Brothers Water located in the Hartsop valley is a small lake in the eastern part of the English Lake District, in the county of Cumbria. Previously called Broad Water, it lies at the northern end of Kirkstone Pass, providing picturesque views on the descent towards Patterdale.
Dorothy Wordsworth made reference to it as ". . the glittering lively lake. . .". She was delighted with the setting. The lake is not among the most visited in the National park, being shallow and full of reeds. Water lilies blossom in July, providing colour.
The name Broad Water was changed after a tragic accident, in the 19th century, when two brothers drowned there. Two other brothers had also drowned there previously, in about 1875, whilst ice skating. Dorothy Wordsworth said "It is remarkable that two pairs of brothers have been drowned in that lake."
North east of Brothers water is Hartsop, which has several seventeenth century stone farm buildings and cottages. Some of the buildings still contain spinning rooms where villagers would have produced their own clothing, selling surplus in the local towns. Hartsop carries the meaning "valley of the deer", which would have lived in the woodlands of the lower areas of the surrounding fells.
A pleasnt walk through woodland skirts the western shore. From its north end the walk runs to Patterdale. Southward it heads over the Kirkstone Pass en route to Ambleside.
On the west side of Brothers Water lies Hartsop Hall. The 16th century building was passed to Sir John Lowther during the 17th century.
The village of Hartsop lies close to the northeast corner of the lake. Brothers Water may be classified in one of two ways: as one of the Lake District's smallest lakes or, possibly one of its largest tarns.
The lake is home to many trout and harbours a rare species of fish, the schelly.
Reference: Wikipedia - under the GNU Free Doc Licence
Brothers Water
Lake Windermere
Windermere is Englands largest natural lake. It has been one of the country’s most notable places for holidays and summer homes since 1847, when the Kendal and Windermere Railway built a branch line to it. It is in the county of Cumbria and falls entirely within the Lake District National Park.
The word "Windermere" translates as "Vinandr's lake", coming from the Old Norse name Vinandr and Old English mere, signifying lake. It was always known as "Winander Mere" or "Winandermere" until at least the nineteenth century.
Windermere has a length of 10.5 miles (16.9 km) stretching from Newby Bridge To Ambleside and varies from a quarter of a mile (400m) to one mile (1.6 km) wide at Millerground. The lake has an area coverage of 14.7 square kilometres (5.7 sq mi). It reaches a depth of roughly 220 feet (67 m) near its northern end and has an elevation above sea level of 130 feet (40 m). The lake is drained at its southern point by the River Leven. It is replenished by the rivers Brathay, Rothay, Trout Beck, Cunsey Beck and various other lesser streams.
The two main towns on the lake are Ambleside and Bowness-on-Windermere.
The town of Windermere, somewhat confusingly, does not directly access the lake. Known as Birthwaite prior to the arrival of the railway, it is approximately fifteen minutes walk from the lakefront, and has now grown together with Bowness. Windermere railway station is the central hub for train and bus connections to the surrounding areas, Manchester, Manchester Airport and the West Coast Main Line. The lake was originally called Winandermere but the railway company thought this too long and called the station Windermere, which has since attached itself to both the town and the lake.
The lake is predominantly surrounded by foothills of the Lake District which provide pleasant and easy low-level walks; to the north and north-east the higher fells of central Lakeland commence.
Windermere is a rare lake in Britain in that it has a perceptible diurnal tide.
Windermere is a ribbon lake,similar to other Lake District lakes, which are long, narrow and finger-like. Ribbon lakes were formed many thousands of years ago during the ice age through glaciation: as the glacier bulldozed through a valley or glacial trough, it met bands of harder and softer rock. Erosion was greater at the softer rock than the hard rock and so a dip was created. When the glacier melted the lake filled with the meltwater, which was held in by moraine deposited by the glacier. A dam can also be formed by the bands of harder rock either side of the softer rock. There is normally a river at both ends of a ribbon lake.
The lake is home to 18 islands in total.
