spring in the duddon valley summer at millom’s nature reserves autumn in eskdale winter in wasdale Sheep have quite literally shaped this landscape; centuries of This walk explores the Eskdale woodland and a delightful Millom was home to one of the world’s largest haematite There is no grander place to experience winter than Wasdale. hill farming has led to the development of an intricate network section of the River Esk. Look out for red squirrels stocking up mines and ironworks until the 1960’s. Now these fascinating Carved by glaciers and ringed by mountains this deep dramatic of fields and pasture, bound by dry-stone walls. On the high on the autumn harvest, and stand quietly by the deep pools on industrial sites are home to a variety of wildlife. valley catches more than its fair share of snow. fells sheep have groomed the slopes into smooth open the River Esk to catch sight of the salmon or sea trout as they This walk compares the sights and sounds of the flooded This walk includes the viewpoint at Countess Beck voted expanses. Look out for local Herdwicks; these hardy beasts make their way up stream to spawn. A bonus is the impressive ‘Britain’s favourite view’ and at every turn there is a different can endure rough conditions, even on the highest summits. mines at Hodbarrow Lagoon with the natural dunes at waterfall at Stanley Gill; autumn rainfall adds dramatically to its Haverigg. This stunning and relatively easy walk has wildlife perspective of the peaks of Yewbarrow, Kirkfell, Great Gable As well as the Herdwicks, keep your eyes peeled for red cascade. Dippers can also be seen on the river through and the Scafell Massif. squirrels in the coniferous woodland. spotting opportunities at every turn. autumn and winter and magnificent ornamental trees create Watch out for thrushes, field fair and red wing, and in winter Look for great crested grebes, pochards and red-breasted a cathedral like atmosphere. Start/Finish: Car park, near Hinning House (GR SD 234 995) mergansers on the lagoon and on the sands catch sight of listen for the call of ravens. Start/Finish: Dalegarth Station (GR NY 173 007) Distance: 13.8km (8.6 miles) dunlins, oystercatchers and redshanks. Around a quarter Start/Finish: Nether Wasdale (GR NY 124 040) of the UK natterjack toad population is found on the Distance: 4.8km (3 miles) Time: 5 - 6 hours Distance: 9.5km (6 miles) Duddon Estuary. The flora within the dunes includes the Height gain: 590m Time: 2 hours pyramidal orchid. Time: 3 - 4 hours Height gain: 150m Maps: OS Landranger 96, OS Explorer OL 6, Height gain: 150m Harveys’ Superwalker Lakeland West and Start/Finish: Hodbarrow Nature Reserve Car Park (GR SD 177 786) Maps: OS Landranger 89 & 96, OS Explorer OL 6, Maps: OS Landranger 89, OS Explorer OL 6, Southwest (1:25 000), Distance: 8km (5 miles) Harveys’ Superwalker Lakeland West (1:25 000), Harveys’ Superwalker Lakeland West (1:25 000), British Mountain Maps Lake District (1:40 000) British Mountain Maps Lake District (1:40 000) Time: 3 hours British Mountain Maps Lake District (1:40 000) 1. Leave the car park turning right; follow the valley road for about Height gain: 50m 1. Turn left out of the station and follow the valley road 250m to a 1. From Nether Wasdale head southeast to a junction. Turn right 200m to cross a bridge on the right. Turn left onto a permissive lane on the right, opposite the Brook House Inn. Follow the Maps: OS Landranger 96, OS Explorer OL 6, and follow the road to cross the River Irt over Cinderdale Bridge. path through the trees, which climbs slightly, then descends to the lane to St Catherine’s Church beside the River Esk. The best Harveys’ Superwalker Lakes Southwest (1:25 000), Turn left to follow the track to the farm at Easthwaite. River Duddon. Follow the riverside path for 1.3km to a junction. way to cross is to turn left beside the church and follow the British Mountain Maps Lake District (1:40 000) Go through the farmyard and follow the access track to the 2. Turn right and follow the bridleway as it climbs besides riverside path to cross the footbridge near Gill Force. pumping station for a fantastic viewpoint over Wastwater. Grassguards Gill to join a track at Grassguards. Turn left and 1. Follow the track past the old lighthouse to a junction of paths at 2. After crossing the footbridge turn left and follow the rough path follow the track past the farm at Grassguards. The track Hodbarrow Point. The headland is worth exploring for wonderful until it reaches a wall. Turn right and make a short climb up 2. Ignore the onward path past the pumping station, and backtrack continues across open fell side to the low col near an old views stretching from the Lake District fells across the Duddon the bank to join the Eskdale Bridleway. Turn right and follow the along the access track for about 200m to the start of a path on farmhouse at Low Stonythwaite. Head south across the col Estuary. bridleway through the woods to cross a footbridge over Stanley the right. Follow the path beside the River Irt to Lund Bridge and descend the steep zig-zag bridleway to the farm at Pop into the bird hide (on the sea wall) to observe the breeding Gill. Continue along the bridleway through a field to a junction (footbridge). High Wallowbarrow. Sandwich and Arctic Terns. If you’re lucky you might even spot with a rough lane/bridleway. 3. Follow the path into Low Wood as it works its way along the 3. Ignore the bridleway through farmyard, turn left to follow the the Little Tern. 3. Turn left at the junction; follow the track to the access point for bank of the River Irt. Continue on the footpath past the path through pasture, then trees to cross the arched footbridge. 