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The
Lake District National Park, one of 13 National Parks in
the UK, lies entirely within Cumbria:
Keswick & the North Lakes
Western Cumbria
East of Cumbria - Eden Valley
South Lakeland
Bassenthwaite Lake, lying a short distance from Derwentwater, is the most northerly lake in the Lake District. At 4 miles long it is one of the largest lakes and also one of the shallowest. Bassenthwaite Lake is home to the rare vendace fish. There are no major settlements on its shores and the area is popular for walking and sailing. This is the only sheet of water officially recognised as a 'lake' - the others are either waters or meres.
Buttermere lies 8 miles south-west of Keswick. Meaning 'the lake by the dairy pastures', Buttermere has long been popular with visitors. A footpath runs around the picturesque lake and there are also walks to the summits of Haystacks and Red Pike. In the little church of St James in Buttermere village (lying between Buttermere and Crummock Water) there is a memorial to Alfred Wainwright, the author of the famous Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells. Haystacks was Wainwright's favourite place to walk and at his request his ashes were scattered on the fell.
Crummock Water lies between Buttermere and Loweswater. The lake is about twice as long as Buttermere and a lot deeper. The lake is owned by the National Trust and watersports are banned (although rowing boats can be hired). With Grassmoor to the west and the fells of Mellbreak to the east, Crummock Water has superb views from either side and is very popular with walkers. A number of streams feed Crummock Water and the beck from Scale Force has a drop of 170 ft, the Lake District's highest waterfall.
Derwentwater, to the south of Keswick, is England's widest lake. Once part of nearby Bassenthwaite Lake, the lake is fed from the River Derwent catchment area in the high fells of Borrowdale. This is England's wettest spot, receiving 200 in of rain a year. The lake is a popular place for sailing, rowing and visitors can also take a trip on a motor launch or relax on one of its many beaches. Derwentwater has 4 islands. These are all owned by the National Trust, as is much of the lake's shoreline.
Loweswater, lying a short distance to the north-west of Crummock Water, is the smallest of the lakes. Set in the Lorton Valley, this is the only lake in the National Park to drain inland (towards Crummock Water to which it was once joined). At the south-eastern end of the lake traditional rowing boats can be hired from the National Trust Watergate Farm. The lake nestles in a wooded valley and red squirrels can be spotted in the locality.
Thirlmere, to the south of Derwentwater, was once two lakes. This is reflected in its name which means 'lake with a gap'. The lakes were dammed in the 1890s to create one vast reservoir to supply Manchester. Although a reservoir, the lake has public access and watersports are popular here. Nearby is Helvellyn (3118 ft), the third highest peak in the Lake District. Helvellyn is approached by a dramatic one mile long ridge known as Striding Edge, which has spectacular drops on either side.
Ennerdale Water, the most westerly of the lakes, lies 8 miles east of Whitehaven. Outlined by trees, this is said to be most natural looking stretch of water in the Lake District. The deep lake is 2.5 miles long and has exceptionally clear water, with a variety of fish. The remote lake is the only one not to have a road running beside it. Ennerdale Water is the was dammed to provide water for the coastal towns of west.
Wastwater lies in Wasdale, north-east of Ravenglass. One of the most spectacular valleys in the Lake District, Wasdale is surrounded by some of England's tallest mountains, including Scafell Pike, its highest peak (3,210 ft). Not surprisingly Wasdale, is the home of English rock climbing and offers true mountaineering in the surrounding fells. Most of the valley floor is occupied by Wastwater, England's deepest lake (258 ft). The beautiful stretch of water is 3 miles long and at its deepest point lies below sea level. The River Irt flows through Wastwater on its way its estuary at Ravenglass. The dramatic Wastwater Screes drop right into the water at the lake's south-eastern shore. At the head of the valley, dominated by the magnificent Great Gable and Scafell Pike, stands the hamlet of Wasdale Head. Near the village, surrounded by yew trees, is St Olaf's Church. This is one of the smallest churches in the country and its beams are said to have come from a Viking long ship. Lying further down the valley are the villages of Nether Wasdale and Gosforth. The valley's remote position, cut off from the rest of the Lake District by its mountains, means that it has remained unchanged by tourism.
Ullswater lies to the south west of Penrith, beside the A592. At 7.5 miles in length, this is the second largest stretch of water in the Lake District. Said to be the most beautiful of the lakes, Ullswater winds through craggy mountains from Helvellyn to Skiddaw and is overlooked by Place Fell at the lake's head. Wordsworth loved Ullswater and wrote his 'Ode to Daffodils' about the lake's springtime display of flowers. In the summer 19th century steamers sail the lake from Pooley Bridge to Glenridding. Boats can also be hire for cruising on the lake. Martindale, on the remote side of the lake, has a chapel dating from 1633.
