Wild Ennerdale — Local services in England

Beautiful, tranquil valley with forest walks, streams and waterfalls and plenty of wildlife. A good base for hiking with both easy and more challenging routes. I highly recommend a walk up Steeple and Scoat Fell for those who enjoy a long hike and amazing views. Once atop Scoat Fell, the Scafell range and Wastwater come into view, it's breathtaking. Our kids enjoyed just splashing round the rocks on the edge of the lake in a little wooded area with picnic tables. Wild Ennerdale offer activities for families and groups and there is a YHA right up the valley.. Black Sail Hut. From here one can easily access Haystacks, Great Gable, Kirk Fell, Pillar and Pillar Rock, or make a day of it and take on the Mosedale Horseshoe! One thing, recently the main car park at Bowness Knott has been somewhat taken over by the Forestry Commission and their piles of logs, so parking is very limited. Not sure how long this will last, so I'd either arrive early to grab a space or check the car park...

England’s newest National Nature Reserve - Wild Ennerdale. What a great site! A partnership of 3 national land holders (Forestry England, National Trust & United Utilities in collaboration with Natural England) coming together to rewild the site through re-establishing natural processes. An absolute gem of a site that is hidden away in the English countryside (part of its charms). The valley is awkward to get to (requires driving down very tight country lanes), parking is limited and there are very limited services (ie, toilets, cafe, etc.). However, if you are after escaping into the 'wild', then this is the place for you. You will not see many people here, thus, you need to be confident in hiking rough terrain (need to be suitably clothed / kitted out) and prepared for a long day away from everything and everyone for...

As one of the main road access points to Ennerdale and Black Sail further down the Valley you'd expect this area to be well travelled and quite commercial - it isn't, and by being unspoilt Ennerdale is one of the best places in the already stunning western lakes.

The forest walks around the Reservoir are beautiful with some amazing little waterfalls and brides The path through Ennerdale past Black Sail becomes more and breathtaking with every footstep. The mountaintops around afford stunning views in every direction, particularly to the plans near the sea.

Its worth driving the narrow twisty roads that deliver you to Ennerdale car park to...