The future of beavers in England
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Welcome to Haweswater
Nestled in the folds of Haweswater’s dramatic landscape lie pockets of wildness; alpine plants cling to cliffs and ledges, whilst woodland birds, red squirrels and badgers teem in the woodlands.
The quiet, rugged charm of Haweswater sets it apart from many of the more popular Lake District honeypots, offering opportunities for seclusion and wildlife encounters unlike any other in the National Park.
Wild Haweswater is an exciting new initiative by the RSPB and United Utilities to showcase the impressive collection of events, experiences and activities on offer in this wild corner of the National Park. Coordinated by RSPB Haweswater, this website is a hub for visitors to explore what’s on offer, as well as a place to discover the conservation and restoration projects, and seasonal wildlife encounters of the area.
How will you discover Wild Haweswater?
Experience Wild Haweswater
Wildlife Photography Hides
Get up close and personal to some of Haweswater’s most spectacular wildlife in our custom built wildlife photography hides. Enjoy the antics of Red Squirrels and woodland birds by day, and elusive Badgers by night. Our hides offer a unique opportunity to watch and photograph an incredible diversity of wildlife in the Lake District without disturbance. Look out for the launch of additional hides in 2022.
Dates throughout 2022, book here.
Spend a day immersed in wildlife from our Woodland Wildlife Hide, built and operated by local experts Wild Intrigue. This hide has been custom built for wildlife photography, offering excellent opportunities to capture Red Squirrels and woodland birds in comfort, within a beautiful, private section of the reserve.
Dates throughout 2022, book here.
An opportunity to hire the Wild Intrigue Woodland Wildlife Hide for an afternoon, perfect to fit in some hill walking beforehand! This hide has been custom built for wildlife photography, offering excellent opportunities to capture Red Squirrels and woodland birds in comfort, within a beautiful, private section of the reserve.
Seasonal, reopening June 2022, discover more here.
Discover the jewel of Haweswater’s temperate rainforest, the Pied Flycatcher, by booking a day in Wild Intrigue’s Pied Flycatcher photography hide. This provides the perfect opportunity to photograph this beautiful summer visitor without disturbance, whilst supporting our work to protect the species.
Closed for winter, reopening April 2022.
Enjoy intimate views of one of Haweswater’s most enigmatic woodland mammals, the Badger. With exclusive access to our comfortable Badger Hide for a full evening, you can experience a real wild night out in the tranquility of the reserve, as you observe and photograph these beautiful animals up close.
Wildlife Experiences
Discover the wildlife of our wild corner of the Lake District. From red squirrels and badgers to botany and birds, we host a tempting collection of expert-led, immersive wildlife experiences to enjoy. Our experience collection will grow throughout 2021, so check back regularly to discover what’s new.
Limited dates in 2022, book here.
Join Wild Intrigue Co-Director and award winning wildlife photographer and filmmaker, Cain Scrimgeour, for a day of Red Squirrel Photography at Wild Haweswater.
Find out more and book online here.
Relaunching in January 2022, book here.
Enjoy the antics of Haweswater’s Red Squirrels from the comfort of Wild Intrigue’s Woodland Wildlife Hide, and learn more about these fascinating animals under the expertise of a Wild Intrigue Guide. All whilst enjoying a delicious, locally sourced breakfast, naturally. Part of the National Parks Experience Collection.
At Nature’s Pace, launching January 2022.
We are excited to welcome a brand new, local experience provider at Wild Haweswater this year, At Nature’s Pace, who will be hosting a collection of ‘adventures and escapes’ to reconnect and restore in nature. Find out more here.
Multi-Day Adventures
Explore wildlife and landscapes by day, relax by camp-fire and sleep under canvas by night. These adventures are the perfect way to escape into nature with like-minded people, into the peace and tranquility of our spectacular landscapes in the eastern Lake District.
Coming back in 2022! Click here to find out more.
