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Naddle Farm and Fells, Haweswater, Eastern Lakes

 


Two years in a row I have had the pleasure of staying at Scales Farm, Helton for a few days of amazing riding. Last year we did a multi day trek to get there (see past blog), but this time we took it easy and drove there! This gave us the opportunity to explore new areas and rediscover old. When I first got Ryan my orange horse a friend kindly gave me the opportunity to join her on one of Rawfoot Farm Rides and this really gave me the spark to want to explore the fells more on horseback. With this ride fixed in my mind we all set off from Scale Farm to find the bridleway and fell from this amazing ride I had done some years ago. This ride can also be done from Askham village (parking in the free village car park) or ride in from Shap,  Helton or Bampton. 

From Scales Farm go out the back and follow the bridleway through the fields to the fell gate. Once you have winded your way up the hill go across the common and head toward the gated road down to Bampton village. This is fell ponies country so you may see some fell ponies over the common areas and should you come across any best to give them a bit of space and skirt around them.  

Once in Bampton village follow the lane towards Haweswater and you come out at Burnbanks, where you need to pick up the bridleway to Naddles Farm. This farm is now the RSPB base for the Wild Haweswater project, normally someone to say hello to and have a good chat (https://wildhaweswater.co.uk/ ). Before you go up the hill there is good picnic spot by the beck. The bridleway then goes through a shallow ford and zig zags up the hill through the wood until you come out to the fell gate. 

Picnic spot at Naddle Farm 

Going up through the woods from Naddle Farm

Lovely views 


Fell above Naddle Farm 


From the fell gate turn left and follow the a track down to the concrete road. This common is open access land for horse riders under Section 15 Land under the CROW Act (Countryside and Rights of Way Act) meaning horse riders have open access rights to this land and are can take other paths in addition to the bridleway (more info on this here https://www.rombalds-riding.org.uk/rights-of-way/current-issues/. 

The concrete road goes down to Burnbanks and then you need to retrace your hoofs back to Bampton. Here there are options, you can either take the back lanes to Helton and use the bridleway bridge to cross the river to get back to Helton or you can take the main lane to Helton, pick up the bridleway that cuts off the corner to Helton and then back along the lane on the common to Scale Farm. 

This is fantastic ride that gives you a feel for riding high in the fells and is a good route for when the weather is not that good for other higher fell rides in the area. 

On the way home, gate to fell near Scales Farm


Things to Note

Length of ride - 13.5 miles

If your not able to stay at Scales Farm there are other accommodation option in the area and also all the rides in this area are good day rides by parking at Askham Village Car park, which is free (Near Askham Hall, CA10 2PE, OS Grid Reference NY 51494 23926, What3Word  ///ranges.paler.iceberg). 

More info on this ride can be found on the Facebook Group Ride Cumbria and this route is public routes on the OS mapping app/website.

If you would like to do this ride as part of a organised ride then follow Rawfoot Farm Ride on Facebook for their latest events https://www.facebook.com/rawfootfarm

Other ride routes in the area - Two of my other blogs cover this area and another place to ride is from the fell gate in Burnbanks, where you can do a nice little ride on paths toward the standing stone to get a great views of Haweswater. Details of this are within my blog on our multi day trek to Scale Farm. 

Horse Friendly accommodation in the area - 

Scales Farm Holiday Cottage and Stables, Helton, Askham, Penrith CA10 2QL - Self Catering cottage with adjoining stables, grazing, parking. Dogs welcome and cyclists and walkers. Direct access to fells.  www.scalesfarmcottage.co.uk

Haweswater Cottage, Haweswater. Shap/Askham/Pooley Bridge area – horse and dog friendly. Direct access onto the fell. https://www.haweswatercottage.co.uk/ 

Widewath Farm, Helton, Askham, Pooley Bridge – directly onto the fell/bridleway routes. https://www.facebook.com/widewathfarmcottages 

Ullswater Saddleback Horse Trails, based at Pooley Bridge, Eastern Lakes - offering guided ride packages with holiday cottage accommodation. https://www.facebook.com/ullswatersaddlebackhorsetrails

** Photo credit - with thanks to friends Jen Birtchnell and Bridget Pickthall for use of their fantastic photos **


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