A string of small villages along the coast of Cumbria have been named as the most isolated place to live in the north west - and among the most remote in England.
Ravenglass, and surrounding hamlets of Eskmeals and Hyton, are far removed from the main tourist traps of the Lake District, making the quaint settlements a hidden gem.
The sandy shores of Ravenglass, around two-and-a-half hours' drive from Manchester, mean it's the only coastal village in the boundary of the Lake District National Park.
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But the area is so off the beaten track that it takes residents nearly half an hour to the nearest primary school, while the nearest secondary school is two hours away by foot, and more than an hour away by public transport or bike, figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show.
It takes two hours to walk or more than an hour to take public transport to the nearest GP, while the nearest hospital is around two hours away by foot and bike, or an hour and a half away by public transport.
It also takes nearly an hour and 45 minutes to walk to the nearest food shops.
While connectivity and easy access to amenities isn't its main draw, people living in the area can soak up stunning postcard views and take in its rich history.
Ravenglass was originally a Roman naval base, and its once busy port saw ships travel from across the Roman Empire to provide supplies to forts at Hardknott and Ambleside.
It's a special place where two UNESCO World Heritage Sites meet – Hadrian’s Wall and the Lake District National Park.
The village not only has its own castle, but boasts its own steam railway - The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway - which is one of the oldest and longest narrow gauge railways in the country, transporting passengers across a 40-minute scenic journey to Dalegarth.
Gill Haigh, managing director of Cumbria Tourism, said this part of the region is proof the county isn't just about its renowned lakes.
She hails the area as a great place to stay for nature-lovers to explore.
“With stunning shores and beaches, Cumbria’s coast is proof that our county is not just about the lakes and mountains," she said.
"There are plenty of pretty seaside villages along the coast that make for a great stay, with beautiful beaches, marine nature reserves, and family-friendly activities.
"Visitors can easily spend a couple of days discovering the town’s deep heritage, with Roman structures and the impressive 13th Century Muncaster Castle.
"The heritage steam Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway is a fantastic day out for families, with spectacular views along the dramatic west coast leading to the foot of England’s highest mountain range."
Gill added: "The area is a great destination for walking and wildlife, with easy access to the scenic Eskdale Valley and the beautiful Eskmeal Dunes nature reserve just over the estuary.
"For those looking to get back to nature and enjoy a relaxing escape where they can truly ‘switch off’, the Cumbrian Coast is the perfect destination.“
The 'isolation' statistics for the area came from a study based on official figures from the ONS.
The study ranks every one of 32,844 neighbourhoods in England - which contain roughly the same number of people (around 1,500) - based on how long the ONS says it takes an average person to reach key services.
That includes primary and secondary schools, GP surgeries and food shops, plus major railway stations and major airports, by foot, bike, public transport and car.
'Major' airports are those with at least one per cent of UK air traffic, while 'major' rail stations are those which are considered, for official purposes, to be national or regional hubs.
At the other end of the scale for our region, the Manchester neighbourhood of Victoria Park was named as one of the most well-connected in England.
There, you can walk to the nearest primary school in three minutes, and the nearest secondary school in nine minutes, while the nearest doctor’s surgery is just six minutes’ walk away.
The hospital takes just 15 minutes to walk to, and you can walk to the nearest food shops in just four minutes.
Meanwhile, Manchester Airport T1 is less than an hour away by public transport or 22 minutes by car, and Manchester Piccadilly is 24 minutes away by public transport - or 11 minutes by car.
