The Blakethwaite Dams
0 ha
Plan your visit
🦅Birds🦉Wildlife✦Heritage
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome0 ha
Getting here
54.42213, -2.10172
Open directionsv
Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
- 🐦40+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Red Grouse (scotica) and Meadow Pipit
- ✦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
- 🐦40+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Red Grouse (scotica) and Meadow Pipit
- ✦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
- £Free to visit — no entry charge
- 🐕Dogs welcome
🦅Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Red Grouse (scotica), Meadow Pipit, Ring Ouzel +37 more · last seen 2025; Upland heathland — red grouse, merlin and short-eared owl
Free
Birds — Red Grouse (scotica), Meadow Pipit, Ring Ouzel +37 more · last seen 2025; Upland heathland priority habitat
Free
Historic site with public access
Free
🍄Mushroom foraging
Strong match
Fungi — Peltigera hymenina, Rhizocarpon geographicum, Cladonia uncialis subsp. biuncialis +44 more · last seen 2015
Varies
🍂Seasonal nature
Strong match
Plants — Bilberry, Juniper, Hare's-tail Cottongrass +82 more · last seen 2015
Free
Dogs allowed with public access
Free
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km4 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Pennine Way (Hawes to Tan Hill)Walking route▾
Named routeNational walking route
Pennine Way (Tan Hill to Middleton in Teesdale)Walking route▾
Named routeNational walking route
Coast to Coast Walk (Shap to Richmond)Walking route▾
Named routeRef C2CRegional walking route
Herriot WayWalking route79.3 km▾
Named routeRef HWLength 79.3 kmRound tripRegional walking route
7 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Walney to Wear Cycle RouteCycling route▾
Named routeRef 70National Cycle Network
Route 71Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 71National Cycle Network
Yorkshire Dales CyclewayCycling route▾
Named routeRef YDCRegional cycle route
Main RouteCycling route3.6 km▾
Named routeRef 70Length 3.6 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route14.6 km▾
Named routeRef 70Length 14.6 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route3.4 km▾
Named routeRef 70Length 3.4 kmNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface unsealedfirm
3 public paths nearby
Public paths
No named routes yet. Public paths are shown on the map.
Photos
Blakethwaite Dams : Gunnerside Gill
Weather for this location
Next 14 daysNearby places
Useful places within 5 km
Events & activities nearby
Switch provider to compare local events, tours and bookable activities.
Wildlife to spot
630 records · National Biodiversity Network
Wildlife to spot
630 records · National Biodiversity NetworkMeadow Pipit · Red Grouse (scotica) · Ring Ouzel · Golden Plover · Wren +23
- Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2024
- Red Grouse (scotica)Lagopus scotica2024
- Ring OuzelTurdus torquatus
- Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria2024
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2024
- WheatearOenanthe oenanthe
- CurlewNumenius arquata2023
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba2024
- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2024
- PheasantPhasianus colchicus2023
- KestrelFalco tinnunculus2021
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2024
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2023
- Lesser RedpollAcanthis flammea cabaret2023
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2018
- Greylag GooseAnser anser2023
- Tree SparrowPasser montanus2021
- SkylarkAlauda arvensis2021
- Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2018
- RobinErithacus rubecula2017
- LinnetLinaria cannabina2017
- SiskinSpinus spinus2017
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone2017
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2017
- SnipeGallinago gallinago2017
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus2017
- Coal TitPeriparus ater2017
- BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2017
🦌Mammals2 species
springsummer
2020▾
Red Fox · Rabbit
- Red FoxVulpes vulpes
- RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus2017
Bilberry Bumblebee · Oak Eggar
- Bilberry BumblebeeBombus monticola
- Oak EggarLasiocampa quercus2015
Acarospora fuscata · Porpidia crustulata · Tremolecia atrata · Peltigera hymenina · Pseudevernia furfuracea var. furfuracea +33
- Acarospora fuscataAcarospora fuscata
- Porpidia crustulataPorpidia crustulata
- Tremolecia atrataTremolecia atrata
- Peltigera hymeninaPeltigera hymenina
- Pseudevernia furfuracea var. furfuraceaPseudevernia furfuracea var. furfuracea
- Porpidia tuberculosaPorpidia tuberculosa
Salix caprea subsp. sphacelata · Hart's-Tongue · Rigid Buckler-fern · Limestone Fern · Wall-rue +1
- Salix caprea subsp. sphacelataSalix caprea subsp. sphacelata
- Hart's-TongueAsplenium scolopendrium
- Rigid Buckler-fernDryopteris submontana
- Limestone FernGymnocarpium robertianum
- Wall-rueAsplenium ruta-muraria
- MoonwortBotrychium lunaria
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot
