Gait Barrows National Nature Reserve is a national nature reserve located within the Arnside and Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This area features a diverse range of habitats, including extensive limestone pavement, ancient yew woodlands, fens, and limestone grasslands, alongside the picturesque Hawes Water. The varied terrain makes it ideal for exploring on foot or by bike, offering opportunities for several sports like hiking, jogging, road cycling, touring cycling, and more.
101
Routes
4.5
(200)
Average rating
2482
People visited

4.8
(79)
426
hikers
17.6km
04:51
290m
290m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

4.9
(7)
29
hikers
17.9km
04:59
340m
340m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

4.0
(2)
14
hikers
4.37km
01:14
90m
90m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(8)
80
hikers
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.2
(6)
30
riders
32.7km
02:19
440m
430m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

3.7
(3)
17
riders
35.9km
02:40
540m
540m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

10
riders
22.5km
01:28
320m
320m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

14.7km
01:15
310m
310m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.
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21
runners
8.71km
00:57
120m
120m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(2)
4
runners
8.56km
00:57
70m
70m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

78
runners
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

43
runners
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.8
(18)
375
riders
47.6km
02:13
400m
400m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.8
(4)
95
riders
27.7km
01:18
350m
350m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

78
riders
93.0km
04:38
1,010m
1,010m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

64
riders
46.5km
02:03
360m
360m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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4.7
(12)
112
riders
34.5km
02:21
490m
490m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

29
riders
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(2)
27
riders
18.6km
01:11
200m
200m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

17
riders
Hard bike ride. Good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.
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Gait Barrows National Nature Reserve is a protected area within the Arnside and Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It features diverse habitats including extensive limestone pavement, ancient yew woodlands, fens, and limestone grasslands. The reserve also includes Hawes Water, a post-glacial marl lake.
Gait Barrows National Nature Reserve offers opportunities for Hiking, Jogging, Road cycling, Touring cycling, and Mountain biking. The reserve's varied terrain supports a range of outdoor exploration.
Yes, Gait Barrows National Nature Reserve provides easy hikes suitable for various abilities. Some paths are wide and accessible, including options that are wheelchair and pushchair friendly.
Gait Barrows National Nature Reserve features family-friendly hikes. These routes often include easy paths and boardwalks, making them suitable for families with children.
Yes, Gait Barrows National Nature Reserve offers dog-friendly hikes. Visitors should ensure dogs are kept under control, especially in areas with sensitive wildlife or livestock.
The reserve's most notable feature is its extensive limestone pavement, considered the finest lowland pavement in the UK. Other features include ancient yew woodlands, fens, limestone grasslands, and Hawes Water, a post-glacial marl lake.
While immediate access for bikes is restricted in some parts of the reserve, the surrounding Arnside and Silverdale AONB offers road cycling routes and traffic-free bike rides. There are also MTB trails available.
More than 58,000 visitors have shared their experiences in Gait Barrows National Nature Reserve on komoot. The routes have an average rating of 4.61 out of 5 stars.
Komoot offers several guides for the reserve, including Hiking in Gait Barrows National Nature Reserve, Running Trails, and guides for various cycling activities. There are also guides for hikes from bus stations.
Komoot provides a guide for hikes from bus stations in Gait Barrows National Nature Reserve. This resource can assist visitors planning to use public transport to access the reserve.
The reserve is home to Britain's rarest wildflower, the Lady's Slipper Orchid, and supports unique plants like Angular Solomon's-seal. It also hosts diverse butterflies, including the Duke of Burgundy and High Brown Fritillary, and various bird species such as marsh harriers and bitterns.
The official website for Gait Barrows National Nature Reserve, managed by Natural England, is www.naturalengland.org.uk.