A tranquil, 3-day wild camping experience into the spectacular Swindale Valley. With pack horses and passionate guides by your side, this adventure is the perfect way to explore and sleep under canvas, within one of our more secluded parts of Haweswater. As featured in The Telegraph.
Coming back in 2022! Click here to explore more.
An all inclusive, 4-day wild camping trek across the stunning fells of Haweswater. From Haweswater to Mosedale Common, over the Gatescarth Pass and Harter Fell to Kentmere, and across High Street. Accompanied only by wildlife, your pack horse and a small group of guides and like-minded adventurers.
Look out for 2022 dates, click here to find out more.
Escape the hustle and bustle of life and reconnect with yourself and nature on an all inclusive mindfulness retreat, based in the heart of beautiful Swindale Valley.
Look out for 2022 dates, click here to discover more.
Unique opportunities for adult individuals to truly explore the therapeutic value of nature, on an expert guided programme of rejuvenation and restoration.
Gift Vouchers
Do you know special someone who would love a day photographing Red Squirrels and woodland birds, or an evening spent in the company of Badgers?
A Wildlife Hide Gift Voucher is the perfect treat for any nature-lover, take your pick below.
We are unfortunately unable to offer Badger Hide Gift Vouchers at this time, please feel free to get in touch with us to be updated on when they return!
Wild Intrigue Gift Vouchers are the perfect present for a wildlife lover, and can be used to book one of a collection of Wild Intrigue wildlife photography hides and experiences based here at Haweswater. Click here treat someone.
All RSPB and third party experiences have gained ‘We’re Good to Go‘ accreditation by Visit England, an industry standard identifying tourism operators that have made the necessary precautions to host covid-secure experiences.
Fascinating insights into the work and wildlife of Haweswater, from our small but passionate team.
Volunteer Voices: Megan’s first week
Join RSPB Haweswater's first residential volunteer of 2021, Megan Jones, for an insight into her first week on the reserve.
Holes in the map, part 9: Wolves
In the final part of our series about species missing from the Lake District, Site Manager Lee Schofield takes on the wolf. A ruined stone building known as Low Loup…
Holes in the map, part 8: Ospreys, goshawks & kites
Part 8 of our series about the Lake District’s missing wildlife, written by Haweswater Site Manager Lee Schofield, strikes a cheerier tone and focuses on three avian conservation success stories.…
Macrofungi of Haweswater’s Mirkside
Delve into the fascinating Kingdom of Haweswater's fungi in this new report by Cumbria Fungi Group, following extensive surveys undertaken in Merkside Wood.
Holes in the map, part 7: Wildcat
In part 7 of our series about the Lake District’s missing wildlife, Site Manager Lee Schofield writes about the wildcat, a species that was common in our woods and fells…
Videos
Wild Haweswater People
Wild Haweswater is cared for by a team of dedicated people, keen to share this special place with you.
Lee Schofield
Lee is the site manager, overseeing RSPB's work at Haweswater, making sure our stewardship of the area delivers for nature, water and people.
Twitter: @leeinthelakes
Heather Devey
Heather is our visitor development officer, planning and running Haweswater's wonderful events. She's a big fan of all types of furry beasts.
Twitter: @feraheather
Spike Webb
Spike has worked as a warden at Haweswater for 20 years, and there's not much about the area's wildlife that he doesn't know. Look for him in the woods in the spring at dawn.
John Gorst
John is United Utilities' catchment partnership officer. He makes sure that everything that goes on here improves the quality of water as it flows off the land into the reservoir.
Testimonials
Wild Haweswater is wonderful, but you don't need to just take our word for it...
For the last 20 years we’ve been exploring Haweswater, starting with walking and climbing, then the wildness drew us in. We began to see wildlife like beetles, adders, rare plants, fungi and lichen. It’s amazing that our local patch has magical ancient woods, exciting remote crags and grand scenery.
Caz & Chris Walker
RSPB volunteers and local residents
