Haweswater

Photo by HelenB
Looking north along Haweswater from the path to the Golden Eagle Viewpoint, May 09

England, Cumbria

Overview

Haweswater is a reservoir for Manchester and is located in the south-eastern part of the English Lake District. For about 40 years, a breeding pair of Golden Eagles has been resident in the area, choosing Riggindale Valley at the southern end of Haweswater, to build their eyries. Here the RSPB maintain a reserve to protect the only Golden Eagles to be found in England.

2010 update: the lone male is still present in Riggindale, hoping to attract a female from the population in Scotland.

Photo by HelenB
The small carpark, at the end of Haweswater, which can get very full in the summer months!

Birds

Notable Species

Golden Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Merlin, Common Buzzard, Northern Wheatear, Common Stonechat, Common Redstart, Ring Ouzel and White-throated Dipper.

Photo by HelenB
The Golden Eagle Viewpoint provided by the RSPB, in Riggindale, May 2009

Rarities

White-tailed Eagle, Osprey, Eurasian Dotterel (on fells)

Photo by HelenB
View of the southern part Haweswater from the Eagle Viewpoint in Riggindale Valley

Check-list

Birds you can see here include:

Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Mallard, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye, Goosander, Golden Eagle, Common Buzzard, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Peregrine Falcon, Merlin, Coot, Common Snipe, Eurasian Woodcock, Common Sandpiper, Eurasian Curlew, Common Gull, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, Common Wood-Pigeon, Common Cuckoo, Tawny Owl, Common Swift, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Eurasian Skylark, Barn Swallow, Northern House Martin, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, White-throated Dipper, Eurasian Wren, Dunnock, Eurasian Robin, Common Redstart, Northern Wheatear, Common Stonechat, Whinchat, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Eurasian Blackbird, Ring Ouzel, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Wood Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, European Pied Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Eurasian Nuthatch, Eurasian Treecreeper, Common Magpie, Eurasian Jay, Carrion Crow, Common Raven, European Starling, House Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, Brambling, Eurasian Linnet, Common Redpoll, Eurasian Siskin, European Goldfinch, European Greenfinch, Eurasian Bullfinch, Common Crossbill, Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer

Other Wildlife

Red Deer, Red Squirrel

Site Information

History and Use

In the 1930s the Haweswater Dam was built across the lower end of the valley of Mardale, to provide a reservoir for the city of Manchester. There was already a 2.5 mile (4 km) long lake in the valley, and the Haweswater Reservoir was formed when the valley was flooded. Haweswater is about twice the size of the old lake, at 4 miles (6.4 km) long, ½ a mile wide and 200 ft. deep.

Golden Eagles first bred at this site in 1969 and since then 16 young have been produced. There is currently a single male eagle in Riggindale and the RSPB are hoping he may attract a young female, perhaps from the population in Scotland.

Areas of Interest

Photo by HelenB
View up Riggindale Valley towards the Golden Eagle Viewpoint (on the right), September 2003
Click on photo for a larger image

• Riggindale, for the Eagle Viewpoint.
• The footpath to the Eagle Viewpoint begins at the carpark at the southern end of Haweswater. It is 1.25 miles (2 km) along uneven ground, around the end of the lake and up over The Rigg, then down into Riggindale. Turn left and follow the path up the valley, where you will see the Eagle Viewpoint on the right. The viewpoint is not manned out of season, but you will see the posts for telescopes against a wall (see photo right).

Access and Facilities

• The reserve and the viewpoint are open all year, but it is only manned from April to August, 11 am-4 pm on Saturdays and Sundays, plus bank holidays.
• Entrance is free, but the RSPB appreciate donations to help with the upkeep of their reserves
• There are many walking trails in the area, which are marked on the OS maps
• There are no facilities, such as toilets
• The nearest town is Penrith, Cumbria
• Grid Ref: NY469108

Contact Details

• Tel: 01931 713376
• Email: [email protected]

External Links

• RSPB: Haweswater
• Haweswater on Streetmap