Lake District

Hartsop to Hayeswater Gill trail

View down a rocky river, lined by stunted trees in autumn colours, with green Cumbrian fells rising in the background — Hayeswater Gill above Hartsop, near Ullswater | © National Trust

Hayeswater Gill runs down from Hayeswater Reservoir, which once fed into north-west England's water supply. From Hartsop village near Ullswater, follow the beck up to the reservoir on a circular walk surrounded by towering Lake District fells. Discover local mining and milling history as you go.

Near to

Aira Force and Gowbarrow Park

Start point

Hartsop village car park, CA11 0NZ, grid ref: NY410130

Address
Hartsop, near Ullswater, Cumbria, CA11 0NZ
Directions via Google Maps
By train
Penrith station 10 miles (16km) away with connection to 508 bus service.
National Rail
On foot
Hartsop village is connected by several public rights of way from Patterdale to the north and Kirkstone to the south.
By bus
From the Easter holidays until the end of the autumn half-term holidays, you can take the 508 Stagecoach bus service from Penrith to Windermere, alighting at Hartsop.
Stagecoach
For the rest of the year, the Penrith route terminates in Patterdale. From here, walk 2.5 miles (4km) to the start of the trail.
Cycling
Hartsop village is just off the main A592 Penrith to Windermere road. A bridleway passes through Hartsop village, which comes from the north and leads up to High Street to the south-west. The A592 can be busy with traffic.
Sustrans
By road
From J40 on the M6, take the A66 and then the A592 to Ullswater. Continue on the lake road, passing through Glenridding and Patterdale, until you reach the turning for Hartsop on your left.
From Keswick, take the A66 towards Penrith. Turn right onto A5091 at Troutbeck and drive until you reach the A592 junction. Turn right onto the A592, passing through Glenridding and Patterdale until you reach the turning for Hartsop on your left.
From Windermere, take the A592 over the Kirkstone Pass. As the valley begins to flatten out, the turning for Hartsop is on your right.
Dogs
Dogs are welcome. Please keep your dog on a lead, the area is grazed by livestock and inhabited by ground-nesting birds and deer.
Car park
Village car park (not NT) in Hartsop at the end of the lane, payment by honesty box. Alternative pay and display parking at Cow Bridge next to Brothers Water (NT members free) is half a mile (1km) from the start of the trail.
Toilet
The nearest public toilets are in Patterdale and Glenridding.
Total stages: 9
Total stages: 9
Start point
Hartsop village car park, CA11 0NZ, grid ref: NY410130
Stage 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 views of Grey Crag ahead and Hartsop Dodd to the right.
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 ahead, 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.
Stage 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 once 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 as fuel for fires. In the Hartsop area, there are over 250 ash trees that 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.
Stage 3
Take the path below the filter house and follow it down to the beck (stream) coming down from Hayeswater.
Stage 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 Hayeswater Reservoir, which is about a third of a mile (600m) away.
Stage 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.
Stage 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, which supported a wooden trough carrying water to the wheel pit below.
Stage 7
When reaching the wheel pit at the bottom of the field, you can see Myers Head Lead 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.
Stage 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.
Stage 9
Carry on past the corn mill and you will re-join the tarmac road with the sheep pens ahead. Follow the track back to the start of the walk and the car park.
End point
Hartsop village car park, CA11 0NZ, grid ref: NY410130
Trail map
Map of the Hartsop to Hayeswater Gill trail | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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01768482067

ullswater@nationaltrust.org.uk

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Near to

Start point

Trail information

Difficulty*

Full trail

Getting here

Facilities

Accessibility

Terrain and elevation

Trail route

Total stages: 9

Total stages: 9

Start point

Stage 1

Point of interest

Stage 2

Point of interest

Stage 3

Stage 4

Point of interest

Stage 5

Stage 6

Stage 7

Point of interest

Stage 8

Point of interest

Stage 9

End point

Trail map

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