Aira Force Hayeswater Gill trail
Hayeswater Gill runs down from Hayeswater reservoir, which once contributed to the water supply for north-west England. In the past the water powered a corn mill, turning a water wheel that pumped out water from a nearby lead mine - which you can still see today.
Map
Start:
Hartsop village car park, CA11 0NZ, grid ref: NY410130
1
From the car park take the gate in the corner and follow the track past the sheep pens on your right. Proceed along the tarmac road with fine views of Grey Crag to the front and Hartsop Dodd to the right.
A sheep pen with a view
The lucky sheep at this farm certainly have a pen with a view. Take in the fine views of Grey Crag to the front and Hartsop Dodd to the right as you pass. The sheep pens just beyond the car park were built in the early 1980s and are an important part of the farm. Pens are where the sheep are gathered from the surrounding fells to be sorted and either treated or dipped. Sheep pens are nearly all the same design with the dipping tub and a round pen in the middle.
2
After crossing the cattle grid, keep to the tarmac road and you will come to a gate. Once through the gate follow the road until you come to the old filter house which at one time filtered the water from the reservoir.
Ash pollards
Along the walk look out for the numerous ash tree pollards. Pollarding is the removal of branches above the reach of grazing animals and was carried out by farmers to feed the animals in winter and also for fuel for fires. In the Hartsop area there are over 250 ash pollards which we continue to pollard today. These old trees are usually hollow and are a vital habitat for bats, birds and a variety of deadwood insects.
3
Take the path below the filter house and follow it down to the beck coming down from Hayeswater.
4
Cross the beck using the small footbridge and climb up to the main track ahead. Once on the track, if you wish you can carry on up to the reservoir which is about 600m away.
Red deer
On the fells around Hartsop you often see herds of red deer. These deer are part of the Martindale herd of which there are around 600. During the winter months they come down to the low land areas to graze and occasionally you can get a close look at them.
5
If you don't carry on to the reservoir, turn back down the track and follow it down through a gate and to the bottom of the slope, passing an old hogg house as you go. After walking a short distance you will cross another bridge.
6
A short distance after crossing the bridge, turn left down the field with the beck on your left. You will now see in front of you several stone piers that supported a wooden trough carrying water to the wheel pit below.
7
When reaching the wheel pit at the bottom of the field you can see Myers Head Mine - a walled structure across the beck. Turning right and keeping the beck on your left follow the path until you come to a wicket gate in the wall.
8
Once through the wicket gate, bear right and follow the drier grassy path over a little footbridge towards another stone structure. This is the old corn mill with the sandstone wheel still visible in the ground.
Old corn mill
In the field just below the road lies the remains of the old corn mill, thought to be of 18th-century origin and last used around 1900. On the way back you can have a look and see the old sandstone wheel.
9
Carry on past the corn mill and you will rejoin the tarmac road with the sheep pens ahead. Follow the track back to the start of the walk and the car park.
End:
Hartsop village car park, CA11 0NZ, grid ref: NY410130
