Bowber Head Farm
Location
OS Map Reference
OS Map Reference: 1:50,000. Sheet no: 91Grid reference: NY 740 032
Getting here
By car:
From the A683 Kirkby Stephen to Sedbergh road, take the small road (signposted camping) at Crooks Beck, 1km/0.7 miles north of the Fat Lamb pub and 4.3km/2.7 miles south of the A685 junction. Continue for 350m and park on the right-hand verge or in the yard.
By bicycle:
The nature reserve is 8km/5 miles from National Route 70 Walney to Wear (W2W).
By public transport:
There is a limited bus service from Kendal, Sedbergh and Brough to Kirkby Stephen. The nearest railway station is at Kirkby Stephen West on the Settle to Carlisle line.
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Know before you go
Dogs
When to visit
Opening times
Open all year roundBest time to visit
May to JulyAbout the reserve
Wildlife highlights:
- In summer - swathes of pink, purple, yellow and white flowers bloom in the meadows.
- Also in summer - the meadows are alive with the buzz and flutter of pollinating insects.
What makes Bowber Head Farm so special?
This traditional small-holding lies within the picturesque setting of the Westmorland Dales. It has been farmed in its current layout for over 400 years and is home to a series of internationally important flower-rich hay meadows.
Not only are they beautiful, they are incredibly important as only 900 hectares of these upland hay meadows survive across the counties of northern England today.
The meadows, known locally as ‘herbie’ meadows due to the abundance of flowering herbs such as wood crane’s-bill, greater burnet and lady’s mantles, are scheduled as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Recent history
Bowber Head Farm was owned by the Frankland family for many years. In 2020 it was transferred to Cumbria Wildlife Trust in lieu of Inheritance Tax, as part of the settlement of the estate of Juliet Frankland who died in 2013.
Species
Habitat
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Did you know?
208 different species of plants have been recorded here!