Ravenglass is the only coastal town within the Lake District National Park, and lies on the estuary of three rivers - the Esk, the Mite and the Irt. Ravenglass became an important naval base for the Romans in the 2nd century, GLANNAVENTA, though little remains of this now. The main street is paved with sea cobbles, which leads up from the shingle beach.

Once iron ore, granite and copper ore were brought to the estuary by narrow gauge railway from mines near Boot, about 8 miles away. This line has been preserved as the 'Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway', now a major tourist attraction.