Bampton: Hills, Trails and Historic Traces

Bampton lies on the eastern edge of the Lake District, near Shap and Penrith. The village is in the Lowther Valley and surrounded by hills. The landscape, waterways and archaeological traces offer different themes for a trip. If you are looking for a hotel in Bampton, consider whether you would like to focus on exploring the surroundings, walking or learning about the history of the village and its surrounding area.

Landscape and Trails

Around Bampton, Wild Haweswater encompasses a glacially shaped landscape of mossy temperate rainforest, woodland, rocky crags, moorland, mountain lakes and rushing streams. Haweswater Beck joins the River Lowther at Bampton, providing a specific link between the village and its waterways. The circular walk near Drybarrows reaches the edge of Bampton Common; check trail conditions before setting out. Knipe Scar is a landscape feature above the valley and is mentioned in Wainwright’s work “Outlying Fells”.

Early Settlement and Roman Times

Bampton Common has prehistoric cairns and settlements. Some of the deep trackways there point to medieval packhorse routes and possibly even older paths. The Roman road at Bampton Common is described as the highest Roman route in Britain. It crosses a ridge, forming a more or less direct link between Penrith and Ambleside.

Other archaeological remains also reveal different forms of construction. Towtop Kirk is a rare and well-preserved example of an early Christian enclosure in Cumbria. The lightly fortified, single-rampart hillfort in Scarside Plantation is reasonably well preserved, despite some tree planting and vegetation within it. It retains evidence of the layout of the settlement inside and the construction of its defensive rampart.

Tinclar’s Library is in Bampton Grange. If you are planning a visit, check the current access arrangements in advance.

Monuments at Haweswater

The two standing stones northwest of Four Stones Hill are a rare surviving pair of this monument type in Cumbria. Their location offers dramatic views across the valley, now occupied by Haweswater Reservoir. The Romano-British farmstead 800 metres northeast of High House is in a different situation: it currently lies beneath Haweswater Reservoir and is flooded. Thus, a rare surviving pair of stones overlooking the valley and a flooded farmstead represent different archaeological remains in the Haweswater area.

Trails and Practical Information

The trails at Wild Haweswater are accessible at all times throughout the year. There is no visitor centre, public toilet, public observation hide or café at Wild Haweswater near Bampton. Take these lack of public facilities into account when planning breaks and stops in the area.

Trade in the Bampton Valley

The valley’s commercial heritage complements the archaeological themes with a look at everyday life in earlier centuries. Before the 19th century, trades in the Bampton Valley included tailors, shoemakers, carpenters, grocers, butchers, clog makers, skilled blacksmiths and a miller. This variety ranged from crafts and manufacturing to supplying the community. It offers a different perspective on the region than its prehistoric settlements, Roman roads and monuments. This mix of landscape and history can help you choose what to focus on during your trip to Bampton.

Discover more destinations: Aspatria, Calthwaite, Sedgwick, Torpenhow, Sedbergh, Brough, Baycliff, Holmrook.

For the main travel overview: Cumbria.