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Mardale Head – Haweswater Reservoir loop from Wood Howe

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

Mardale Head – Haweswater Reservoir loop from Wood Howe

Moderate

4.0

(1)

hikers

Mardale Head – Haweswater Reservoir loop from Wood Howe

02:15

8.01km

170m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: April 19, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Lake District National Park

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

36 m

Mardale Head

Highlight • Historical Site

Mardale Head is an excellent starting point for many grand adventures in the Far Eastern Fells of the Lake District. From here, trails splay out onto the likes of High Street, the Kentmere Horseshoe summits and tranquil Branstree and Selside Pike.

There was once a hamlet near here called Mardale Green, which was submerged when the reservoir was created in the 1930s to supply water to Greater Manchester. When the water is low, the remains of the village can still be seen – a ghostly sight.

Tip by

249 m

Views of High Street, Mardale Ill Bell, and Harter Fell

Highlight • Viewpoint

From Mardale Head, ascended via Blea Tarn and descended via Small Water

Tip by

2.93 km

Haweswater Reservoir

Highlight • Lake

Now owned by United Utilities, the reservoir was under Manchester Corporation’s ownership when work started on the construction of the dam in 1929. Prior to this, Haweswater held the title of the Lake Districts highest natural lake. The level then rose a further 29 metres with the building of the dam, which completed in 1935.
The reservoir was built in order to supply drinking water to the Manchester and it's in a drinking water safeguard zone.

Tip by

3.04 km

Castle Crags

Highlight • Historical Site

4.01 km

Wildflowers and Herdwick Sheep in Lake District National Park

Highlight • Viewpoint

During your walk, you may spot any one of over 700 species of flowering, plants including 9 orchids, that have been recorded on commons in Cumbria. The Lakes are also home to native Herdwick, Rough Fell and Swaledale sheep that graze the common.

Tip by

6.01 km

Stone Bridge and Waterfall on Randale Beck

Highlight • Viewpoint

A beautiful stone bridge over a beck, with a waterfall and dipping pool right next to the path.

Tip by

8.01 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

7.96 km

< 100 m

Surfaces

5.84 km

2.06 km

118 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Today

Sunday 24 May

25°C

9°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 15.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.

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Mardale Head – Haweswater Reservoir loop from Wood Howe

Mardale Head

Views of High Street, Mardale Ill Bell, and Harter Fell

Haweswater Reservoir

Castle Crags

Wildflowers and Herdwick Sheep in Lake District National Park

Stone Bridge and Waterfall on Randale Beck

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