Back Heights Wood

Wood, Forest in Lancashire South Lakeland

England

Back Heights Wood

Great Wood, below Great Hagg On the north-west bank of the River Leven, between the river and the railway line. — Great Wood, below Great Hagg Credit: Christine Johnstone

Back Heights Wood is a picturesque forest located in the county of Lancashire, England. Covering an area of approximately 100 hectares, this woodland is a haven for nature enthusiasts and outdoor lovers alike.

The wood is characterized by its diverse range of flora and fauna, making it a thriving ecosystem. The forest is home to a variety of tree species, including oak, beech, birch, and ash, which create a dense canopy overhead, providing shade and shelter to the woodland floor below. The forest floor itself is adorned with a carpet of bluebells, wild garlic, and ferns, adding to the enchanting ambiance of the wood.

A network of well-maintained footpaths winds through the woodland, allowing visitors to explore its beauty at their own pace. The paths lead to hidden clearings, babbling brooks, and peaceful ponds, providing opportunities for quiet reflection and relaxation. The wood is also home to a rich array of wildlife, including deer, squirrels, foxes, and a vast array of bird species, making it a popular destination for birdwatchers and animal lovers.

Back Heights Wood has a long history, with evidence of human settlement dating back to prehistoric times. The wood has been managed sustainably for centuries, with some parts of the forest being periodically coppiced to promote new growth and maintain a healthy ecosystem.

With its tranquil atmosphere, stunning natural beauty, and abundance of wildlife, Back Heights Wood is a true gem of Lancashire and a must-visit destination for anyone seeking a connection with nature.

Show me another place!

If you have any feedback on the listing, please let us know in the comments section below.

Back Heights Wood Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 54.252011/-2.9951478 or Grid Reference SD3584. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Great Wood, below Great Hagg

On the north-west bank of the River Leven, between the river and the railway line.

Christine Johnstone

The River Leven, upstream of Backbarrow

Seen from a train on the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway.

Christine Johnstone

New housing, Ironworks Road, Backbarrow

Residential or holiday? Built on the north-west bank of the River Leven, on the site of the Backbarrow ironworks.

Christine Johnstone

Haverthwaite Station, near Ulverston

The Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway runs from Haverthwaite at the southern end of the line via Newby Bridge to Lakeside at the southern end of Windermere. It is a former branch line of the Furness Railway and was opened on 1 June 1869 British Railways closed the line to passengers on 6 September 1965, and to all traffic two years later. In the late 1960s efforts by enthusiasts to reinstate the line were frustrated by both an unsympathetic British Railways and the local planning authority who wanted to turn the route into a footpath. The line was eventually re-opened on 2nd May 1973, but no longer connects to the main-line railway system. At Lakeside, however it does still connect to the ferries on Windermere to Bowness and Ambleside.

pam fray

Haverthwaite Station, near Ulverston

The Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway runs from Haverthwaite at the southern end of the line via Newby Bridge to Lakeside at the southern end of Windermere. It is a former branch line of the Furness Railway and was opened on 1 June 1869. British Railways closed the line to passengers on 6 September 1965, and to all traffic two years later. In the late 1960s efforts by enthusiasts to reinstate the line were frustrated by both an unsympathetic British Railways and the local planning authority who wanted to turn the route into a footpath. The line was eventually re-opened on 2nd May 1973, but no longer connects to the main-line railway system. At Lakeside, however it does still connect to the ferries on Windermere to Bowness and Ambleside.

pam fray

The Victor arrives at Haverthwaite Station

Much to the delight and excitement of potential passengers and photographers. The Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway runs from Haverthwaite at the southern end of the line via Newby Bridge to Lakeside at the southern end of Windermere. It is a former branch line of the Furness Railway and was opened on 1 June 1869. British Railways closed the line to passengers on 6 September 1965, and to all traffic two years later. In the late 1960s efforts by enthusiasts to reinstate the line were frustrated by both an unsympathetic British Railways and the local planning authority who wanted to turn the route into a footpath. The line was eventually re-opened on 2nd May 1973, but no longer connects to the main-line railway system. At Lakeside, however it does still connect to the ferries on Windermere to Bowness and Ambleside.

pam fray

The Victor at Lakeside Station

The Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway runs from Haverthwaite at the southern end of the line via Newby Bridge to Lakeside at the southern end of Windermere. It is a former branch line of the Furness Railway and was opened on 1 June 1869. British Railways closed the line to passengers on 6 September 1965, and to all traffic two years later. In the late 1960s efforts by enthusiasts to reinstate the line were frustrated by both an unsympathetic British Railways and the local planning authority who wanted to turn the route into a footpath. The line was eventually re-opened on 2nd May 1973, but no longer connects to the main-line railway system. At Lakeside, however it does still connect to the ferries on Windermere to Bowness and Ambleside.

pam fray

Haverthwaite Station

Foa short journey by steam train to Lakeside Station at the southern end of Windermere

Eirian Evans

Victor

A Bagnall Class loco purchased by the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway in 2009. It was resorted and is now in regular use once more.

Eirian Evans

Gift Shop and Ticket Office at Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway

Eirian Evans

Train at Haverthwaite Station

Ex LMS Fairburn 2-6-4T No. 42073 waiting to depart from Haverthwaite on the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway. The railway has two of these useful tank locomotives, the second being No. 42085. They are the two remaining engines of this class and were the forerunners of a large class of similar BR Standard locos.

Bob Walters

Gateway by Bigland Tarn

The track is a public footpath from Grassgarth to Birk Dault. Bigland House is in the right background.

Adrian Taylor

Flush Bracket Benchmark, Bigland Tarn

Detail of the flush bracket benchmark on the Ordnance Survey triangulation pillar on the summit of Grassgarth Heights above Bigland Tarn (photograph SD3582 : Triangulation Pillar, Bigland Tarn). The flush bracket, benchmark number S5590, is on the north east face of the pillar and marks a height of 205.236m above sea level (Ordnance Datum Newlyn), last levelled for height in 1972.

Adrian Taylor

Triangulation Pillar, Bigland Tarn

The Ordnance Survey triangulation pillar on the summit of Grassgarth Heights, with Bigland Tarn and the Coniston Fells in the background. The pillar was constructed in 1949. The flush bracket benchmark number S5590 on the north east face of the pillar marks a height of 205.236m above sea level (Ordnance Datum Newlyn) last levelled for height in 1972 (photograph SD3582 : Flush Bracket Benchmark, Bigland Tarn).

Adrian Taylor