By far the biggest is the privately owned Belle Isle (40 acres (16 ha) lying opposite Bowness and approximately a kilometre in length.
The other islands are much smaller although one, Lady Holme, is named after the church that previously stood there. The remaining islands, by name, are Bee Holme, Blake Holme, Crow Holme, Fir Holme, Grass Holme, Lilies of the Valley (East, and West), Ling Holme, Hawes Holme, Hen Holme, Maiden Holme, Ramp Holme, Rough Holme, Snake Holme, Thompson Holme, Silver Holme.
The lake has an extremely high percentage of its drainage area under cultivation (29.4%), and a comparatively low percentage of lake bed above 9 metres (30 ft) in depth which is rocky (28%). This ensures that Windermere is a relatively rich habitat. The main types of fish to be found in the lake are trout, char, pike, and perch.
The north to south alignment of the lake, combined with its position between Morecambe Bay and the central fells, means that it forms what can essentially be called a migration highway. During winter months geese flying along this route are a common sight.
The Freshwater Biological Association was first formed on the shore of Windermere in 1929 and much of the early definitive work on lake ecology, freshwater biology and limnology was carried out here.
Prior to 1974 Windermere lay wholly within the county of Westmorland; however, the county boundary between Lancashire and Westmorland ran down the western shore of the lake and also along about three miles (5 km) of the southern section of the eastshore. Drivers crossing the lake via the Windermere Ferry thus travel from the historic county of Westmorland to that of Lancashire if they cross the lake in a westerly direction.
Following local government re-organisation in 1974, Windermere and its shores have been entirely within the non-metropolitan county of Cumbria and the district of South Lakeland. Most planning matters affecting the lake are, however, the responsibility of the Lake District National Park Authority.
The Windermere Ferry, a vehicle carrying cable ferry, operates across the lake from Ferry Nab on the east side of the lake to Far Sawrey on the westside of the lake. This service forms an integral part of the B5285.
In addition there are also several passenger services that serve the length of the lake. These go back to the railway era, providing connections at Lakeside with a former Furness Railway branch and were at once operated by British Rail, the former state-owned rail operator. Now privatised, three of the old railway boats are operated by Windermere Lake Cruises Ltd, along with a fleet of smaller and more modern launches. Although frequently described as steamers, the former railway boats are all in fact motor vessels, and are the MV Tern of 1891, the MV Teal of 1936, and the MV Swan of 1938.
Two large boating clubs are based around the lake; the Royal Windermere Yacht Club, and the Windermere Cruising Association. The Royal Windermere Yacht club maintains a set of turning marks on the lake, which the Windermere Cruising Association also are allowed to use. Most of the competitive sailing on the lake is co-ordinated by the Windermere Cruising Association and this includes the popular Winter Series which is not hindered by large gale formed waves that often cause racing on the sea to be cancelled.
Friday 13 June 1930 saw Sir Henry Segrave break the world water speed record on Windermere in his boat, Miss England II at an average speed of 158.94 kilometres per hour (98.76 mph). On its third run over the course, off Belle Grange, the boat capsized. Segrave's mechanic Victor Helliwell drowned, but Segrave was fortunately rescued by support boats. He died however a short time later from his injuries. Segrave was one of the few people in history who has held the world land speed record and water speed record at the same time.
Racer Norman Buckley set various world water speed records on Windermere in the 1950s.
For years now, power-boating and water-skiing have been popular activities on the lake.
However, in March 2000, the Lake District National Park Authority controversially introduced a byelaw setting a 10 knots (12 mph/19 km/h)speed limit for all powered craft on the lake, in addition to three existing 6-mile-per-hour (5.2 kn) speed limits for all craft on the upper, lower, and middle sections of the lake. While the byelaw technically came into effect in 2000, there was a five year transition period and the new speed limits were only enforced from 29 March 2005. Regardless of the speed limits a significant number of people continue to use power-boats on the lake, both legally and illegally.
