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Description
Geltsdale is a remote and ruggedly beautiful nature reserve that encompasses two hill farms - Geltsdale and Tarnhouse. The blanket bogs, heath, upland farmland and woods of Geltsdale support a great diversity of wildlife. Many breeding birds are found here, including Black Grouse, European Golden Plover, Eurasian Curlew, Ring Ouzel, Merlin and Short-eared Owl. And the reserve is one of only a handful of nesting sites of Hen Harrier in England. Tarnhouse Farm is one of two large farms on the reserve. Black Grouse and the breeding waders - Northern Lapwing, Common Redshank and Common Snipe - have all increased significantly, thanks to sensitive farming, particularly cattle grazing and wetland creation.
Details
Access
You can park at the reserve car park. Click on the P in the map to get directions. By train: Brampton Junction on Carlisle to Newcastle line - around 2 miles (3.2 km) from reserve. There are several trails in the reserve. Main trail is the circular Stagsike trail (4,5 km, see map). Allow one to two hours to walk this 3 mile trail – a gravel and grass track with a steep hill. It goes to the viewpoint at Tindale Tarn and the Stagsike visitor centre. It’s the best place to see wading birds in spring. Geltsdale is a working farm with grazing livestock. You may meet cattle with calves on the reserve trails.