Haweswater

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Address
RSPB Haweswater, Naddle Farm, Bampton, Penrith, Cumbria CA10 2RP
Grid ref
NY469108

Surrounding Haweswater Reservoir in the English Lake District, Haweswater reserve is a dramatic landscape of high fells, rushing rivers, heath, meadow, bog and woodland and home to a host of upland wildlife. Until recently, it was the home of England’s last golden eagle.

Plan your visit

Opening times

Open at all times.

Entrance charges

Free entrance to RSPB members
Yes
Adults
Free, but donations are very welcome.
Children
Free, but donations are very welcome.

Facilities

  • No visitor centre
  • Car park off-site
  • Toilets off-site
  • Accessible toilets off-site
  • No Refreshments
  • Nature trails
  • Shop off-site

Accessibility

How to get here

By train

The closest station is Penrith (14 miles/22.5 km from reserve).

By bus

Occasional service to the Haweswater car park. Please phone Traveline for latest information on: 0870 608 2608.

By road

Aim for the small village of Bampton, 10 miles south of Penrith and five miles north-west of Shap. From Bampton, head south towards Haweswater reservoir. Drive down the unclassified road alongside the Haweswater reservoir, the road ends at a car park. From here you will need to walk.

Sat nav POI file: If you have a satellite navigation system that can accept POI files, please see our POI page for a download link and instructions.

Get directions from Google Maps
RSPB reserves on Google Earth

What will the weather be like?

8 degrees, Light rain shower (day)

Contact Haweswater

What will you see?

Our star species

Seasonal highlights

Wheatears, ring ouzels, redstarts and pied flycatchers return from their wintering grounds to breed. Dippers can be seen darting by the water's edge. Ravens, peregrines and buzzards hunt over the grassland.

Wheatears preparing for their migration, dippers at the water's edge, ravens, peregrines and buzzards hunting, goosanders on the reservoir. Red deer and red squirrels may also be seen.

Rutting season means good views of red deer. Dippers, ravens, peregrines, buzzards, goosanders and red squirrels can also be seen.

Dippers, ravens, peregrines, buzzards and goosanders. In winter, tens of thousands of gulls roost on the reservoir overnight. Come just before dusk to watch them flying in.

About Haweswater

Habitat

Haweswater is a dramatic landscape of high fells, rushing rivers, heath, meadow, bog and woodland and home to a host of upland wildlife. Habitats here include moorland, mountains, wetland, woodland and heathland.

Conservation

We're working in partnership with our landlord United Utilities to explore different ways of managing our two hill farms at Haweswater to provide a range of benefits while continuing to run a viable farming business. These include improved water quality, wildlife, carbon stewardship and recreation opportunities. 

In Swindale Valley, we have put the curves back into a stretch of Swindale Beck, which had been artificially straightened for farming purposes at least 160 years ago. This project has slowed the flow of the river, which has helped to improve water quality and reduce downstream flood risk, as well as attract spawning salmon.  

The habitats on the commons are in poor shape following years of heavy sheep grazing. Consequently, we've reduced livestock numbers in order to improve some of these habitats. There are signs of recovery in places, but other areas will require a different approach. For example, we’ve fenced off an area below Harter Fell on Mardale Common to prevent sheep and deer grazing. This is to give rare mountain plants the chance to recolonise the area.

  • See our video about our work at Swindale Valley.

Partners

Swindale Beck Restoration project supported by United Utilities, Environment Agency, Natural England and Cumbria Waste Management Environment Trust.

Site information

Our land at Haweswater is made of two hill farms – Naddle and Swindale – and their associated commons.

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