Various organisations support the move, mainly on the grounds of restoring the tranquil nature of the lake and making it safer and more accessible for all users. Opponents however, particularly those interested in the affected sports, are concerned by the lack of other suitable inland waters which can hold these activities, and the effect on many local businesses that reduced visitor numbers would have.
As with many bodies of water around the world, Windermere is reputed to contain one or more large, unusual fish or animals. The Centre for Fortean Zoology claims there have been many sightings of a giant eel-like creature in the lake going back as far as the 1950s. The monster first became news in 2006 after being spotted by university lecturer Steve Burnip and his wife Eileen, however it was a few months later when a local photographer, Linden Adams, caught sight of the monster that the media really caught attention, including the local Westmorland Gazette.
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Wast Water
Wast Water or Wastwater is a lake situated in the Lake District National Park, in Cumbria, England. The lake is roughly 4.6 kilometres (about 3 miles) long and 600 metres (more than a third of a mile) wide, and is situated in the Wasdale valley. It is the deepest lake in England, at 79 metres (258 feet), and is in the ownership of the National Trust.
It is a fine example of a glacially 'over-deepened' valley. The surface of the lake is around 200 feet above sea level, while its bottom is in excess of 50 feet below sea level.
The name of the lake and surrounding valley is pronounced as in was, not with a hard a. The lake is called "Wast Water" on Ordnance Survey maps, but the spelling "Wastwater" is used with roughly equal frequency, including by its owner, the National Trust, as well as the Cumbria Tourist Board and the Lake District National Park Authority.
The steep slopes of the south-east side of the lake, leading up to the peaks of Whin Rigg and Illgill Head, are known as the "Wastwater Screes" or on some maps as "The Screes". These screes were formed as a result of ice and weathering erosion on the rocks of the Borrowdale Volcanic Group, that form the fells to the east of the lake, in the direction of Eskdale. They are approximately 2,000 feet, from summit to base, the base being roughly 200 feet below the surface of the lake.
The head of the Wasdale valley is surrounded by some of the highest mountain peaks in England, including Scafell Pike, Great Gable and Lingmell.
Wast Water is the source of the River Irt which discharges into the Irish Sea near Ravenglass.
A popular path runs along the length of the lake, through the boulders and scree fall at the base of the craggy fell-side. On the north-western side can be found the cliffs of Buckbarrow, a part of Seatallan, and the upturned-boat shape of Yewbarrow.
In 2007 Wast Water was voted Britain's Favourite view by TV Channel ITV.
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Ullswater
Ullswater is the second biggest lake in the English Lake District, measuring approximately 9 miles (14.5 kilometres) long and 0.75 miles (1,200 metres) wide with a maximum depth of sightly over 60 metres (197 ft).
Many regard Ullswater as the most beautiful of all the English lakes and it has been frequently compared to Lake Lucerne in Switzerland. It is a typical Lake District narrow ribbon lake formed at the end of the last ice age when a glacier scooped out the valley floor, the deepened section filled with meltwater when the glacier retreated and thus became a lake. The surrounding mountains give Ullswater the shape of an elongated z, giving it three separate segments that weave their way through the surrounding hills.
The origin of the name Ullswater is unknown. Some say it derives from the name of a Nordic chief 'Ulf' who ruled over the area; and others say there was a Saxon Lord of Greystoke called 'Ulphu's whose land bordered the lake. The lake may well have been named Ulf's Water in honour of either of these or it could well have been named after the Norse god Ullr, also known as Ull.
Glenridding village, situated at the southern end of the lake, is popular with tourists of all kinds but especially mountain walkers who are able to scale England's third highest mountain, Helvellyn, and many other challenging peaks from there. The village has plenty of accommodation including two Youth Hostels and camp sites.
The village of Pooley Bridge is at the northern tip of the lake. Its narrow 16th-century bridge straddles the River Eamont as it meanders out of Ullswater and it is overlooked by Dunmallard Hill which was the site of an Iron Age fort. For much of its length Ullswater forms the natural border between the ancient counties of Cumberland and Westmorland.
