Accessibility Guide for RSPB Geltsdale Nature Reserve

Travel by public transport

Brampton Junction Station is situated out of Brampton town centre at Milton

Travel by taxi

Parking

Car parking is free of charge. There are 8 spaces at the reserve's public car park with seating, information and trail maps.

Two accessible car parking spaces are available outside the visitor centre.  These are reached by opening a 12 foot (3.6m) wide gate and driving 1 mile along an uneven track with a severe gradient.  Occassionally two additional 12 foot (3.6m) gates need to be opened along this track.

The accessible parking is situated 85 feet (26 metres) from the visitor centre entrance.  The approach is paved, unkerbed and unlit.  This is a suitable drop off point.

The approach to the visitor centre is paved with a 5 foot (1.5 metre) gate. The path has a 1:10 gradient at its steepest point.  There is a wooden handrail 3.5 feet (1.1metres) high leading to the gate.   There are no steps.

Path to main entrance

Main entrance

Stagsike Visitor Centre and Gallery

The centre is open from 9am – 5pm daily and is free of charge.  You can alert staff by use of a doorbell (5 foot/1.6m high) located within the visitor centre.

The visitor centre is level throughout with no steps.  The floor is surfaced with uneven slate flagstones.  Movable chairs are available. 

There is no reception counter or ticketing area. There is no hearing loop system.

The centre is lit with flourescent tubing and the art gallery has spotlights.  All lights are sensor operated. 

Information on the walls is in clear print format. Signage is limited.  

Designated Walking Trail

Stagsike trail

Stagsike Trail is a circular walk almost three miles in length and starts in the reserve carpark.  Allow 1-2 hours to complete.  It is signposted in red and is drawn in red in the Geltsdale trail guide available from the main car park.  

The trail follows uneven tracks and grassy paths through farmland with some muddy patches.   

Halfway  along the trail, 600 feet(200 metres) from the visitor centre, the trail reaches a ford.  This is spanned by a bridge 17 inches(430 mm) wide with a handrail and a step up of 9 inches (230mm).  The trail has 2 other  bridges; one 30 inches(660 mm)  wide, the other  8.5 foot (2.6m) wide, both without a handrail.  

There are four field gates along the trail to open; three twelve foot (3.6m) wide and one nine foot (2.7m) wide.  There is a five foot (1.5m) wide gate which can be used to avoid a cattle grid.  All the gates on this trail are fitted with accessible latches. In addition there is a kissing gate next to a cattle grid at the trail end.

Two thirds of the trail follows a stony track 6.5 feet (2m) wide, also used by the reserve vehicles.            

The trail passes a viewing screen at Tindale Tarn after almost a mile. The visitor centre is reached in just over one mile.  This trail has some seating but has no interpretation.

Designated Walking Trail

Woodland Trail

This is a circular trail of one and a half miles, starting from the visitor centre. Allow 1-2 hours to complete. 

It is signposted in green and drawn in green in the trail guide. 

The first section takes a rough path, one metre wide up the fellside through recently planted woodland. This section is very steep,starting at an altitude of 675 feet  (225m) at the visitor centre and summiting at 900feet (306m), over a distance of 600feet/ (200m).

The second section replicates a part of the Stagsike trail, crossing the same three bridges.There is a stone seat at the apex of the trail as well as seating in the visitor centre.

Designated Walking Trail

Bruthwaite Viewpoint

This is a linear trail of three miles return, starting from the reserve carpark.  Allow 2-3 hours. 

It is signposted in blue and drawn in the trail guide in blue. 

The trail follows a steep path for almost a mile up the fellside through recently planted woodland onto moorland.

The path starts at an altitude of   721 feet  (220m) at Howgill cottages and summits at 1476 feet (450m), over a distance of 1312 ft/ (400m).

The path is approx 6.5 feet (2 m) wide.  It passes through a nine foot (2.7m) wide gate.  There is also a kissing gate next to a cattle grid at the carpark.  There are no bridges or seats en route.

Designated Walking Trail

Gairs Viewpoint

This is a linear path of five miles return, starting from the reserve carpark.  Allow 3 hours to complete. 

It is  signposted in orange and drawn in the trail guide in orange. 

It is a rough, undulating track, 6.5 feet      (2 m)  wide, through moorland and newly planted woodland.  In some parts the trail can be soft and muddy underfoot.

The viewpoint on the trail is reached at an altitude of 859 feet (262 metres).

The trail is accessed through a kissing gate next to a cattle grid at the reserve carpark. 

The first part of the trail duplicates part of the Stagsike trail, taking an undulating stone track, eight feet (205m) wide.

Two ten foot (3m) gates need to be opened to reach the start of the trail.

A second kissing gate is then reached with five steps leading up to it. Each step up is 8 inches(300mm). 

There are no bridges, stiles or seats.

Designated Walking Trail

Forest Head Quarry Trail

This is a circular trail of two miles, starting from the reserve carpark. Allow 1-2 hours to complete. 

It is signposted in purple and drawn in purple in the trail guide. 

The first section takes the old railway line, seven feet (2m) wide, past a limekiln with a drop of 5 feet (1.5m) between the path and the limekiln.  It passes through a gate 12 foot (3.6m) wide into a disused quarry and scheduled ancient monumnent with interpretation. 

The second section is a wet grassy path, underlaid with matting. There are two short steep sections; 30 feet (9m) long with a 1:3 gradient . The path then leads over the old quarry with a drop of 15 feet (4.5m) to the side of the path.  This leads through a 5 foot (1.5m) gate into planted woodland.

The third section replicates a part of the Gairs trail, taking a rough track down an old railway cutting to a kissing gate  with five steps leading from it. Each step down is 8 inches (300mm).

The last section joins the Stagsike trail and follows a wide, stony track back to the carpark, through a kissing gate next to a cattle grid.

There are no stiles, bridges or seats

Accessibility equipment

No Accessibility equipment available

Emergency evacuation procedures

Fire Alarm will sound throughout the building in the case of fire.

All visitors to assemble in the car park in front of the building.

Customer care support

Staff can assist members of the public 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday - Friday.

If visitors have special accessibilty needs or enquiries ring 016977 46717 or email geltsdale@rspb.org.uk