The top 10 lakes in the Lake District
Windermere
England´s largest lake, Windermere is just under 13 miles long, and is up to 79m in depth. This is the most southerly of the lakes, and easily the most accessible for visitors who flock to the Lake District from all over Europe. During Victorian times, when railways first made the Lake District more accessible, Windermere was opened up to tourism. Today, visitors can cruise across the lake on Windermere Steamers, or enjoy lakeside walks along the water´s edge. You will find some of the most famous Lake District attractions in and around Windermere, including The Beatrix Potter Attraction, Blackwell the Arts and Crafts House and a great choice of fun and activity centres in Bowness Bay.
Rydal Water
The favourite lake of famous local writer and poet, William Wordsworth, Rydal Water is one of the most beautiful small lakes in the region. It takes approximately two hours to walk around the lake, taking in Rydal Hall, Rydal Mount and the Rydal Caves en route. The walk starts at White Moss House, which William Wordsworth bought for his son, Willie, and will take you past Rydal Mount, which was Wordsworth´s favourite residence, and where he died in 1850. Rydal Mount can be visited, along with the gardens, and there are plenty of places en route to stop for a drink or something to eat.
Grasmere
Wordsworth also lived at Dove Cottage, Grasmere, where he wrote some of his most famous poems, including ´Daffodils´. The poet enjoyed the peace and tranquility of Grasmere, and there were no other buildings in front of his house which offered magnificent views of the local countryside. Grasmere village lies beside the lake, and visitors can find plenty of pubs, cafés and restaurants near by.
Coniston Water
Once home to John Ruskin, one of the great intellectuals and artists of the 19th Century, who lived at Brantwood on the shores of the lake, Coniston Water was also the setting for Swallows and Amazons. Known for its still water, Coniston was also the place Donald Campbell chose to attempt his world water speed boat records, and sadly where he died in 1967 when his boat, ´Bluebird´ capsized. If you want a challenging walk, take a hike up Coniston Old Man, which boasts some stunning views of the surrounding countryside.
Ullswater
Helvellyn looms over Ullswater, and with Place Fell close by, this is one of the most beautiful locations in the lakes. The best way to enjoy this lake is by sailing from Glendridding to Howtown, and then strolling back along the shore round the south of the lake. This scenic walk takes around three hours, and is mostly flat. From Glenridding your can drive down past Gowbarrow and visit the most famous waterfalls in the lakes, Aira Force. Under the care of the National Trust, the falls are well looked after, and provide the perfect spot for a family day out.
Derwent Water
Often referred to as the Queen of the Lakes, Derwent Water is surrounded by mountains. If you are feeling energetic, walk along the top of Catbells, over to the west of the lake, and enjoy stunning views to Keswick, Skiddaw and Blencathra. At the north end of the lake, visit The Theatre by the Lake, and stop off wherever you choose by taking advantage of the passenger boats which cruise around the lake.
Wastwater
Probably the most dramatic of the lakes, Wastwater and the surrounding countryside is a magnet for rock climbers from all over the UK. Follow a narrow road along the lake, which ends at Wasdale Head Inn, or take your time to explore the flora and fauna surrounding the lake.
Thirlmere
Thirlmere is a man-made lake which was created to provide water for the people of Manchester in 1894. Incredibly the water travels 100 miles by the force of gravity and takes two days to arrive. Thirlmere is still providing water to over 1 million residents of Manchester. Thirlmere is 3.5 miles long, 1.2 miles wide and 158ft deep. When two smaller lakes were submerged to provide water to Manchester, the whole area was dammed to create one massive reservoir.
Bassenthwaite
Buttermere
Buttermere is a great place to start a variety of walks, and one of the few flat walks circles the entire lake. Many visitors enjoy the day by picnicking beside the lake or swimming in warm weather. Higher level walks near Buttermere include: Fleetwith Pike, Haystacks or Red Pike. Visit the Fish Inn at Buttermere, which was home to Mary Robinson between 1778 and 1837. Known at the Maid of Buttermere, Mary was known locally for her stunning beauty, lauded by the romantic poets in the lakes. For a short period in it's history, the Fish Hotel, Buttermere, achieved national fame(and possibly notoriety) during the Robinson's tenancy. The innkeeper's daughter,Mary, was about fifteen years old when she was first noticed by a visitor, one Joseph
Palmer, who stayed at the inn in 1792, and later wrote in one of the very first guide
books, "A Fortnight's Ramble in the Lake District", of his encounter with the fair maid
of Buttermere.
Bassenthwaite Lake
Situated in the northern Lakes, Bassenthwaite stretches west from Skiddaw towards the coast, and is a popular spot with bird watchers from all over the UK. Ospreys, were extinct in Britain in the early twentieth century, until a nesting pair of birds were spotted at Bassenthwaite. An Osprey Watch is mounted by the RSPB each year and live webcams monitor the progress of the birds, plus a visitor centre has been set up so the birds can be viewed.
If you are planning to travel to the Lake District, and you want to explore the beautiful lakeside scenery, take your time to enjoy the region, and work out an itinerary before you travel. Whether you are looking for b&b´s in Bassenthwaite, boutique hotels in Windermere, Spa hotels in Bowness or a luxury hotel in Coniston, you will find a wealth of great Lake District accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets.
