Martindale, Cumbria
Encyclopedia
Martindale is a valley and civil parish in Cumbria
, England, situated within the Lake District National Park
between the lakes of Ullswater
and Haweswater. The valley is served by a narrow minor road which runs as far as the farm of Dale Head.
where the headwaters of Howegrain Beck rise at a height of around 700 metres above sea level. The upper part of the valley is divided into two branches by the fell of The Nab
, these two sub valleys named Bannerdale and Rampsgill contain the streams of Bannerdale Beck and Rampsgill Beck which meet at a point midway down Martindale to form Howegrain Beck which then becomes the main watercourse for the lower part of Martindale and enters Ullswater at Sandwick. Just before reaching Sandwick, Martindale is joined by the side valley of Boredale
, which enters from the south.
is a deer
reserve which is not open to the public and contains no rights of way. The reserve is home to the oldest native red deer herd in England. Hill walkers
are requested by the Dalemain Estate, which owns the reserve, to keep to preferred routes which avoid the herds when climbing The Nab, to which there is now open access under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000
.
At the foot of The Nab is “The Bungalow”, this is a former shooting lodge which was constructed in 1910 by Hugh Lowther, 5th Earl of Lonsdale
for a deer shooting visit by the German Emperor Wilhelm II in 1910. Today The Bungalow is used as self catering accommodation which houses 12 people.
from Howtown
. Here there is Hause Farm, The Old Reading Room and a few self catering holiday homes. At the top of the hause is St Peter’s Church
often referred to as the New Church, it dates from 1880. Half a kilometre further up the valley is the restored St Martin’s Church
, the present building dates from the end of the 16th century. Other farm buildings in the mid and upper parts of Martindale are Winter Crag, Knicklethorns, Henhow, Thrang Crag and Dale Head.
Martindale is surrounded by the Far Eastern Fells
and is a popular starting point for hillwalking
. One of the most popular walks is the Martindale Skyline, a 16 km walk with just over 1000 metres of ascent which takes in many of the peaks around the valley including Beda Fell
and Steel Knotts
.
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
, England, situated within the Lake District National Park
Lake District National Park
The Lake District National Park is located in the north-west of England and is the largest of the English National Parks and the second largest in the United Kingdom. It is in the central and most-visited part of the Lake District....
between the lakes of Ullswater
Ullswater
Ullswater is the second largest lake in the English Lake District, being approximately nine miles long and 0.75 miles wide with a maximum depth of slightly more than ....
and Haweswater. The valley is served by a narrow minor road which runs as far as the farm of Dale Head.
Description
Martindale runs for approximately nine km in a north to south direction, it is a remote and thinly populated valley which has a permanent population of only about 50 residents. The foot of the valley is located at the small hamlet of Sandwick on the western shore of Ullswater, while its head is situated on the slopes of Rampsgill HeadRampsgill Head
Rampsgill Head is a fell in the English Lake District, standing to the west of Haweswater Reservoir in the Far Eastern Fells. It forms the focal point of three ridges which fan out north east, north west and south.-Topography:...
where the headwaters of Howegrain Beck rise at a height of around 700 metres above sea level. The upper part of the valley is divided into two branches by the fell of The Nab
The Nab
The Nab is a fell in the English Lake District. It has a moderate height of 576 metres , and lies in the quieter eastern high ground between Ullswater and Haweswater Reservoir...
, these two sub valleys named Bannerdale and Rampsgill contain the streams of Bannerdale Beck and Rampsgill Beck which meet at a point midway down Martindale to form Howegrain Beck which then becomes the main watercourse for the lower part of Martindale and enters Ullswater at Sandwick. Just before reaching Sandwick, Martindale is joined by the side valley of Boredale
Boredale
Boredale sometimes known as Boardale, is a valley in Cumbria, England, it is situated within the Lake District National Park. The valley is close to the eastern shore of Ullswater and lies between the hills of Place Fell to the west and Beda Fell to the east.Boredale runs in a northerly direction...
