off the A595 Whitehaven-Barrow road between Holmrook and Muncaster Castle. You will find it on the Ordnance Survey Landranger Map 96 (Barrow-in-Furness & South Lakeland) in Grid Square SD 08 96. For Google Maps, Multimap, satnav, etc. use the postcode CA18 1SW.
To find out more about our village go to www.ravenglassvillage.co.uk
How do I get there?
By car: make for the A595 (directions above). There will be special parking arrangements for the Charter Fair. Please follow the directions of the marshals and do not park on the road.
Do not attempt the road from Ambleside over Wrynose and Hardknott Passes with a trailer, large vehicle or nervous passengers. It is a single-track mountain road with very tight bends on gradients of 1 in 3 (33%).
By bus: Stagecoach runs the local bus service - www.stagecoachbus.com/region_4.html
By Train: for the main line service between Carlisle and Barrow on Saturdays see www.nationalrail.co.uk/ Trains do not run between Whitehaven and Barrow on Sundays.
The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway runs every day in summer for passengers from Eskdale. See www.ravenglass-railway.co.uk
By sea: if you are a yottie, why not? The author of this site is not competent to give you sailing directions but for tidal information he recommends a visit to http://wxtide32.com/
What’s the entry fee for the Charter Fair?
Nothing for entertainment in the open air, though our collectors may rattle buckets at you or offer you raffle tickets. Please give generously. We have to pay for performers, facilities, insurance, etc.
The Roosters concert on Friday night, workshops on Saturday and the Merry Neet on Saturday night will be ticketed events. Weekend Tickets will allow admission to all these events. Advance booking prices are £10 for adults, £4 children aged 5 to 15, under 5 free. You will be able to download booking forms early in 2009.
Will there be transport back up Eskdale after the evening events?
Yes. The Muncaster Microbus will provide a shuttle service up Eskdale to hotels and campsites from the Village Car Park from 10 pm. Seating capacity 15 (strict limit); waiting time between trips about an hour.
What about food and drink?
No need to bring a picnic. Please click the Food & Drink button in the navigation bar.
Will the weather be good?
This is an event in the Lake District, so we can’t offer guarantees. There will be plenty of entertainment under cover. Even the BBC weather forecasts for this area are not totally reliable; the weather in Carlisle, Whitehaven or inland may be quite different from the weather here. For a last-minute check try the Rose Garth webcam at www.rose-garth.co.uk/webcam.cfm
How do I book space for a stall at the Charter Fair?
There will be new booking arrangements for stalls in 2009. We shall publish them as soon as possible.
Where’s the glass factory?
We haven’t got one - honestly. Ravenhead Glass, who used to make those lovely dimpled pint glasses, is in St Helen’s, not in Ravenglass. If you still don’t believe us, go to news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2759077.stm