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Haweswater

Cumbria  >  United Kingdom

Haweswater is wild and wonderful, best explored with sturdy boots, a backpack and a map.

Added* by Annabel Rushton
Most recent update 6 apríl 2023
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Description

Haweswater is a RSPB managed site owned by water company United Utilities. It stretches across 30 sq km of rushing streams, ancient oak woodland, valley mires, wildflower meadows and dramatic mountains in the Eastern Lake District National Park. It is home to muchárik čiernohlavý, žltochvost hôrny, vodnár potočný, kukučka obyčajná, skaliarik sivý, drozd kolohrivec, sokol sťahovavý, kolibiarik sykavý, ľabtuška hôrna, kalužiačik malý, močiarnica mekotavá, pŕhľaviar červenkastý, myšiak hôrny, krkavec čierny, pŕhľaviar čiernohlavý, sova lesná, žlna zelená, brhlík obyčajný, stehlík hnedkavý, stehlík čížik, potápač veľký and čajka sivá. Until a few years ago, it was also home to orol skalný, and there is the hope that some day they may return.

Details

Access

A car park is situated at Mardale Head at the top of Haweswater reservoir and it is open at all times. A donation cairn, to support the RSPB’s work at Haweswater, is situated in the car park, with a suggested donation of £2. Please note that only cash donations can be made in the cairn as the lack of mobile phone reception means card payments aren't possible. The grid reference for this car park is NY469108. Click on the P in the map for directions or coordinates.

Haweswater’s rugged landscape can be discovered through a variety of hiking trails. On the map is shown a 16 km circular walk around the reservoir, but there are many other options. Haweswater does not have a visitor centre, public toilets, public hides or a cafe. Please also bear in mind that the upland landscape here is incredibly steep and rugged, with very uneven terrain, so the paths can be demanding.

For a more strenuous but very rewarding option, hike up the Long Stile ridge to High Street - at 828 m altitude, the highest High Street in Britain by far, and the only one with no shops (!!) - and then walk north along this ancient Roman road, and back down via Kidsty Pike. As well as superb views, the flat, open top here can attract kulík vrchovský on spring passage in May, and the crags on the way up are excellent for drozd kolohrivec.

Terrain and Habitat

Forest , Mountain , Valley , Moors/heathland , Agriculture , River , Grassland , Scattered trees and bushes , Lake

Conditions

Mountainous , Open landscape , High water possible , Rocky , Hilly , Wet

Circular trail

Yes

Is a telescope useful?

Can be useful

Good birding season

Spring , Summer

Best time to visit

Spring

Route

Narrow trail , Unpaved road

Difficulty walking trail

Strenuous

Accessible by

Car , Foot

Birdwatching hide / platform

No

Extra info

Since 2012, the RSPB has been running two farms to showcase how sustainable farming can work hand-in-hand with conservation to benefit wildlife, water and people. To keep the landscape rich and healthy, RSPB ensures the right levels of grazing by cattle, sheep and ponies. Trees and alpine flowers are grown from local seed in the on-site nursery, then planted out onto the fells to help restore a diverse mosaic of habitats.

Links

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Map

Top 5 birds

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