Nearest train station: The Green Station (Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway)
The Eskdale Pots are real gem of a wild swimming spot in the Lake District. If you’re looking or something truly secluded and surrounded by some of the best scenery the UK has to offer, look no further.
With waterfalls aplenty and crystal-clear water, this section of “Pots” culminates at Tongue Pot which offers the adventurous swimmer the option of jumping off nearby rocks into a 5 metre-deep pool.
The valley of Eskdale is tricky to get to which makes this Lake District wild swimming location all the more special. There are also nearby pots and pools to explore in the form of Kail and Pillar, all surrounded by the majestic beauty of the Lake District. If you’re looking for the ultimate wild swimming experience in terms of pure nature, seclusion and beauty, then look no further than the Eskdale Pots.
How to Get to Tongue Pot in Eskdale
We’ve provided detailed instructions on how to get to this heavily-secluded series of special pools along the River Esk by various means of transport below, as well as general travel information nearby.
By car
Enter the postcode CA19 1TH into your sat nav, which will take you to Hardknott Pass. This is a road that weaves through the Eskdale Valley so enjoy the views along the way. Getting to Tongue Pot will require you to park up just beyond the telephone box at the bottom of Hardknott Pass.
Follow the river on your left through the valley until you start seeing smaller waterfalls. You’ll pass both Kail Pot and Pillar Pot along the way. There’s an old bridge along the path and just before this lies the stunning Tongue Pot pool.
By public transport
Given the terrain of this section of the Lake District and the remoteness of Tongue Pot, public transport is unsurprisingly not really an option.
The closest train station is The Green Station which is part of the narrow gauge Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway. From here, you’re looking at a 2 hour hike across the valley which is doable if you’re up for it. Follow the River Esk east until you reach Tongue Pot.
By bike
Tongue Pot and the surrounding Eskdale Pots and waterfalls are located very much off road, though if you’re into mountain biking then you can follow the road through Hardknott Pass before following the route to the Pots we’ve mentioned above.
Headknott Pass is a tough climb, often cited as one of England’s hardest. You’ll then of course have to hike further to get to Tongue Pot.
What else is nearby Tongue Pot at Eskdale?
As we’ve mentioned there are the neighbouring pots of Kail and Pillar which offer similarly stunning wild swimming experiences in this secluded part of the Lake District. Also, Wastwater Lake and the Buttermere Infinity Pool aren’t too far away.
Further up the river Esk lies Lingcove Bridge & Waterfalld which also offers some beautiful blue and pristine pools to swim in. It also goes without saying that the nearby valley is a hiker’s dream. Take a look at some of these walks in Eskdale to start with.