Fordingdale, Haweswater, Coast to Coast
More Articles in the Patterdale to Haweswater subsection
Wild Horses above Fordingdale Bottom, on Measand End.
Fordingdale, Haweswater, Coast to Coast
Fordingdale lies roughly one-third of the way from Burnbanks along the northern shore of Haweswater, where the Coast to Coast path begins to press into wilder ground. The valley is shaped by Longgrain Beck, which rises high between Low Raise and High Raise on the High Street ridge before gathering numerous feeder gills. As it descends, the beck becomes Measand Beck, entering Haweswater through a deep cleft between Lad Crags and Mile Crags.
Beyond its upper springs, the valley narrows sharply between the steep walls of High Kop to the north and Long Grain to the south, creating a confined and increasingly dramatic corridor. South of this pinch point the landscape changes character: the valley broadens, the gradient eases, and the streams that tumble down from the cliffs above do not fall directly into the beck. Instead, they disperse across a flat, marshy tract of ground where water pools and lingers — the appropriately named Fordingdale Bottom.
This quiet, atmospheric stretch marks the transition between the open approaches from Burnbanks and the rising fells of the High Street massif, giving Coast to Coast walkers a rare sense of remoteness before the route turns toward the higher passes beyond Mardale.
Fordingdale Valley View to High Raise
From Low Kop there is a dramatic aspect up the Fordingdale Valley to High Raise. Measand Beck struggles around the large outcropping of rock known as Force Crag. The north valley wall (right) in the distance is known as Skreel Side, and in the near distance as Tail O' Ling.
Long Grain Ridge Lows Raise Spur
Long Grain forms the north-eastern finger of Low Raise, whose summit stands at 754 m. While the fell drops gently on most sides, its eastern face plunges steeply as Whelter Crags, and its northern spur descends smoothly at first before steepening dramatically above Fordingdale. Several becks cut this flank, the most prominent being Fordingdale Beck, where the hidden cascade of Fordingdale Force lies tucked into the ravine — often subtle in dry weather, but unmistakable after rain.
Fordingdale Bottom and Measand Beck
As the Measand Beck nears Haweswater its valley broadens out and levels off. The Beck meanders in large loops around this area, which is known as Fordingdale Bottom. On the opposite shore is Guerness Wood, and above it, Naddle Forest.
Haweswater Head and Mardale
From Fordingdale Bottom the head of Haweswater comes sharply into view, framed by the steep shoulders of the surrounding fells. The Haweswater Hotel sits almost directly opposite on the far shore, a lone landmark against the water. Beyond the lake’s narrowing head rise the long ridges of Harter Fell and Mardale Ill Bell, often veiled in shifting mist that drifts through the upper corries and lends the whole scene a quiet, atmospheric depth.
Lad Crags Fordingdale
The ascent of Bampton Common from the Coast to Coast path begins at Fordingdale Bottom, where the route rises beside Measand Beck before crossing a small bridge onto the open fell. Looking west from this point reveals the striking line of Lad Crags — a tiered sweep of rock that drops steeply toward Haweswater. Their broken cliffs and shadowed recesses form one of the most dramatic backdrops to the lower valley, marking the transition from the quiet marshes of Fordingdale to the higher, rougher ground above.
Measand Beck
As Measand Beck approaches the Fordingdale footbridge, it makes a final, gentle sweep across the valley floor before gathering pace and plunging into a long, narrow ravine. Here the beck descends in a lively series of cascades and waterfalls, carving its way between steep rock walls. At the foot of this dramatic run, the waters spill eagerly into Haweswater, completing the journey from the high springs beneath Low Raise and High Raise to the reservoir below.
Measand Fall Ravine
Between the inflow of Measand Beck and the footbridge at Fordingdale Bottom, a stretch of barely a quarter mile, the beck drops through a tightly recessed ravine lined with numerous small waterfalls. The channel is narrow, deeply cut, and often hidden by the dense mix of hillside vegetation typical of Haweswater — rowan, birch, mosses and bracken that cloak the slopes and conceal the cascades until you draw close. It is one of the most atmospheric sections of the valley, where sound reveals far more than sight.
Hiking the Coast to Coast trail guide
Hiking the Coast to Coast is a digitally enhanced eBook designed to accompany you on your journey along the Coast to Coast path. Available on Apple Books for iPhone, iPad and Mac, the guide includes:
• Mapping with interactive features
• Step-by-step route directions
• Hundreds of colour photographs
• Route conditions in different weather
• Historical and cultural points of interest
Whether you’re planning your trip or already on the trail, it’s a practical and beautifully illustrated resource to carry with you.