630 records · National Biodiversity NetworkMeadow Pipit · Red Grouse (scotica) · Ring Ouzel · Golden Plover · Wren +23
- Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2024
- Red Grouse (scotica)Lagopus scotica2024
- Ring OuzelTurdus torquatus
- Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria2024
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2024
- WheatearOenanthe oenanthe
- CurlewNumenius arquata2023
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba2024
- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2024
- PheasantPhasianus colchicus2023
- KestrelFalco tinnunculus2021
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2024
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2023
- Lesser RedpollAcanthis flammea cabaret2023
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2018
- Greylag GooseAnser anser2023
- Tree SparrowPasser montanus2021
- SkylarkAlauda arvensis2021
- Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2018
- RobinErithacus rubecula2017
- LinnetLinaria cannabina2017
- SiskinSpinus spinus2017
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone2017
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2017
- SnipeGallinago gallinago2017
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus2017
- Coal TitPeriparus ater2017
- BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2017
🦌Mammals2 species
springsummer
2020▾
Red Fox · Rabbit
- Red FoxVulpes vulpes
- RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus2017
Bilberry Bumblebee · Oak Eggar
- Bilberry BumblebeeBombus monticola
- Oak EggarLasiocampa quercus2015
Acarospora fuscata · Porpidia crustulata · Tremolecia atrata · Peltigera hymenina · Pseudevernia furfuracea var. furfuracea +33
- Acarospora fuscataAcarospora fuscata
- Porpidia crustulataPorpidia crustulata
- Tremolecia atrataTremolecia atrata
- Peltigera hymeninaPeltigera hymenina
- Pseudevernia furfuracea var. furfuraceaPseudevernia furfuracea var. furfuracea
- Porpidia tuberculosaPorpidia tuberculosa
Salix caprea subsp. sphacelata · Hart's-Tongue · Rigid Buckler-fern · Limestone Fern · Wall-rue +1
- Salix caprea subsp. sphacelataSalix caprea subsp. sphacelata
- Hart's-TongueAsplenium scolopendrium
- Rigid Buckler-fernDryopteris submontana
- Limestone FernGymnocarpium robertianum
- Wall-rueAsplenium ruta-muraria
- MoonwortBotrychium lunaria
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
crotail rèin-fhèidh
crotail rèin-fhèidh
Cladonia portentosa
Cladonia portentosa
Cladonia furcata subsp. furcataCladonia furcata subsp. furcataCladonia furcata subsp. furcataCladonia furcata subsp. furcataRhizocarpon geographicumRhizocarpon geographicumRhizocarpon geographicumRhizocarpon geographicumScarlet-Cup LichenCladonia coccifera s. lat.Scarlet-Cup LichenCladonia coccifera s. lat.Cladonia uncialis subsp. biuncialisCladonia uncialis subsp. biuncialisCladonia uncialis subsp. biuncialisCladonia uncialis subsp. biuncialisSchaereria fuscocinerea var. fuscocinereaSchaereria fuscocinerea var. fuscocinereaSchaereria fuscocinerea var. fuscocinereaSchaereria fuscocinerea var. fuscocinereaRhizocarpon reductumRhizocarpon reductumRhizocarpon reductumRhizocarpon reductumCladonia subcervicornisCladonia subcervicornisCladonia subcervicornisCladonia subcervicornisSolenopsora candicansSolenopsora candicansSolenopsora candicansSolenopsora candicansLepra corallinaLepra corallinaLepra corallinaLepra corallinaParmelia saxatilis s. lat.Parmelia saxatilis s. lat.Parmelia saxatilis s. lat.Parmelia saxatilis s. lat.Heath NavelLichenomphalia ericetorumHeath NavelLichenomphalia ericetorumLepraria incana s. lat.Lepraria incana s. lat.Lepraria incana s. lat.Lepraria incana s. lat.Aspicilia cinerea s. lat.Aspicilia cinerea s. lat.Aspicilia cinerea s. lat.Aspicilia cinerea s. lat.Lecanora polytropaLecanora polytropaLecanora polytropaLecanora polytropaCladonia subulataCladonia subulataCladonia subulataCladonia subulataLecanora soraliferaLecanora soraliferaLecanora soraliferaLecanora soraliferaCladonia macilentaCladonia macilentaCladonia macilentaCladonia macilentaPeltigera membranaceaPeltigera membranaceaPeltigera membranaceaPeltigera membranaceaCladonia ramulosaCladonia ramulosaCladonia ramulosaCladonia ramulosaCetraria muricataCetraria muricataCetraria muricataCetraria muricataParmelia omphalodesParmelia omphalodesParmelia omphalodesParmelia omphalodesHypogymnia tubulosaHypogymnia tubulosaHypogymnia tubulosaHypogymnia tubulosaLecanora intricataLecanora intricataLecanora intricataLecanora intricataCladonia floerkeanaCladonia floerkeanaCladonia floerkeanaCladonia floerkeanaUmbilicaria polyphyllaUmbilicaria polyphyllaUmbilicaria polyphyllaUmbilicaria polyphyllaVariospora flavescensVariospora flavescensVariospora flavescensVariospora flavescensCladonia diversaCladonia diversaCladonia diversaCladonia diversaFuscidea cyathoides var. cyathoidesFuscidea cyathoides var. cyathoidesFuscidea cyathoides var. cyathoidesFuscidea cyathoides var. cyathoidesFlavoplaca flavocitrinaFlavoplaca flavocitrinaFlavoplaca flavocitrinaFlavoplaca flavocitrinaCladonia gracilisCladonia gracilisCladonia gracilisCladonia gracilisTrapeliopsis granulosaTrapeliopsis granulosaTrapeliopsis granulosaTrapeliopsis granulosa