On the A66 near Penrith stands Rheged - the Upland Kingdom Discovery Centre. This attraction is named after the ancient kingdom of Cumbria which reached its peak in the late 6th century. Housed in the largest grass covered building in Europe and features exhibitions, including an international mountainering display, shops, art galleries, cafes and a restaurant. Rheged's centrepiece is a giant cinema screen, the size of six double-decker buses. Films are screened here fours times daily. The centre also has a Tourist Information Centre and indoor children's play area.
Haweswater Reservoir is the highest lake in the Lake District. Lying to the north east of Ambleside, Haweswater was once two lakes: High Water and Low Water. In the early 1930s these were dammed to create one large reservoir to supply the city of Manchester. At Riggindale, on the western side of Haweswater, is the only place in England where Golden Eagles nest (watched over by the RSPB).
Coniston Water, to the south-west of Ambleside on the A593, is five miles long and the third largest of the Lakes. In the 13th and 14th centuries the lake was owned by Furness Abbey and was an important source of fresh fish for the monks. Later the stretch of water was used to transport iron and copper ore from the many mines of Coppermines Valley above Coniston.
Arthur Ransome based his children's book 'Swallows and Amazons' on Coniston Water.
In 1967 Sir Malcolm Campbell died on Coniston Water when his boat Bluebird crashed after reaching 300 miles an hour in an attempt to regain the world water spead record. His story is told at the Ruskin Museum in Coniston. ( The Lakeland Motor Museum at Holker Hall, near Grange-over-Sands, also illustrates the lives of Sir Malcolm Campbell and his son Donald Campbell in the Campell Legend Bluebird Exhibition ).
The three islands in the lake are all owned by the National Trust, whose restored steam yacht 'Gondola' takes visitors on trips across the lake. Coniston Water also offers a range of water sports.
Grasmere lies to the north-west of Ambleside on the A591. The lake lies in the Rothay Vale and is joined to neighbouring Rydal Water by the River Rothay. The mile-long lake is surrounded by bracken-covered fells.
The village of Grasmere beside the lake is probably the most popular in the Lake District, thanks to its connection with the poet William Wordsworth. From 1799 to 1808 Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy lived at Dove Cottage across from the lake. Here Wordsworth wrote much of his poetry and Dorothy kept her famous journals. 'Sarah Nelson's Gingerbread Shop' beside the church, was once the village school and William, his wife Mary and Dorothy all taught here in the early 19th century. William and his wife are buried in the graveyard of St Oswald's Church, on the banks of the River Rothay. Their simple tombstone is one of the most visited literary shrines in the world.
Rydal Water, one of the smallest lakes in the Lake District, lies in the Rothay Vale and is connected to Grasmere by the River Rothay. Rydal Mount, the home of Wordsworth from 1813 to 1850, has superb views over Rydal Water, Lake Windermere and the surrounding fells. There are many walks around the area including a paths that leads up steps at the western end of the lake to 'Wordsworth's Seat', said to be the poet's favourite viewpoint. Another path passes Rydal Cave, a large cavern in a hill above the lake.
Windermere Lake, lying to the south of Ambleside on the A592, is the largest natural lake in England. This magnificent stretch of water is 12 miles long, 1 mile across and 220 ft deep. Belle Isle, its largest island, almost divides Windermere in two. On the east side of the lake lies the Fell Foot Country Park and just north of the town of Windermere, right on the lake, is the National Park Visitor Centre at Brockhole. A short walk from the lake is Orrest Head, a superb viewpoint, made popular by Wordsworth. This was the first summit visited by Alfred Wainwright, author of the famous Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells, in 1930.
Car ferry from Ferry Nab, Bowness to Ferry House at Far Sawrey. The modern ferry, which operates on cables that run under the lake.
Steamers and launches also operate the full length of the lake calling at Bowness, Waterhead and Lakeside. Lakeside Station, at the southern end of the lake, was built in 1869 as the terminus of the Furness Railway.
Windermere is popular for sailing, canoeing, windsurfing and water skiing.
Esthwaite Water lies between Windermere and Coniston Water. Beatrix Potter lived at Hill Top Farm in Near Sawrey at the southern end of the lake. The road to Hawkshead from the Bowness Ferry runs alongside the eastern side of Esthwaite Water. William Wordsworth, who attended school in Hawkshead, often walked around this tiny lake in the morning.
Elterwater, a small, shallow lake, lies a few miles west of Ambleside. Elterwater gets its name from the Norse word 'elter' meaning swan (whopper swans migrate here in the winter). Lying in the lovely Great Langdale Valley, this stretch of water is dominated by the twin peaks of Harrison's Sickle and Pike of Stickle. There are several popular walks in the area. The village of Elterwater to the north-west of the lake is one of the most picturesque in the Lake District.