Ullswater's many attractions include the Ullswater Steamers which offer trips around the lake calling at Pooley Bridge, Glenridding and Howtown. The steamers' operate all year round and were originally working boats from the 1850s which moved mail, workers and goods to and from Greenside lead mine at Glenridding which closed in 1962.
Today there are four 'Steamers' to be found on the waters of Ullswater, "Raven", "Lady of the Lake", "Lady Dorothy" and since April 2007, Lady Wakefield. Although known by many as the Ullswater "Steamers", all the boats are now operate on diesel, with the two older boats, Lady of the Lake and Raven having been converted in the 1930s. People often catch the 'Steamer' from Glenridding to Howtown and then return on foot back along the lakeshore to complete one of the most popular and picturesque low level walks in the Lake District.
Ullswater is a very popular sailing location with marinas situated around the lake. At weekends in particular the lake is dotted with many yachts but there are facilities also for diving, rowing and motorboats. Another of Ullswater's attractions are the spectacular falls of Aira Force midway along the lake on the western side. Close to the falls is Lyulph's Tower, a pele tower or castellated building, constructed by a former Duke of Norfolk as a shooting box.
Sir Donald Campbell set the water speed world record on Ullswater on July 23, 1955, when he piloted the jet-propelled hydroplane "Bluebird K7" to a speed of 202.32 mph (325.53 km/h).
South of Pooley Bridge on the lake's eastern shore is Eusemere, where anti-slavery campaigner Thomas Clarkson (1760-1846) resided; the house provides one of the most popular views of the lower reach of Ullswater.
William and Dorothy Wordsworth were good friends of Clarkson and visited on many occasions. After a visit to Clarkson in April 1802 Wordsworth was inspired to write the poem "Daffodils" after seeing daffodils growing on the shores of Ullswater on his journey back to Grasmere. Wordsworth wrote of Ullswater: "it is the happiest combination of beauty and grandeur, which any of the lakes affords".
Ullswater is home of Ullswater Yacht Club, and the prestigious Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy is held annually on the first weekend in July. This frequently attracts upwards of 200 sailing boats and comprises 2 races, both of which cover the full length of the lake.
Reference: Wikipedia - under the GNU Free Doc Licence
Thirlmere
Thirlmere is a reservoir located in the Lake District National Park, Cumbria, England. Running roughly south to north it is bordered on the eastern side by the A591 road and on the western side by a minor road.
Before the construction of the reservoir the site was occupied by two smaller lakes - Leathes Water and Wythburn Water. The growth of the industrial city of Manchester during the nineteenth century had led to a greatly increased demand for water. The water-level was raised by construction of a dam by the Manchester Corporation at the northern end of Thirlmere, between 1890-1894. The reservoir was then able to supply water to Manchester via the Thirlmere Aqueduct, approximately 100 miles long. John Frederick Bateman was advisor to the corporation for both projects.
There was considerable local opposition to the construction of the lake and the Thirlmere Defence Association (TDA) was formed to oppose the parliamentary act which was needed before workcould begin. The TDA opposed on the basis that raising the water level by 50 feet would submerge the cliffs which then surrounded the lake and a receding shoreline in summer would expose the smelly and unsightly lake bed.
The organisation managed to delay the reading of the act in parliament in 1878 but eventually it was passed at the second reading in 1879.
The name is from time to time also applied to the whole valley, which connects Grasmere in the south with the Vale of Keswick to the north. The tallest point in the valley is Dunmail Raise. The A591 runs the full length of the valley and goes over Dunmail Raise.
To the east of Thirlmere lies the Helvellyn ridge. West of Thirlmere are a number of fells; for example, Armboth Fell and Raven Crag both of which give views of the lake.
The reservoir and the surrounding valley and its forests are owned and managed by United Utilities, a private water and utility company.
Reference: Wikipedia - under the GNU Free Doc Licence
Tarn Hows
Tarn Hows is a well known area of the Lake District National Park, containing a picturesque tarn, approximately two miles (3.2 km) northeast of Coniston and about one and a half miles (2.5 km) northwest of Hawkshead. It is without doubt one of the most popular tourist destinations in the area with over half a million visitors per year in the 1970s and is managed by the National Trust.