, which enters from the south.
Deer reserve
The upper part of Martindale around The NabThe Nab
The Nab is a fell in the English Lake District. It has a moderate height of 576 metres , and lies in the quieter eastern high ground between Ullswater and Haweswater Reservoir...
is a deer
Deer
Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...
reserve which is not open to the public and contains no rights of way. The reserve is home to the oldest native red deer herd in England. Hill walkers
Hillwalking
In the British Isles, the terms hillwalking or fellwalking are commonly used to describe the recreational outdoor activity of walking on hills and mountains, often with the intention of visiting their summits...
are requested by the Dalemain Estate, which owns the reserve, to keep to preferred routes which avoid the herds when climbing The Nab, to which there is now open access under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000
Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000
The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 is a UK Act of Parliament which came into force on 30 November 2000.As of September 2007, not all sections of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act have yet come into force...
.
At the foot of The Nab is “The Bungalow”, this is a former shooting lodge which was constructed in 1910 by Hugh Lowther, 5th Earl of Lonsdale
Hugh Lowther, 5th Earl of Lonsdale
Hugh Cecil Lowther, 5th Earl of Lonsdale, KG, GCVO was an English nobleman.-Biography:The second son of the 3rd Earl of Lonsdale, he succeeded his brother, the 4th Earl, in 1882. Lord Lonsdale was an avid sportsman and bon vivant and was known by some as "England's greatest sporting gentleman"...
for a deer shooting visit by the German Emperor Wilhelm II in 1910. Today The Bungalow is used as self catering accommodation which houses 12 people.
Habitations
The main area of habitatiion in the valley is situated in its lower area where the road comes over the hauseMountain pass
A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...
from Howtown
Howtown
Howtown is a hamlet in Cumbria, England, situated at a small harbour on the east shore of Ullswater in the Lake District.Howtown is about three and a half miles from Pooley Bridge and is best reached by water...
. Here there is Hause Farm, The Old Reading Room and a few self catering holiday homes. At the top of the hause is St Peter’s Church
St Peter’s Church, Martindale
St Peter’s Church, Martindale is situated in the valley of Martindale in Cumbria, England. The church is located at the top of the hause on the minor road between Martindale and Howtown...
often referred to as the New Church, it dates from 1880. Half a kilometre further up the valley is the restored St Martin’s Church
St Martin’s Church, Martindale
St Martin’s Church, Martindale is located in the valley of Martindale in Cumbria, England. It is often referred to as the “Old Church” to avoid confusion with the nearby St Peter‘s Church which is situated half a mile down the valley. The church is dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours. It is now only...
, the present building dates from the end of the 16th century. Other farm buildings in the mid and upper parts of Martindale are Winter Crag, Knicklethorns, Henhow, Thrang Crag and Dale Head.
Martindale is surrounded by the Far Eastern Fells
Far Eastern Fells
The Far Eastern Fells are a group of hills in the English Lake District. Reaching their highest point at High Street they occupy a broad area to the east of Ullswater and Kirkstone Pass. Much quieter than the central areas of Lakeland they offer in general easier but less exciting walking as the...
and is a popular starting point for hillwalking
Hillwalking
In the British Isles, the terms hillwalking or fellwalking are commonly used to describe the recreational outdoor activity of walking on hills and mountains, often with the intention of visiting their summits...
. One of the most popular walks is the Martindale Skyline, a 16 km walk with just over 1000 metres of ascent which takes in many of the peaks around the valley including Beda Fell
Beda Fell
Beda Fell is a fell in the English Lake District, situated to the south of Ullswater. It divides the valleys of Boredale and Bannerdale within the Martindale system.-Topography:...
and Steel Knotts
Steel Knotts
Steel Knotts is a fell in the English Lake District, near to Ullswater in the Far Eastern Fells. It stands between the valleys of Fusedale and Martindale on a ridge running north-south.-Topography:...
.