Kennall Vale Nature Reserve — Attraction in Stithians

Kennall Vale is both a nature reserve and a site of great historical interest having a wealth of industrial features. It has winding pathways through the plants and birdlife. The history of this area is very interesting. The Mills were a great producer of gunpowder for the mining industry from 1812. At the peak of its production in the 1860s there were 30 water wheels working and the Kennall Company employed over 50 men. The company ran the Gunpowder Works, also 2 paper mills, a farm and several cottages in the locality. There were also woollen mills here. In the 1880s the company’s fortunes waned owing to the collapse of the mining industry and the invention of dynamite and gelignite. The leat that carried water to the mills are in remarkably good shape, and so are the massive granite mill building ruins. Unfortunately reports from May 1838 tell of an explosion. Five mills blew up in succession, and part of a roof was found a mile away. One man was very seriously injured and later died, leaving a widow and nine or ten children. It is claimed that a spirit roams the old buildings, thought to be that of the man that died from the blast. People have reported seeing his apparition around the buildings, most often being described as a dark shadowy figure and there are even a couple of claims of him touching people who enter the buildings. It is further claimed that 'light orbs' are very common around the ruined buildings, with some being bright blue and yellow colours. I have been here on a number of occasions but I have never seen anything remotely...

It's OK. Access is annoying. It's an alleyway down the side of some ones house. This is up a small narrow poorly marked road which is over crowded with people parking for the reserve and as such is plastered with signs telling people to park elsewhere as it blocks their road up (totally understand that) No parking for this place whatsoever other than on the estate near it. Nothing is marked inside to get a read on, or are their any pathways except one which is cut of for over half a year due to unstable ground. Unfortunately the section cut off has all the main building us and is across the river.

The best bits for me where the beautiful lake high up which us sheltered and still, and the waterfalls and rocky river section.

It's beautiful looking and very Lord of the rings esque.

Not suitable for wheels chairs or little...

Lovely walk and a truly magical place. On road parking available about a five minute walk from the Kendall Vale Nature Reserve, the walk through the nature reserve itself can be quite steep and muddy and isn’t very suitable for wheelchairs, buggies, pushchairs or mobility scooters. Lots of wild flowers, insects and birds to be spotted as well as the river, old gunpowder works, waterwheel and quarry. The walk around the nature reserve is fairly short, probably about a mile long, but we personally think it’s well worth the 20-30 minute drive from Mount Hawke. The woodland is obviously very well kept and taken care of and is absolutely beautiful in May when all the...