River Irt

The River Irt is a short but striking river in Cumbria, northern England. It begins at Wast Water, England’s deepest lake, fed by streams from Scafell Pike’s slopes. The river leaves the lake near Whin Rigg, flowing south-west through rugged valleys and villages. It passes Nether Wasdale, Santon Bridge and Holmrook before widening into an estuary near Drigg. The tidal section lies between the Cumbria Coastal Way bridge and the railway bridge just south of Drigg station. The river is notable for its rare freshwater pearl mussels, once famous for black pearls in the 19th century. Poaching and habitat loss nearly wiped them out, but conservation work by the West Cumbria Rivers Trust between 2015 and 2018 helped protect the remaining mussels. In 2023, signs of successful reproduction were recorded for the first time since 2010. The estuary also supports wildlife in the Drigg Dunes and Irt Estuary Nature Reserve. Visitors can follow the river from its clear upland start near Scafell Pike’s streams. The path passes Nether Wasdale’s quiet lanes and the A595 road bridge at Santon Bridge. Near Drigg, the Cumbria Coastal Way crosses the river on a packhorse bridge, with views of the tidal flats. The estuary’s dunes and saltmarsh offer birdwatching, and the railway line runs alongside before the river joins the Esk and Mite at Ravenglass.