Tarn Hows is fed at its northern end by a series of valley and basin mires and is drained by Tom Gill which tumbles down over several small waterfalls to Glen Mary bridge: named by John Ruskin who felt that Tom Gill required a more picturesque name and hus gave the area the title 'Glen Mary'.
The Tarn Hows area originally was home to three much smaller tarns, Low Tarn, Middle Tarn and High Tarn. Wordsworth's Guide Through the District of the Lakes (1835 edition) recommends walkers to pass this way but makes no mention of the tarns.
Up until 1862 much of the Tarn Hows area was part of the open common grazing of Hawkshead parish. The remaining enclosed land and the majority of the local farms and quarries were owned by the Marshall family of Monk Coniston Hall (known as Waterhead House at the time). James Garth Marshall (1802-1873) who was the Member of Parliament for Leeds (1847-1852) gained full possession of all of the land after an enclosure act of 1862 and embarked on a series of landscape improvements in the area including expanding the spruce, larch and pine plantations around the tarns; demolition of the Water Head Inn at Coniston; and the construction of a dam at Low Tarn that created the larger tarn that is there today.
By 1899 Tarn Hows was already known as an important beauty spot. H.S. Cowper mentions "Tarn Hows, beloved by skaters in winter and picnic parties in summer. Here comes every day at least one charabanc load of sightseers from Ambleside or Windermere". A wooden boat house that was still standing in the 1950s at the south east corner of the tarn probably dated from around this period. It was in 1913 that G.D. Abraham said "Tarn Hows is set wildly among larches and heather slopes, more like a highland lake than the other waters in Lakeland... more suitable for pedestrians than motorists".
In 1930 the resident Marshall family sold 4000 acres (16 km²) of their land to Beatrix Heelis of Sawrey (better known as Beatrix Potter) for £15000. She then sold 50% of this land containing the tarn to the National Trust and bequeathed the remainder to them in her will.
In 1965 Tarn Hows was designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest .
Recently the National Trust have made a number of changes to the area, including moving the car parks to a less obtrusive place in the 1960s and general footpath and road improvements to reduce the damage caused by the visitors.
Reference: Wikipedia - under the GNU Free Doc Licence
Rydal Water
Rydal Water is a small lake located in the central region of the English Lake District, in the county of Cumbria. As it is less than a mile long, it is probably better described as a tarn. It is a quarter of a mile in width and approximately 55 feet in depth.
It is found near the hamlet of Rydal, between Grasmere and Ambleside in the Rothay Valley. Rydal was the home of William Wordsworth for 37 years. Dove Cottage is known as one of his homes there. Rydal Mount was another. Nab Cottage overlooks the lake and was once home to Thomas de Quincey and Hartley Coleridge, the son of Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Nearby is historic Rydal Hall.
Rydal Water is surrounded by countless walks on the hills and fells, as well as a walk around the tarn itself, which takes in Dove Cottage, Rydal Mount and Rydal Cave. At the west end of the lake, steps lead to Wordsworth's Seat, which is thought to have been Wordsworth's favourite viewpoint in the Lake District.
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Loweswater
Loweswater is regarded as one of the smaller lakes in the English Lake District. Loweswater is also the name of a village at the foot of the lake, where one can find the Kirkstile Inn.
The lake is not too far from Cockermouth and is also easily reached from elsewhere in West Cumbria. The group of fells situated to the south of Loweswater is known as the Loweswater Fells and consists of Mellbreak, Gavel Fell, Blake Fell, Hen Comb and Burnbank Fell. North of the lake lies the Fellbarrow range.
The lake is an oddity in the radial drainage pattern of the Lake District in draining towards the centre of the District: its outfall, Dub Beck, becomes Park Beck and runs east or south-east into the north end of Crummock Water, near to that lake's exit. By way of the River Cocker and River Derwent, Loweswater's contents eventually discharge into the sea at Workington.
