Eskdale, North Yorkshire facts for kids
Eskdale is a beautiful valley in England. It stretches from Westerdale in the North York Moors all the way to Whitby on the Yorkshire Coast.
This valley was shaped during the last big ice age. Huge sheets of ice, called glaciers, slowly moved through the land. They carved out the rock, leaving behind a special "U-shaped" valley.
Eskdale gets its name from the River Esk. The word "Esk" comes from an old Celtic word meaning "water" or "stream." The River Esk starts high up in an area called "Esklets" and flows through the entire valley until it reaches the sea at Whitby.
Contents
Nature and Farming
The tops of the valley's steep sides are covered in purple heather. This makes them look like a big, soft carpet. Down in the valley, the land is mostly used for farming.
Farmers here raise cows and Swaledale sheep. They also grow crops like oil seed rape. This plant has bright yellow flowers and is used to make cooking oil.
Exploring Eskdale
Eskdale is a great place for outdoor adventures.
Esk Valley Walk
The Esk Valley Walk is a long walking path. It covers about 35 miles (56 kilometers). The walk starts at the very beginning of the River Esk and follows it all the way to Whitby. It's a fantastic way to see the whole valley.
Esk Valley Line
A railway line, called the Esk Valley Line, also runs through Eskdale. It goes from Commondale eastwards towards Whitby. This train line is named after the valley it travels through.
Eskdale School
There's even a school in Whitby named after the valley. It's called Eskdale School.
The River Esk and Flooding
The River Esk flows through a narrow part of the valley. The water has slowly cut into the soft rock over many years. Because of this, heavy rain can sometimes cause the river to flood quickly.
There have been big floods in Eskdale in the past, like in 1840, 1930, and 2000. The flood in 1930 was very strong. It even destroyed the bridge over the river in a village called Sleights. A new bridge for the A169 road was built in Sleights in 1937.
