Walking There
are lots of walks in this area to suit everyone, from
casual strolls along the side of the lake to strenous
hikes up to the highest peaks.
High
Street
6 miles, 3-4 hours Starting
at the car park at the end of the road, go through the gate
and head uphill, taking the middle path when it splits into
three. Follow the line of Mardale Beck (the small stream),
eventually merging with it at Small Water. This is a lovely
place to stop, enjoy the views and get your breath back.
Cross the beck using the stepping stones and circle round
the small lake to head up to Nan Bield Pass which joins
Harter Fell and Mardale Ill Bell. From here are trememdous
views of numerous peaks all the way down to Morecombe Bay.
On a clear day you can even see Blackpool tower!
Turn right and head uphill following the path to the rather
unspectucular summit of Mardale Ill Bell. From here, it's
an easy stroll along a broad path to a wall near Thornthwaite
Crag. Follow this wall northwards along the Roman Road to
the top of High Street from where there are, unsurprisingly,
some superb panoramic views.
There are many ways of returning to the car park. The most
dramatic is via Riggindale Crag - tricky to find if it's
misty. From the cairn at the top of High Street, head north
for 300 metres till you spot a cairn that marks the path
going east, back to the lake. Follow this path for around
2 miles, climbing down, sometimes quite steeply, all the
way.
Round
the lake
All the way round - 12 miles, 4-5 hours
From the hotel to the dam and back - 4 miles, 1-2 hours You can start this walk at the hotel - simply hop
over the wall (or go through the gate) by the side of
the road and head down till you
reach the path. If you're just going to the dam, turn
right. If you're going all the way round (!), you have
a choice
- clockwise or anti-clockwise. Whichever walk you choose,
you are sure to see some wildlife - make sure you take
your
binolcuars.
The views of the fells are fantastic and the peace and quiet
you experience by the lakeside makes this a delightful place
to walk.
The path is easy to follow although can be a little slippery.
The
Old Corpse Road
6 miles, 4-5 hours
Starting at the car park at the end of the road, take
the path that zig-zags steeply up, going east. Once you
reach the summit (and have enjoyed the lovely views) leave
the Old Corpse Road and head south on a less obvious path
to the top of Selside Pike. Stick to the left of this
section and you'll have excellent views down into Swindale
and across to the Pennines.
From
the summit of Selside Pike are magnificent views west
across to the High Street range and east to the wild
Shap Fells and the Howgills. From here, head for Branstree
by following a path along the western side of the
fence.
Just before reaching the summit of Branstree are a couple
of large 'beehive' cairns. From the summit are yet more
wonderful views of High Street, Harter Fell and Mardale
Ill Bell and the tarns of Blea Water and Small Water.
This is probably one of the most spectacular viewpoints
in the eastern Lake District.
Following a fence, head down to Gatescarth Pass where
you join the main bridlepath. To your left is the craggy
east face of Harter Fell. Then simply follow the path
back to the car park.
Relaxing
Just
because others are busy walking up and down hills doesn't
mean you have to feel guilty about doing nothing! Sitting
by one of the open log fires or on the terrace reading a
good book, playing a board game or just having a drink are
just some of the activities for which the Haweswater Hotel
is famous.
Bird
watching
This
is a great area for birds since for miles around is unspoilt
wilderness that is seldom disturbed.
Golden
eagles
Update
April 2004: the female golden eagle is missing, feared dead.
The male golden eagle is still in the Haweswater area
and is putting on spectacular display flights, probably in
the hope of attracting a new female to join him. Find
out more
A
pair had been nesting at the remote Riggindale reserve near
Haweswater since
1969. This reserve was
the only place in England where golden eagles nested.
(It can be reached from the car park at the end of
the road.
It's always open but the observation
point is only open during the breeding season April
- August).
The
nesting site at Riggindale was first discovered in
1969 and has since been under the RSPB's
protection. 2001
saw the arrival of the new male to join the female,
who'd been in the rocky Riggindale
valley
since 1982. The last successful hatching was in 1996.
Each year many thousands of people, including bird watchers
from as far away as Australia, visit the Haweswater valley
to observe the nesting eagles from the observation point.
Other
birds
Peregrines, buzzards and sparrowhawks are also spotted
in the woodland of the nearby Naddle Forest along with
redstarts,
wood warblers, pied flycatchers and ravens.
On Haweswater itself there are breeding cormorant, teal
and red-breasted merganser, common sandpiper, herring and
lesser black-backed gulls.
Fishing A
good head of wild brown trout, char, gwyniad and perch
can be found in the lake. Bank fishing, fly only, is free
to all holders of Environment Agency licence (no maggot
or loose feeding is allowed)