The immediate vicinity of Loweswater is very genteel and consists mainly of rolling hillland, in contrast to the rocky mountains found elsewhere in the Lake District (though Mellbreak, part of the Loweswater Fells, is steep and craggy).
Loweswater remains relatively untouched by tourism, and as such is much quieter than the neighbouring lakes, Buttermere and Crummock Water. However, there is a popular lakeside path, which goes right round the lake. The southern side of the lake is the site of Holme Wood, a small forest. Within this forest is Holme Force, a waterfall of great beauty, which disappointingly is rarely visited as it is not noticeable from the lakeside path. A road follows the northern side of the lake, which links the A5086 with the Lorton Vale.
Loweswater is under the ownership of the National Trust. Rowing boats can be rented but use of one's own boat is not allowed on the lake. Recently the National Trust have done much work on the northern side of the lakeside path, cutting down trees to improve the views across the lake.
Each year Loweswater is home to the Loweswater show, which features traditional Cumbrian sports and has competitions for farmers' produce.
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Esthwaite Water
Esthwaite Water is considered one of the smaller and less well-known lakes in the Lake District national park in northern England. It is found between the much larger lakes of Windermere and Coniston Water, in the traditional county of Lancashire; since 1974 in the administrative county of Cumbria.
To the north is the village of Hawkshead and towards the west is Grizedale Forest.
The lake covers approximately 280 acres (1.1 km²) and is known for its excellent fishing, in particular for the trout and pike there. It has been confirmed as a site of special scientific interest.
The lake was mentioned as the location where William Wordsworth conversed with a friend in Wordsworth's famous poem, "Expostulation and Reply," part of Wordsworth's Lyrical Ballads.
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Elterwater
Elterwater, meaning swan lake, is a small lake that lies half a mile (800 m) south-east of the village of the same name. Both are situated in the valley of Great Langdale in the Lake District in Cumbria, England.
Roughly a quarter of the houses in Elterwater are permanently occupied with the rest being holiday cottages.The river Brathay which provides the outflow from Elterwater flows south to join Lake Windermere, close to Ambleside.
Reference: Wikipedia - under the GNU Free Doc Licence
Crummock Water
photo by: *spud*
Crummock Water is a lake lying within the Lake District in Cumbria, England situated between Buttermere to the south and Loweswater to the north. The River Cocker starts at the north of the lake, before then heading into Lorton Vale.
The hill of Mellbreak runs the full length of the lake on the western side; as Alfred Wainwright described it 'no pairing of hill and lake in Lakeland have a closer partnership than these'.
It is under the ownership of the National Trust. Scale Force, the highest waterfall in the Lake District, is the feeding source of the lake.
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Haweswater
photo by: Elin B
Ennerdale Water
photo by MatthewBlack
Ennerdale Water is the most westerly lake in the Lake District national park in Cumbria. It is a glacial lake, at its deepest only 150ft (45m), and has a width between half a mile to a mile (700-1500m) and two and a half miles (3.9km) long, making it one of the smaller lakes in the Park. It is situated near to the port of Whitehaven the town of Cleator Moor and also the village of Cleator. The lake is under the ownersip and care of United Utilities and acts as both a reservoir, serving over 30,000 customers daily and a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its lakeshore habitats.
Ennerdale Water is used by hikers, tourists and cyclists, but tends not to be as popular as other lakes in the National Park, and thus it has not been spoiled by construction, activity on the lake or any other trappings of intensive tourism. This is predominantly due to the Ennerdale valley's remote location, the lack of a public road up the valley and management by the Forestry Commission, National Trust and United Utilities. In 2003 these three landowners came together to form the Wild Ennerdale Partnership with a vision "to allow the evolution of Ennerdale as a wild valley for the benefit of people relying more on natural processes to shape its landscape and ecology". As a result Ennerdale Water is arguably one of the more natural-looking and thus more desirable lakes within the Lake District.
