Haweswater, Mardale Banks, Naddle Farm, Hare Shaw, Old Corpse Road, Cumbria.
[ 12.7 km] Wed 05 Jan 2011

NY 4796 12035
It was very dark and rainy as I drove to Haweswater. The temperature was only just above freezing and patches of ice covered the minor road along the reservoir. I parked a short way north of Rowantreethwaite Beck where the Old Corpse Road meets the road. I set off north along the road to pick up the path running diagonally up Mardale Banks. The start of the path isn’t obvious at first as the map shows it running parallel with the road for a while. I couldn’t see any evidence of a path as shown but a gate gave access to the path as it headed uphill. After the first rise I left the path to the left to find the old survey pillar which overlooks Haweswater.

It is one of several positioned over the fells to assist the alignment of the tunnel which was excavated under the fells to get water out of the reservoir and on its way to Manchester. The line of the path is also the line of a water pipeline whose position is occasionally shown with iron covers on valves. Crossing Guerness Gill the pipeline can be seen crossing the gill. As the path continues it becomes fainter and I must have left the main route as I reached a wall a bit higher that intended. I joined the correct path through the gate then left it to head across to a small summit above Kit Crag.

Just before the high point I came to what looked like an ancient settlement with a level area and stone circle which looked like the base of an ancient shelter. On the summit I was hoping for a good view of Haweswater reservoir but it didn’t materialise. I headed down across pleasant open ground to Naddle Beck and followed the farm track down to Naddle Farm. I didn’t pass the farm but picked up the public footpath to the right which crosses the beck at a ford then heads up though woodland towards Swindale. The weather continued overcast and cold and when I reached the pass summit I sheltered behind a wall to eat my sandwiches. I then followed the track SW along the wall and in the direction of Harper Hill.

I was intrigued by the reservoir on the other side of the wall. It seemed to be functioning and in use and I wondered what properties it would supply in this remote area. I continued along the track which up here had quite a few large patches of ice over it. At High Goat Gill I left it and headed across the open fell towards Hare Shaw. I was hit by a snow blizzard for a while but it didn’t last long. Thankfully the ground was still frozen meaning I had a fairly easy walk to the Hare Shaw summit.

Haweswater and old peat house

Dark clouds covered Mardale Common but I had some views to the north. I continues SW until I came to the Old Corpse Road. This can be a spectacular approach to Haweswater if the weather is suitable. When I rounded the corner and got my first view of the reservoir there was lots of cloud about but it still looked impressive. The descent is steep and I had to be careful of the occasional icy patches. I soon reached the car and hadn’t seen anyone all day.