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Maiden Castle Fort

1 ha

BirdsWildlifeHeritage

Public accessDogs welcome1 ha

Getting here

54.61143, -2.85122

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

🐦87+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Mallard and Jackdaw
✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

🌤️ Visiting this summer

🐦87+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Mallard and Jackdaw
✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

Good to know

🐕Dogs welcome

Best for

8 activities

Bird watching

Very strong match

Birds — Mallard, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow +84 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Mallard, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow +84 more · last seen 2025

Free

Wildlife

Very strong match

Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals; Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals

Free

Heritage

Strong match

Historic site with public access

Free

Seasonal nature

Strong match

Plants — Nuttall's Waterweed, Globeflower, Ivy-leaved Speedwell +29 more · last seen 2025; Plants — Nuttall's Waterweed, Globeflower, Ivy-leaved Speedwell +29 more · last seen 2025

Free

Dog walks

Good match

Dogs allowed with public access

Free

Insect spotting

Good match

Insects — Peacock, Anoplotrupes stercorosus, Small White +14 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Peacock, Anoplotrupes stercorosus, Small White +14 more · last seen 2025

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

6 signed routes nearby · 6 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths

The Ullswater WayWalking route

Named routeLocal walking route

Ullswater Way - Dalemain LoopWalking route

Ullswater Way Dalemain Loop - white text on red roundel

Named routeRound tripLocal walking route

Ullswater Way - Lowther Castle LoopWalking route

Named routeRound tripLocal walking route

Eamont WayWalking route

Named routePoint-to-pointLocal walking route

Aira Force and Gowbarrow Park Trail, Ullswater ValleyWalking route7.2 km

Experience Aira Force at its best as you head towards the waterfalls. Pass through woodland with lush green ferns & evergreens and emerge from the confines of the gorge to enjoy expansive views over Ullswater from the summit of Gowbarrow.

Named routeLength 7.2 kmDuration 01:30-03:00Round tripLocal walking route

🚴

Cycling

7 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Lakes & Dales LoopCycling route

Named routeRef LDLRegional cycle route

Route C2CCycling route

Old Coach Road alternative

Named routeRef C2CRegional cycle route

A66 Cycle RouteCycling route

Named routeRef A66Regional cycle route

Route 7Cycling route

Named routeRef 7National Cycle Network

Main RouteCycling route6.8 km

Named routeRef 7Length 6.8 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route2.6 km

Named routeRef 6Length 2.6 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Wildlife to spot

4,535 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

4,535 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds52 species

springwinter

2025

Jackdaw · Robin · Mallard · Chaffinch · Blue Tit +47

JackdawColoeus monedula
RobinErithacus rubecula
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
Greylag GooseAnser anser
Carrion CrowCorvus corone
BlackbirdTurdus merula
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
Common GullLarus canus
Herring GullLarus argentatus
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
Canada GooseBranta canadensis
House SparrowPasser domesticus
MoorhenGallinula chloropus
Grey HeronArdea cinerea
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
SwallowHirundo rustica
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
GoosanderMergus merganser
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
NuthatchSitta europaea
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus
Mute SwanCygnus olor
Great TitParus major
CootFulica atra
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo2024
RookCorvus frugilegus
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus
House MartinDelichon urbicum
SiskinSpinus spinus
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus
MagpiePica pica
DunnockPrunella modularis
Coal TitPeriparus ater
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
GoldeneyeBucephala clangula
KestrelFalco tinnunculus
PeregrineFalco peregrinus2024
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2023
WaxwingBombycilla garrulus2023
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2023
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2023
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2023

🦌

Mammals4 species

springautumnwinter

2025

Rabbit · Roe Deer · Pipistrelle · Red Squirrel

RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus
Roe DeerCapreolus capreolus
PipistrellePipistrellus pipistrellus2024
Red SquirrelSciurus vulgaris2024

🐝

Insects6 species

springsummer

2025

Microlophium carnosum · Eristalis nemorum · Divining Horntail · Anoplotrupes stercorosus · Meliscaeva auricollis +1

Microlophium carnosumMicrolophium carnosum
Eristalis nemorumEristalis nemorum
Divining HorntailUrocerus augur
Anoplotrupes stercorosusAnoplotrupes stercorosus
Meliscaeva auricollisMeliscaeva auricollis2024
Green DrakeEphemera danica

🌿

Plants8 species

spring

2025

Nuttall's Waterweed · Globeflower · Japanese Knotweed · Lady-fern · Meadowsweet +3

Nuttall's WaterweedElodea nuttallii2024
GlobeflowerTrollius europaeus
Japanese KnotweedReynoutria japonica2024
Lady-fernAthyrium filix-femina2024
MeadowsweetFilipendula ulmaria2024
Hemlock Water-dropwortOenanthe crocata

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

4,535 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds52 species

springwinter

2025

Jackdaw · Robin · Mallard · Chaffinch · Blue Tit +47

JackdawColoeus monedula
RobinErithacus rubecula
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
Greylag GooseAnser anser
Carrion CrowCorvus corone
BlackbirdTurdus merula
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
Common GullLarus canus
Herring GullLarus argentatus
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
Canada GooseBranta canadensis
House SparrowPasser domesticus
MoorhenGallinula chloropus
Grey HeronArdea cinerea
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
SwallowHirundo rustica
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
GoosanderMergus merganser
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
NuthatchSitta europaea
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus
Mute SwanCygnus olor
Great TitParus major
CootFulica atra
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo2024
RookCorvus frugilegus
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus
House MartinDelichon urbicum
SiskinSpinus spinus
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus
MagpiePica pica
DunnockPrunella modularis
Coal TitPeriparus ater
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
GoldeneyeBucephala clangula
KestrelFalco tinnunculus
PeregrineFalco peregrinus2024
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2023
WaxwingBombycilla garrulus2023
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2023
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2023
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2023

🦌

Mammals4 species

springautumnwinter

2025

Rabbit · Roe Deer · Pipistrelle · Red Squirrel

RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus
Roe DeerCapreolus capreolus
PipistrellePipistrellus pipistrellus2024
Red SquirrelSciurus vulgaris2024

🐝

Insects6 species

springsummer

2025

Microlophium carnosum · Eristalis nemorum · Divining Horntail · Anoplotrupes stercorosus · Meliscaeva auricollis +1

Microlophium carnosumMicrolophium carnosum
Eristalis nemorumEristalis nemorum
Divining HorntailUrocerus augur
Anoplotrupes stercorosusAnoplotrupes stercorosus
Meliscaeva auricollisMeliscaeva auricollis2024
Green DrakeEphemera danica

🌿

Plants8 species

spring

2025

Nuttall's Waterweed · Globeflower · Japanese Knotweed · Lady-fern · Meadowsweet +3

Nuttall's WaterweedElodea nuttallii2024
GlobeflowerTrollius europaeus
Japanese KnotweedReynoutria japonica2024
Lady-fernAthyrium filix-femina2024
MeadowsweetFilipendula ulmaria2024
Hemlock Water-dropwortOenanthe crocata

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 David Brown · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Maiden Castle

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

✦DALEMAINHistoric site3.6 km→✦Moated site and annexe south of Gale BayHistoric site1.7 km→✦Millennium Fish CrossHistoric site1.9 km→🏞️DALEMAINCountry park3.8 km→✦Moated site of Dacre CastleHistoric site2.3 km→✦Dacre CastleHistoric site2.3 km→

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