The small village of Ennerdale Bridge lies westwards of the lake. Containing little more than a shop, a couple of pubs and few houses, it is a typifies small Cumbrian villages. During the last week in August the Ennerdale Show brings local people together with agricultural displays, competitions, arts and crafts for this annual event.
The lake itself lies nestled in a valley (also known as Ennerdale) surrounded by a large range of fells including some of the highest and most well known peaks in Cumbria such as Great Gable, Green Gable, Brandreth, High Crag, Steeple and Pillar.
The level of the lake has been artificially raised by the construction of a weir, enabling it to be used as a reservoir for Whitehaven.
Fed by the River Liza and other streams Ennerdale Water in turn feeds the River Ehen which runs to the Irish Sea.
The lake in Ennerdale has been referred to variously in guidebooks and maps as "Brodewater" in 1576, "Brodwater" in 1695, "Broad Water" in 1760, "Ennerdale Water" in 1784 and latterly "Ennerdale Lake" in Otley's Guide of 1823. It is now the Ordnance Survey decision to name it "Ennerdale Water".
Even though the Lake District is a popular UK location for film making, Ennerdale has been left relatively in the shadows, with a few brief exceptions. The closing sequences of the movie 28 Days Later, made in 2002 and directed by Danny Boyle, were filmed around the Ennerdale area, and included sweeping panoramic views of the lake.
In 1810, a large, mysterious carnivore killed hundreds of sheep in and around Ennerdale Water before it was eventually hunted down and killed. The locals dubbed it the Girt Dog of Ennerdale, though it is worth noting that it bore the traits of both a dog and a large cat.
Source: Wikipedia - under the GNU Free Doc Licence
Derwent Water
photo by PhillipC
Not to be confused with the Derwent Reservoir in Derbyshire Derwent Water, or Derwentwater, is one of the primary bodies of water in the Lake District National Park, situated in the north of England.
The lake occupies part of Borrowdale and lies directly south of of Keswick. It is fed and drained by the River Derwent. It measures approximately 3 miles (4km) long by 1 mile (1.5km) wide and is about 72ft (22m) deep. There are various islands within the lake, one of which is lived on. Derwent Island House, a prestigous 18th-century residence, is a tenanted National Trust property open to the public for five days per year.
Derwent Water is a place of outstanding natural beauty. It is surrounded by hills, known locally as fells, and many of the slopes facing Derwent Water are aforrested. A regular passenger boat operates on the lake, taking passengers between various landing stages. There are seven lakeside marinas in total, the most popular stops being: Keswick, Portinscale and the Lodore Falls, from where boats may be hired.
Walking is a major tourist activity in the area and an extensive network of footpaths exist within the hills and woods surrounding the lake.
The Keswick to Borrowdale road runs along the eastern shore of the lake and there is a regular bus service. There is an unclassified road along the western shore between the villages of Grange and Portinscale.
The lake is thought to be the last remaining native habit of the Vendace fish from the four originally known.
There are many islands in Derwentwater. the largest of which are: Derwent Isle, Lord's Island, St Herbert's Island, Rampsholme Island and Otterbield Island.
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Coniston Water
photo by David Le Masurier
Quite often simply known as Coniston, Coniston Lake in Cumbria, England is the third biggest lake in the Lake District. It is five miles (8 km) long, half a mile (800 m) wide, with a maximum depth of 184 feet (56 m), covering an area of 1.89 square miles (4.9 km²). The lake is 143 feet (44 m) above sea level and outflows to the sea via the River Crake.
Coniston Water is a prime example of a ribbon lake formed by glaciation. It is situated in a deep U-shaped glaciated valley scoured by a glacier in the surrounding volcanic and limestone rocks during the last ice age.
The Old Man of Coniston rises to the north west of the lake, which is the highest fell in the Coniston fells group. As such Coniston holds one of the oldest rocks in the world.