2. From the junction follow the track right around the seawall to a Stanley Force. The footpath up to Stanley Force climbs beside boathouse and skirt round by the lakeshore. Follow the path through trees to another footbridge over Tarn T-junction beside the water-ski club / caravan park. the beck within the narrow confines of Stanley Gill and crosses Eventually the path feeds into the grounds of Wasdale Hall (YHA). Beck. Turn left and follow the valley road to the Newfield Inn. three footbridges. The upper section beyond the second bridge 3. Turn left and follow the lane into Haverigg. Follow it past the front of the hall, still beside the lake, until it is up a series of narrow rocky steps, which are often damp and 4. Continue on the valley road, past the church, to turn right at 4. Cross the bridge over Haverigg Pool and turn right to follow the reaches a stile at a wall. Cross the stile, turn right onto the slippery. This section is very impressive but care should be the Walna Scar Road. Follow it to the end of the tarmac road to the Lifeboat Station and car park. Walk past the Lifeboat Wasdale Road. Follow the road to the bridge, shelter and taken particularly with young children. Once you have seen the (gate/small car park). Station along past the rugby club and campsite until you reach viewpoint at Countess Beck. waterfall retrace the route back to the junction. 5. Turn left and follow the Water Board access track that climbs a bridge at Stoup Dub. 4. At the T-junction turn left and follow the pleasant road to the 4. Follow the permissive path along the lane, past the car park, steadily northeast across open fell to the dam at the mouth 5. Don’t cross the bridge, turn left and follow the path beside the houses at Greendale. Cross the bridge then turn right to follow and across a bridge over the River Esk to join the valley road. of Seathwaite Tarn. watercourse over the dunes and onto the beach. Turn left and a bridleway south through trees, then southwest through fields Turn right and follow the road back to the station. 6. Cross the dam/footbridge and turn left onto a footpath to follow the foreshore to the Lifeboat launch ramp. and rough pasture. descend alongside Tarn Beck, then turn north and follow a wall Walk up the ramp to the Lifeboat Station and car park. Retrace Continue past the side of Ashness How ignoring the two paths Bull Crag to the plantation at Pike How Close. Follow the path into the the route through Haverigg to the T-junction beside the water-ski on the left, and the bridleway on the right. Pass a little cottage plantation and down to the valley road. Turn left and follow the club / caravan park. and the bridleway becomes a track. road back to the car park. Brook Eelbeck 6. Walk straight on past the T-junction and follow the road START/ House Bridge Follow the track to the Wasdale Road. through the caravan park to the turning on the left for FINISH ale 5. Turn right and follow the road back to Nether Wasdale. Hinning House kd START/ The Commodore Pub. s E Dalegarth E FINISH d L Harter Fell 7. Follow the right of way around the left-hand side of the pub n Station A a 1 D 1 Pike How s s K Close and join the access road. Follow the road around the top of la g S en Hodbarrow Lake to a junction. av E GreaGreatt R Esk View Pike Crag Birks Wood Turn right and follow the track back to the car park at the start. 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wild walks the western lake district in the western lake district As well as being home to go wild in the Britain’s Favourite View at Wastwater, the Western Lake wildzone! Welcome to the Adventure Capital - the Lake District also has an amazing District, Cumbria. Famous for its stunning coastline with great beaches and Wildzone is an outdoor, wild adventure and activity playground landscapes of lakes and fells this is the country’s stunning views that are sure to stretching across the whole of Cumbria. biggest adventure playground. become new favourites. The mission is to showcase the wow factor wildlife and enable This leaflet contains four walking routes in the Western Lake Unspoilt beaches provide miles even the most inexperienced nature explorer to pull on some District and Cumbria, one for each of the seasons. From of scenic walking in a wildlife boots, warm to a waterproof and twig what’s going on in the spring lambs, to summer toads, autumnal woodlands and haven for sea birds such as incredible, natural, wild adventure zone! guillemots and puffins. Nature snow topped fells, there is something to enjoy all year round. The Western Lake District is home to some of England’s most reserves offer a chance to glimpse rarer species such as the spectacular wildlife. From England’s largest land mammal, the Natterjack Toad and the peaceful Red Deer to England’s only nesting colony of Black Guillemots.
woodlands make a wonderful home Muncaster It’s not just the wildlife that can be labeled spectacular; the for red squirrel and red deer. Drigg Seathwaite scenery is rather impressive too and is home to England’s highest mountain and deepest lake. These walks offer an opportunity to escape the crowds and explore So whether you’re eight or eighty; want a really wild walk or the diverse scenery and wildlife of the Bootle Foxfield just a cup of tea in a cosy café with breath-taking views; Western Lake District; from the discover ‘Wildzone’ in the Western Lakes. Duddon Valley, to coastal nature reserves, autumn woodlands and low level For more information on all things wild in the lakes visit routes surrounded by snow topped fells.
Walk start locations www.wildzonecumbria.org
An Autumn Wildlife Walk in the Western Lake District Osprey (Image: Lake District Osprey Project www.ospreywatch.co.uk)