Glade
← Back🌲 Conifer forest

Swainsley Hall Plantation

✦ Ancient woodland20 ha
WildlifeBirdsFungi
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome20 ha

Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

  • 🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
  • 🍄Mushroom foraging is at its best in summer here
  • 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

Good to know

  • £Free to visit — no entry charge
  • 🐕Dogs welcome
  • 🌿Ancient woodland — rare wildlife habitat
Parking· Free

Best for

11 activities

Wildlife

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

Free

Bird watching

Birds — Tawny Owl, Chaffinch, Blackbird +59 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Tawny Owl, Chaffinch, Blackbird +59 more · last seen 2025

Free

Mushroom foraging

Fungi — Tawny Grisette, Birch Milkcap, Deer Shield +100 more · last seen 2021; Fungi — Tawny Grisette, Birch Milkcap, Deer Shield +100 more · last seen 2021

Varies

Seasonal nature

Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour; Plants — Handsome Woollywort, Ash, Beech +171 more · last seen 2025

Free

Foraging

Plants — Beech, Hazel, Rowan +19 more foraging species; Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Insect spotting

Insects — Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood, Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary +182 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood, Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary +182 more · last seen 2025

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

18 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Cumbria WayWalking route118 km
Named routeLength 118 kmRegional walking route
Machell's Coppice TrailWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Bogle Crag Trail (long)Walking route
Named routeRound tripLocal walking route
Beatrix Potter's Moss Eccles Tarn Walk, Hill TopWalking route4 km

Gentle walk to 1 of Beatrix Potter's favourite places, Moss Eccles Tarn. This is where the children's author spent time painting & is a great introduction to the place included in her books. Short steep sections. Muddy in wet weather. Potential livestock

Named routeLength 4 kmDuration 01:00Round tripLocal walking route
Ash Landing and Claife Heights Windermere Walk, Claife Viewing StationWalking route12 km

An elevated walk along Windermere's undeveloped western side. Dramatic viewing point at Low Blind How, where a gap in the wall leads to a crag with views of the lake, islands & Troutbeck fells. Some steep slopes, but once on the Heights its generally flat

Named routeLength 12 kmDuration 04:00-05:00Round tripLocal walking route
🚴

Cycling

6 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Route 6Cycling route
Named routeRef 6National Cycle Network
Regional Route 37Cycling route
Named routeRef 37Regional cycle route
West Windermere Way (Cycle Route)Cycling route
Named routeLhn
Main RouteCycling route328 m
Named routeRef 6Length 328 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route505 m
Named routeRef 6Length 505 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface n/a
Main RouteCycling route1.9 km
Named routeRef 6Length 1.9 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
🚵

Mountain biking

6 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
The North Face TrailMountain bike route
Named route
Grizedale Tarn TrailMountain bike route
Named route
Silurian WayMountain bike route
Named route
Moor Top TrailMountain bike route
Named route
Hawkshead Moor TrailMountain bike route
Named route
Goosey Foot Tarn TrailMountain bike route
Named routeRound trip
🐴

Horse riding

16 public paths nearby

Public paths
Moor Lanebridleway · 104 m
Public pathbridlewayLength 104 mSurface rockPath type: bridleway

Wildlife to spot

Photos

'The Arrival', a sculpture at Grizedale Forest

'The Arrival', a sculpture at Grizedale Forest

1 / 15

Weather for this location

Next 14 days

Loading local forecast…

Own or manage this place?

Claim this listing to keep details accurate, add photos, and highlight what makes it special — free.

Claim this page

Nearby reservoirs

How was your visit?

How useful was the information on this page?

id: 7c06e816-17ac-40d8-9253-daa49826c68c