Near the shores of Coniston Water remains of agricultural settlements from the Bronze Age have been found. Romans mined copper from the fells above the lake, and a potash kiln and two iron bloomeries show that industrial continued throughout medieval times. Coniston Water was an important source of fish for the monks of Furness Abbey in the 13th and 14th centuries and they owned the lake and much of the surrounding land. Copper mining was carried out in the area until the 19th century.
The lake has an alternative name of Thorstein's Water, being named after the Viking invader who took up residence in the valley and subsequently claimed the lakebed. In fact this name was used up until the late 18th century.
John Ruskin, the Victorian artist and philospher owned Brantwood house on the eastern shore of the lake, and lived in it from 1872 until his death in 1900. Ruskin is buried in the village of Coniston, in the local curchyard at the north end of the lake.
Arthur Ransome set his children's novel Swallows and Amazons and some of its sequels on a fictional lake, but it is generally accepted that he drew much of his inspiration from Coniston Water.
Some of Coniston Water's islands and other local landmarks can readily be identified in the novel. In particular, Peel Island is without a doubt the Wild Cat Island of the book including the secret harbour.
Buttermere
photo by stingingeyes
One and a quarter miles (2km) long, quarter mile (400m) wide and seventy five feet (23m) deep with an elevation three hundred and twenty nine feet (100m) above sea level, Buttermere is a lake situated in the north-west corner of the Lake District.
A place of stunning natural beauty it lies surrounded by fells, most notably the High Stile range in the southwest, Robinson directly opposite, with Haystacks to the southeast, Grasmoor northwest, at the head of the River Cocker valley.
Standing at the northwest corner of the lake is the village of Buttermere and further is Crummock Water, the acknowledged twin of Buttermere. A footpath runs around the lake, with a circumference of four and a half miles(7.2km) which passes through a natural rock tunnel under the region of Hasness. The lake is accessed by road from either Cockermouth, Borrowdale, Braithwaite or the Newlands Valley.
The Buttermere lake, meaning 'the lake by the dairy pastures', is under the ownership of the Natural Trust and as such is part of the property called Buttermere and Ennerdale.
Mary Robinson, affectionately known as the 'Maid of Buttermere', who lived from 1778-1837, was the daughter of the landlord of the Fish Inn in Buttermere and was the subject of a novel by that name by Melvyn Bragg.
Source: Wikipedia - under the GNU Free Doc Licence
Bassenthwaite Lake
Situated in the Lake District, Bassenthwaite Lake is around four miles long and three quarters wide and despite the fact that it is very shallow, around 21 metres at its deepest, is still one of the largest lakes in the area.
Interestingly enough, it is the only lake in the Lake District with the word 'lake' in its title, the rest incorporating the words 'mere', 'water' and 'tarn'. It drains into and is fed by the River Derwent in Cumbria. Situated close to Keswick the lake lies at the base of Skiddaw.
Maps going back to the eighteeenth century show the lake as having the name of Bassenwater and the name Broadwater has also been used in the past.
Running north/south along the western side of the lake is the A66 trunk road and the parking spaces along this road act as popular observatories for individuals keen to get sight of the bird of prey - the Osprey.
The southern section running towards Keswick was laid on top of the old railway which led to Penrith and in spite of the fact that it's overgrown with trees, it is still possible to see the old Bassenthwaite railway station. Heading in the other direction towards Workington is the original two way road which, traffic permitting, can still be a pleasant driving experience.
In common with the other Lake District lakes, Bassenthwaite is situated in a glacially eroded valley and is connected to Derwent Water by the River Derwent. There is a school of thought which suggests that both Bassenthwaite and Derwent Water were once one larger lake wit alluvial flats seperating them formed by infill of the original basin.
The catchment area of the lake exceeds any other lake in the Lake district and together with a high amount of cutivable land ensures this is an abundantly fertile habitat.
The lake is the home of extensive varieties of fish, including salmon, trout, perch, pike, dace, roach and eels to name but a few, with the roach being the most common of these.
Bird life is extensive, including cormorants, heron and in the early part of this century ospreys returned to nest in the area and have done so ever since.
Source: Wikipedia - under the GNU Free Doc Licence