If you want to avoid the busy areas of the Lake District – perhaps on a Bank Holiday Monday – then a walk around the reservoir at Wet Sleddale will provide the answer. The reservoir augments the water supply to Haweswater. Wainwright in his “Outlying Fells of Lakeland” describes a long – almost 10 mile – walk that you can do – the Wet Sleddale Horseshoe. However a shorter version is possible and this is a peaceful introduction to the valley. There is a road into the valley and you can park near the dam – it will be easy to find a car-parking space!
The valley is known for the ancient deer enclosures – unique in the area. There is an enclosure known as Buck Park, which possibly dates from the late 15th Century and had massively high walls – now sadly in some decay.
The other claim to fame of the valley is that Sleddale Hall was the setting for the famous cult film Withnail & I staring Richard E. Grant. Filming took place in 1986.
